Facing increasing threats to biodiversity, the Ivorian government officially launched the BIOFIN Côte d’Ivoire initiative on Thursday, October 2, 2025, in Abidjan-Plateau. The ceremony was chaired by Parfait Kouadio, Chief of Staff representing the Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development, and Ecological Transition.
Supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) aims to provide Côte d’Ivoire with a National Biodiversity Finance Plan (NBFP) — a strategic framework designed to mobilize and direct both public and private investments toward nature conservation.
The event brought together technical and financial partners, civil society, the private sector, and academia. It was also highlighted by artistic performances, including a moving slam poem by a young secondary school student who urged collective awareness: “Protecting biodiversity is protecting life and ensuring the future of generations to come.”
Speaking on behalf of the Minister, Jacques Assahoré Konan emphasized the urgency of the situation: “The ongoing loss of biodiversity is one of the major challenges of our time. Despite its vital importance, it remains severely underfunded. Global estimates indicate an annual financing gap of between $150 and $440 billion. In this context, BIOFIN is more than a project — it is a transformative opportunity and a tool for sustainable governance.”
According to Côte d’Ivoire’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) 2026–2030, biodiversity financing needs are estimated at $5 billion USD. The implementation of the NBFP will be coordinated by the UNDP, with support from the GEF, and co-chaired by the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Finance and Budget.
For his part, Gaël Olivier, representing the UNDP Resident Representative, reaffirmed the active engagement of the Climate Action Partners Group to make biodiversity a key driver of sustainability in Côte d’Ivoire.
Each year, over 200,000 tons of plastic waste flow into lagoons, rivers, and oceans, severely damaging coastal ecosystems and posing public health risks. Over the past 50 years, the country has lost 95% of its mangroves and more than 80% of its forest cover within a century.
Through BIOFIN, Côte d’Ivoire is determined to reverse this trend by strengthening resource mobilization and involving all stakeholders in preserving its natural heritage for future generations.