Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS — The National Environment Service (NES), in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, Economic Management (MFEM) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), convened the National Inception Workshop on Biodiversity Finance on February 25th, to formally launch the Cook Islands’ participation in the Global Biodiversity Finance Programme (BIOFIN).

The workshop brought together key representatives from government ministries, civil society, the private sector, and community partners.

As a Small Island Developing State, the Cook Islands’ economy, livelihood, and cultural heritage are closely tied to its land and ocean biodiversity. With increasing pressures from climate change, invasive species, and unsustainable resource use, the country is prioritizing smarter, more predictable financing to protect and restore nature while supporting resilient, inclusive development.

BIOFIN supports countries to assess current biodiversity finance, identify gaps, and design solutions through a structured methodology – the Policy & Institutional Review (PIR), Biodiversity Expenditure Review (BER), and Financial Needs Assessment (FNA) – culminating in a National Biodiversity Finance Plan. The Cook Islands’ BIOFIN work advances commitments under the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, including Target 19 on resource mobilization.

“BIOFIN is not only about raising more funding – it is about smart financing that aligns our policies, budgeting processes, and partnerships with our national biodiversity priorities and community aspirations, ensuring financial decisions actively support the protection and sustainable use of our natural heritage,” said Halatoa Fua, Director, NES.
The key outcomes of the workshop included a shared understanding of the BIOFIN methodology, objectives, and expected results, as well as confirmation of the governance arrangements with the National Biodiversity Steering Committee serving as the national advisory body for BIOFIN in the Cook Islands. It also included the validation of the workplan and budget, including agreement on procurement arrangements for workshops and consultancy support.

“Today marks the start of a structured journey grounded in the PIR, BER, and FNA to develop an actionable, nationally owned Biodiversity Finance Plan that supports inclusive, climate‑resilient development in the Cook Islands,” said Paolo Dalla Stella, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP.

Following the workshop, NES and UNDP, working with national partners, will finalize governance arrangements, initiate the PIR/BER/FNA analyses, and engage local coordination and technical expertise to drive the development of the National Biodiversity Finance Plan.

For further information, please contact:
Elizabeth Munro, Manager Environmental Stewardship, National Environment Service, Cook Islands | Tel +682 21256 | elizabeth.munro@cookislands.gov.ck | https://environment.gov.ck/

Laufālē’ainā Lesā, Communications Analyst, UNDP Multi Country Office, Samoa | Tel. +685 23670 | 
E: laufaleaina.lesa@undp.org | www.ws.undp.org