Govt, UNDP partner to boost biodiversity conservation

The Ministries of Environment and Forestry, Finance and Development Planning, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will launch the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) on Monday.

BIOFIN is a global programme that supports countries to identity, mobilise and sustainably manage financial resources required to protect biodiversity and strengthen ecosystem resilience.

In Lesotho, the initiative will play a pivotal role in supporting the implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan III (NBSAP III) by closing its biodiversity financial gap.

According to a statement from UNDP, the launch will introduce the objectives, activities and expected outcomes of the BIOFIN Lesotho Project (2024-2028), including policy and institutional assessments, biodiversity expenditure reviews, financial needs analysis, and the development of a national biodiversity financial plan.

It will also outline how the initiative will enhance national capacity to integrate biodiversity into planning and budgeting across key sectors.