12th March 2026, Skopje - Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning are partnering with UNDP to implement the BIOFIN Program, which seeks to develop a comprehensive national Biodiversity Finance Plan. Today, as part of the Program, the first meeting of the Project Board took place. The Board will oversee the implementation of activities and make key decisions related to the Program.
The Program, funded by a UNDP grant, takes an “innovative, stepwise and adaptable approach” to assist the countries in this process (91 countries involved to date, including the Republic of North Macedonia). The Plan includes a thorough analysis of the country’s economy, focusing on mapping the existing financing mechanisms, subsidies and the national financial needs for biodiversity conservation and sustainable management.
Deputy Minister of Finance, Nikolche Jankulovski, delivered an address at the meeting, expressing satisfaction with the Ministry being a partner in this crucial project, underscoring the contribution to efforts that strengthen biodiversity protection and promote the sustainable management of our natural resources.
“Macedonia has been extended longstanding and valuable support from the UNDP. We highly appreciate UNDP’s continued partnership, expertise and commitment in supporting our efforts to advance reforms, strengthen institutional capacities and promote sustainable and inclusive development. This cooperation represents an important pillar in our joint efforts to address key development challenges and to build a more resilient and prosperous future for our citizens. Improving biodiversity financing is essential for achieving global biodiversity targets, protecting ecosystems and supporting sustainable development”, Jankulovski said, highlighting the strong MoF’s commitment to further strengthening the partnership with UNDP.
According to him, partnership with UNDP exemplifies how international cooperation can make a real difference, underscoring thereby that by working together, we are able to combine local knowledge with global expertise, ensuring that our efforts are strategic, evidence-based and impactful.
Meanwhile, the Project Team is working on analyzing and preparing several documents to lay the groundwork for the final deliverable - Biodiversity Finance Plan, which will offer recommendations to increase the available funding, enhance the cost-efficiency and propose strategies to reduce the needs to a level where national biodiversity targets can be achieved. The Program promotes active experience sharing among the countries, offering a platform for knowledge exchange and continuous technical support to the national teams.
