Liberia Charts New Path to Nature-Positive Development with Launch of Biodiversity Finance Plan

The Government of Liberia, with support from the United Nations system through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has launched the development of the country’s first Biodiversity Finance Plan (BFP), marking an important step toward strengthening the financing of biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable development. The initiative was officially unveiled during a high-level inception workshop held at the One UN House in Monrovia. 

The workshop convened more than 40 representatives from government institutions, including the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), alongside development partners, civil society organizations, academia, and private-sector stakeholders. The gathering reflected a shared commitment to addressing biodiversity finance challenges through partnership, national ownership, and coordinated action. 

The Biodiversity Finance Plan is being developed under the Global Environment Facility’s Eighth Replenishment Cycle (GEF-8) Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), a global UNDP-led programme that supports countries in identifying financing needs, assessing funding gaps, and developing innovative financial solutions to advance biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. Liberia joined the BIOFIN programme in 2024, becoming part of a global network of countries that have collectively mobilized more than US$1.6 billion for biodiversity conservation since 2012. 

Opening the workshop, Louis Kuukpen, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, underscored the central role biodiversity plays in advancing sustainable development.

“Liberia’s rich biodiversity provides immense social, environmental, and economic value, yet investments in its protection remain insufficient. BIOFIN offers a proven methodology to assess biodiversity expenditures, identify financing gaps, and develop innovative solutions aligned with Liberia’s national development priorities and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework,” Kuukpen said. 

He emphasized that biodiversity conservation extends beyond environmental protection and is critical to economic growth, food security, climate resilience, and human well-being. He further called for broad stakeholder engagement, stressing that biodiversity finance is a shared development agenda that requires strong partnerships and collective action. 

Highlighting the importance of sustainable financing for Liberia’s natural resources, Emmanuel Massaquoi, BIOFIN Project Manager, noted that the country’s forests, wetlands, and coastal ecosystems are central to national prosperity and resilience.

“Liberia's forests, wetlands, and coastal ecosystems are the foundation of our economy, food security, and climate resilience. Yet the financial systems meant to protect them are stretched thin. This Biodiversity Finance Plan will help us identify funding gaps and unlock resources from public, private, and international sources to secure our natural heritage for generations to come.” 

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Austin Togbah emphasized the need for innovative and coordinated financing approaches to support Liberia’s biodiversity objectives.

“Achieving our biodiversity objectives requires more than sound policies. It demands sustainable, innovative, and well-coordinated financing mechanisms that mobilize public and private resources and deliver measurable environmental, social, and economic returns.” 

He noted that the Biodiversity Finance Plan presents an opportunity to improve the efficiency of biodiversity expenditures, identify financing gaps, and align investments with national priorities, including Liberia’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The initiative also reinforces efforts to integrate environmental and climate considerations into national planning, budgeting, and public financial management systems. 

Representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency highlighted the plan’s alignment with Liberia’s international biodiversity commitments, particularly Target 19 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which calls for significantly increasing financial resources for biodiversity-related activities. They noted that the Biodiversity Finance Plan will directly support implementation of Liberia’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. 

Speaking on behalf of the Forestry Development Authority, Blama S. Goll, Technical Manager of the Liberia Forest Licensing Department, stressed the importance of connecting conservation objectives with sustainable financing solutions.

“Nature is our most vital asset, yet protecting it faces a critical funding gap. Today, we are not just talking about conservation; we are shaping the economic frameworks that will secure our ecosystems for the future.” 

He called for practical and actionable solutions capable of unlocking investment for a nature-positive economy and strengthening the link between environmental goals and financial mechanisms. 

The workshop adopted a participatory approach, combining technical presentations, plenary discussions, and validation exercises to build consensus around the proposed methodology and implementation roadmap. Participants left with a shared understanding of the Biodiversity Finance Plan’s objectives, agreed roles and responsibilities, and a clear pathway for the next phase of implementation. 

Valued at US$314,000 over three years (2025-2027), the GEF-8 BIOFIN project will assess biodiversity finance needs, identify funding gaps, and develop practical financing solutions that support Liberia’s national biodiversity priorities. The resulting Biodiversity Finance Plan will serve as a strategic roadmap for mobilizing resources, improving financing efficiency, and advancing Liberia’s transition toward a nature-positive and climate-resilient development pathway. 

Through initiatives such as BIOFIN, the United Nations continues to support Liberia’s efforts to align biodiversity conservation with sustainable economic growth, climate resilience, and long-term national development objectives, ensuring that natural capital remains a foundation for prosperity and well-being for generations to come.