For PAs and FEs, one potential source of additional funding are the Regional Development Funds (RDFs)- public financing mechanisms that support local projects contributing to the social and economic development of the country’s regions. Their resources have significant potential to finance environmental priorities alongside infrastructure and other local development needs.  

Recognizing this, the UNDP Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) in Kyrgyzstan is supporting the Ministry of natural resources, ecology and technical supervision and the Ministry of emergency situations of the Kyrgyz Republic in strengthening the PAs and FEs capacity to access RDF financing. 

To help realize this potential, BIOFIN assessed the existing capacities and training needs of PA and FE staff, and based on the findings, delivered training for representatives of all PAs and FEs, covering the RDF financing cycle, requirements and application procedures, as well as technical guidance on developing project proposals. 

As a direct interim result of this support, PAs and FEs have started developing proposals for RDF financing, with 8 proposals already submitted and currently under review. 

This work is important because access to financing depends not only on availability of funds, but also on the capacity of institutions to prepare credible and results-oriented projects. 

At the same time, the experience gained through this work has highlighted opportunities to further strengthen the enabling policy, institutional and operational framework so that environmental and biodiversity projects can access RDF financing on a more systematic basis. Building on this experience, BIOFIN is therefore initiating a new area of work with the Ministry of Finance aimed at strengthening the necessary policy, institutional and operational conditions for RDFs to support local environmental and biodiversity projects on a more systematic basis. Ultimately, this will help translate Kyrgyzstan's national biodiversity and climate commitments into action at the local level. 

About BIOFIN 

BIOFIN, a global initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aims to address the significant challenge of financing biodiversity conservation and provides technical support to countries to develop and implement comprehensive strategies for biodiversity finance. 

The implementation of BIOFIN in Kyrgyzstan is provided with financial support from the European Union and the Governments of Germany, Switzerland and UK.