Dar es Salaam, 7 March 2025: The Vice President’s Office, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has officially launched the Biodiversity Financing Plan Initiative (BIOFIN) in mainland Tanzania, to bridge the  financial gap in biodiversity conservation and support the country’s commitment to achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Officiated by Hon. Abdallah Hassan Mitawi Deputy Permanent Secretary (Environment) of the Vice President’s Office, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening Tanzania’s efforts to conserve its rich biodiversity and align its financial mechanisms with environmental goals. The launch of the Biodiversity Financing Plan (BFP) marks a key step towards addressing critical funding challenges, while enhancing the sustainability of Tanzania's ecosystems.

BIOFIN will:
•    Integrate biodiversity considerations into all areas of policy and decision-making, supporting their inclusion in national planning and strategies.
•    Encourage businesses to minimize negative impacts on biodiversity and enhance positive outcomes by developing financial tools and incentives for biodiversity-positive activities.
•    Promote sustainable consumption patterns that contribute to biodiversity conservation by developing policies encouraging responsible production and consumption.
•    Identify and reduce harmful financial incentives and subsidies that degrade biodiversity, proposing necessary reforms.
•    Mobilize significantly increased financial resources from all sources to support biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services.  

Hon. Abdallah Hassan Mitawi urged banking and finance sector to explore opportunities in green financing and impact investment, such as funding ecotourism ventures, sustainable forestry, or renewable energy projects that reduce pressure on natural resources. “I urge our development partners to align your programs with the priorities identified through BIOFIN. This could mean co-financing a solution, providing expertise, or facilitating South-South exchanges so we can learn from other countries’ experiences” he further added

Shigeki Komatsubara, UNDP Resident Representative, emphasized BIOFIN’s transformative impact - “This initiative empowers Tanzania to integrate biodiversity into its development framework. By mobilizing financial resources and fostering sustainable practices, we are not only protecting the environment but also securing the well-being of future generations”. 

Director of Environment Ms. Kemilembe Mutasa, reaffirmed the initiative’s significance: “This launch represents a crucial step toward ensuring that sufficient financial resources are mobilized for biodiversity conservation, a key foundation for our livelihoods and sustainable development.” 

“BIOFIN, a global initiative operating in 133 countries, is dedicated to securing sustainable financing for biodiversity conservation. The launch of BIOFIN in Tanzania marks a significant milestone in safeguarding our natural resources while driving sustainable economic growth. It also echoes last week's call at the resumed Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 16), where countries adopted the Resource Mobilization Strategy, emphasizing the need to develop and implement Biodiversity Finance Plans to help close the biodiversity finance gap. Tanzania is answering this call. By investing in nature, we are paving the way for a future where both people and the environment can thrive together”  -  Stated Pierre Lanfraco, BIOFIN Technical Advisor

The Biodiversity Financing Plan (BFP) is designed to enhance Tanzania’s efforts to protect and sustainably manage its rich biodiversity. The initiative aims to mobilize the necessary financial resources, improve the delivery of biodiversity-related projects, and align national expenditures with biodiversity conservation priorities.

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About UNDP
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in 170 countries and territories, focusing on ending the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change impact. UNDP helps nations build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. In Tanzania, UNDP works in collaboration with the Government and multi-stakeholders through strategic programmatic areas of Inclusive Democratic Governance, Inclusive Economic Growth and Sustainable Livelihoods and Environment Sustainability, Climate Change and Resilience. For more information visit: www.undp.org| www.undp.org/tanzania
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About VICE PRESIDENT’S OFFICE  

Vision: Tanzania with a strong union and a safe, healthy and sustainable environment.
Mission: To be highly efficient and effective in harmonizing and strengthening union and non-union matters’ and coordinating environmental management for the improvement of the welfare of Tanzanians.

About BIOFIN
The Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) is a global initiative designed to address the significant challenge of financing biodiversity conservation, now being implemented across 133 countries.  Launched by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2012, BIOFIN provides technical support to countries to develop and implement comprehensive strategies for biodiversity finance.  The Biodiversity Finance Gap — the difference between the financial resources needed to conserve and sustainably manage biodiversity and the funds currently available — is one of the most pressing challenges in global conservation.  Estimates suggest that closing this gap requires hundreds of billions of dollars annually.  BIOFIN directly addresses this challenge by equipping countries with the tools and methodologies to assess their biodiversity finance needs, identify inefficiencies in current spending, and mobilize additional resources. 
 

For more information contact:
Sawiche Wamunza, Communications and Partnership UNDP Tanzania: sawiche.wamunza@undp.org  

Abbas Kitogo Portfolio Lead Energy, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Abbas.kitogo@undp.org 

Felister Ignatus Project Analyst BIOFIN, felister.lukuka@undp.org 

Paul deogratias Nyangu, Assistant Director of Environments (VPO), paul.deogratius@vpo.go.tz