The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) and Banco Comercial e de Investimentos (BCI) have signed an addendum to the Bio Card partnership agreement, renewing a collaboration that began in 2017 and reaffirming their shared commitment to biodiversity conservation in Mozambique.

The signing reinforces a partnership that, over the years, has connected financial innovation, social responsibility and conservation through a mechanism that channels resources to biodiversity projects in the country.

During the ceremony, BCI Chief Executive Officer Francisco Costa highlighted the value and longevity of the initiative, stating that it is “a partnership of which we are very proud” and that he believes it continues “to progress well, to develop, to be maintained, and to grow hand in hand between BCI and BIOFUND.” He also stressed that one of the major challenges is to “continue increasing the number of cards and the number of times the card is used,” so that the amounts channelled to conservation can become even more significant.

For his part, BIOFUND Board Chair Carlos dos Santos said that the occasion symbolises more than an institutional formality: “today we celebrate more than the signing of an addendum” and “the continuation of a shared vision,” based on the creation of “concrete, lasting and credible mechanisms” to support biodiversity conservation in Mozambique.

In his speech, the BIOFUND Chair also highlighted the transformative strength of the initiative, stressing that “biodiversity conservation is not only a matter for specialists or donors,” but also “a cause in which ordinary citizens can take part through their everyday choices.” He further added that this partnership shows that “the financial sector can be a strategic ally of the common good.”

Launched in 2017, the Bio Card was conceived as a mechanism to support biodiversity conservation through a banking product associated with social and environmental responsibility. The addendum now signed reinforces the institutional maturity of this cooperation by updating clauses related to the duration of the agreement, the obligations of the parties, quarterly information-sharing, confidentiality, integrity and risk management. The document also maintains the framework under which BCI channels 200 meticais for each Bio Card issued to support BIOFUND’s activities in favour of biodiversity conservation.

Over the years, funds associated with the Bio Card have supported various conservation initiatives in Mozambique. With this new step, BIOFUND and BCI reaffirm their ambition to mobilise more people, finance more solutions and strengthen innovative conservation mechanisms in the country.