Ghana Launched Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) at Accra City Hotel

Accra, 15th April 2025 — Ghana officially launched the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to advance environmental sustainability and biodiversity conservation. The event was held at the Accra City Hotel and brought together key stakeholders from government institutions, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector.

Dr. Peter Dery, Director of Environment at the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), delivered the welcome address and set the tone for the event. In his remarks, he underscored the urgent need for increased investment in nature and highlighted the role of innovative finance in protecting Ghana’s biodiversity.

“Our ecosystems are the foundation of our livelihoods, food security, and resilience to climate change. The BIOFIN initiative offers us a strategic framework to identify financing solutions that align with our national priorities while protecting the rich biodiversity that defines our natural heritage,” Dr. Dery stated.

BIOFIN, a global initiative led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), supports countries in developing and implementing tailored biodiversity finance plans. These plans aim to close existing financing gaps and integrate biodiversity into national development and financial planning frameworks.

During the event, participants explored Ghana’s current biodiversity landscape, discussed financing challenges, and reviewed the roadmap for BIOFIN implementation in the country. The launch also served as a platform for fostering collaboration among institutions and aligning efforts to secure sustainable financing for nature conservation.

Representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Forestry Commission, development partners, academia, and the private sector attended the launch and expressed their commitment to supporting the initiative.

With this launch, Ghana joined over 40 countries worldwide already implementing BIOFIN. The country is now poised to strengthen its environmental governance, mobilize resources for biodiversity protection, and contribute meaningfully to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).