The Ministry of Environment and Ecological Transition (MINETE) of Côte d'Ivoire, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the BIOFIN initiative, organized a technical workshop in Abidjan from September 29 to 30, 2026. The workshop aimed to finalize and validate the costing of activities under the updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (SPANB). This effort is part of the Evaluation of Biodiversity Financing Needs (EBF), a process to determine the financial resources required to implement priority conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of biodiversity actions in Côte d'Ivoire.
The workshop follows two previous sessions held on July 15-16 and August 27-28, 2026, which identified necessary inputs for costing SPANB activities and undertook an in-depth analysis of associated costs. However, certain actions and financial assumptions could not be examined in detail due to the scope of the work. Estelle Kouakou, national coordinator of the BIOFIN initiative, noted that the current workshop seeks to address these gaps. The event brings together around thirty participants from public administrations, technical agencies, universities, research centers, civil society organizations, the private sector, and technical and financial partners.
Amari Veronique, coordinator of SPANB, speaking on behalf of the Director-General of Environment, highlighted several challenges to be addressed, including revising certain costs, precision in quantities and execution durations of activities, and incorporating specialized themes related to agriculture, forest resources, pollinators, and research centers. The primary objective of this workshop is to achieve a consolidated and technically validated basis for the costing of the updated SPANB. This involves finalizing the work of thematic groups, examining unstudied transversal actions, and integrating contributions from key structures such as the Ministry of Water and Forests and the Ministry of Agriculture.
During the two-day workshop, participants are examining the coherence between actions, activities, and inputs. Special attention is given to governance mechanisms of the strategy, monitoring and evaluation activities, institutional communication, and financing and risk management arrangements. The diversity of actors represented aims to ensure an inclusive and consensual validation of biodiversity financing assumptions in Côte d'Ivoire.
The workshop's expected outcome is a consolidated document on SPANB costing, which will be a crucial reference for identifying the financial needs of the biodiversity sector and mobilizing future resources necessary for implementing the country's national and international commitments. The document will inform efforts to secure adequate funding for conservation and sustainable development initiatives in Côte d'Ivoire.
The collaboration between MINETE, UNDP, and various stakeholders underscores the commitment to effectively address biodiversity conservation challenges in Côte d'Ivoire. By engaging a wide range of actors, the workshop ensures that the validated costs reflect a broad consensus and are grounded in technical realities. This approach is critical for the successful implementation of the SPANB and, ultimately, for achieving the country's biodiversity goals.
The next steps following the workshop include the finalization of the SPANB costing document and its presentation to relevant authorities. The document is expected to serve as a foundational tool for resource mobilization and for guiding the implementation of biodiversity conservation and sustainable use actions in Côte d'Ivoire.
Key points
- Côte d'Ivoire's Ministry of Environment and Ecological Transition holds a technical workshop to validate costs of national biodiversity strategy.
- The workshop aims to finalize and validate the costing of activities under the updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.
- The event brings together a diverse group of stakeholders to ensure an inclusive and consensual validation of biodiversity financing assumptions.
