ARECO-RWANDA NZIZA took part in the 11th Regional Dialogue on Biodiversity Finance for Africa and the Arab States, held from June 25 to 27, 2025, at the Kigali Marriott Hotel. Themed “From Studies and Planning to Implementation – Financing Africa and Arab States’ Biodiversity Agendas,” the event served as a critical platform for transforming biodiversity finance strategies into actionable, fundable solutions.
The dialogue was co-hosted by the Government of Rwanda and the United Nations Development Programme’s Biodiversity Finance Initiative (UNDP-BIOFIN), with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and other partners. It gathered over 150 experts and senior officials from more than 55 countries, including government representatives, BIOFIN country teams, financial institutions, and international development partners. ARECO was represented by Mr. Elie Ntirenganya, Planning and Research Head, who engaged in strategic discussions on scaling biodiversity finance across Africa.
Key figures in attendance included Dr. Valentine Uwamariya, Rwanda’s Minister of Environment, who emphasized the country’s ambition to mobilize 500 million US dollars for biodiversity conservation activities. This bold target highlights Rwanda’s commitment to protecting nature while building a green, resilient economy. Ms. Juliet Kabera, Director General of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), also participated, underlining Rwanda’s leadership in advancing biodiversity finance innovation.
From the UNDP side, the event was attended by Martin Cadena, Global Manager of UNDP-BIOFIN; Onno van den Heuvel, Head of Nature Finance at UNDP; and Fatmata Lovetta Sesay, UNDP’s Resident Representative in Rwanda. These senior leaders brought global insights into nature finance and shared how the BIOFIN approach has catalyzed over $1.6 billion in biodiversity finance across 41 countries since 2018.
Over the three days, the dialogue transitioned from theory to action. The first two days focused on country-led demonstrations of how the BIOFIN methodology—through the Policy and Institutional Review, Biodiversity Expenditure Review, and Finance Needs Assessment—has enabled countries to generate real biodiversity finance solutions. Through presentations, breakout sessions, and panel discussions, participants exchanged lessons on mobilizing resources across public, private, and financial sectors.
The final day emphasized implementation. Discussions centered on transforming National Biodiversity Finance Plans (BFPs) into structured investment pipelines. Funders and development banks outlined what makes a proposal bankable, while selected countries pitched finance-ready biodiversity projects. These sessions not only enhanced proposal quality but also helped build connections between project developers and potential investors.
Rwanda’s achievements in biodiversity finance were particularly prominent. In addition to the ambitious $500 million target, the Government presented IremboPay, a digital platform that has already collected over $122,000 in environmental fines and fees, now being reinvested through the Rwanda Green Fund. The Country has also integrated biodiversity considerations into its Environmental Impact Assessments and is developing a biodiversity-focused facility within its national climate fund, FONERWA.
Participants also visited Nyandungu Eco-Park, a restored 121.7-hectare wetland and forest area within Kigali. Home to more than 62 local plant species and over 100 bird species, the park is a flagship example of urban biodiversity conservation. A tree-planting activity was conducted during the visit, reinforcing the link between finance, community engagement, and ecological restoration.
The dialogue consistently underscored the established reality that the global biodiversity finance gap exceeds $700 billion annually, reinforcing the urgency for innovative and scalable solutions. The Regional Dialogue reaffirmed the role of initiatives like BIOFIN in helping countries unlock investment for nature and achieve the targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
ARECO is honored to be part of this movement and remains committed to promoting biodiversity finance solutions that protect ecosystems and empower sustainable development across the continent.
Image credit: © UNDP
