In recent decades, biodiversity finance tools and solutions have demonstrated their importance for achieving biodiversity goals and broader sustainable development objectives. Improved choice, design and implementation of effective, well-tailored finance solutions will strengthen countries’ chances of achieving national and global biodiversity targets.
The Biodiversity Finance Initiative – BIOFIN – was developed to provide a comprehensive methodology for governments to: 1) review the existing policy context, 2) measure expenditure levels for biodiversity, 3) calculate future financial needs and 4) design strategic plans to deploy the right mix of finance solutions, tailored to the country context. The methodology has been conducted in 30 countries to date, with many now having reached the implementation stage.
BIOFIN is supported by the Governments of Germany, Flanders, Norway, Switzerland and the European Union. The initiative is part of UNDP’s Global Environmental Finance (UNDP-GEF) unit, hosted by the Ecosystems and Biodiversity (EBD) cluster under UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS).
BIOFIN’s first phase (2012-2019) enabled full assessments and initial implementation of finance plan elements in target countries. Based on lessons learned, a new and comprehensive version of the BIOFIN Methodology was developed. Significant scaling up of finance solutions is required in all countries to address the biodiversity finance challenge. BIOFIN’s second phase (2018 – 2022) focuses mainly on the implementation of prioritised finance solutions while also allowing additional countries to undertake the initial assessments and create the finance plan. See www.biodiversityfinance.org for further information.
The BIOFIN Team is seeking an individual consultant to support BIOFIN countries and the BIOFIN team to improve the knowledge management function, including to develop new knowledge products, analyse results to date, and assist with the implementation of the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan. The individual consultant will work under the direct supervision of the BIOFIN Manager. The Consultant will work in close collaboration with the global BIOFIN Team, national BIOFIN Teams, UNDP Country Offices to provide the required services.