The 3rd session of the Members’ Assembly of the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity – BIOFUND took place on the afternoon of 3 July 2025, in the City of Maputo, bringing together around 82 participants, including representatives and guests from governmental and non-governmental institutions linked to the conservation sector.

During the session, the 2024 Annual Activities and Accounts Report was presented. Throughout 2024, BIOFUND strengthened its position as a national and international reference in biodiversity conservation financing solutions, established strategic partnerships with environmental funds from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and provided capacity-building to eight Conservation Trust Funds (CTFs). At the national level, it reinforced collaboration with local partners in the implementation of projects in conservation areas, staff capacity building and civil society awareness, with a particular focus on young people.

In financial terms, BIOFUND achieved a high budget execution rate of 96%, of which 19.3 million USD were directly channelled to project beneficiaries, demonstrating efficient management aligned with its core mission.

During the session, Prof. Jorge Ferrão, representing the Board of Directors in his capacity as Vice-President of the body, stated:

“We continue to take pride, for over the years BIOFUND has consolidated its position as a robust institution at national and international level. And all this work is the result of the efforts of the BIOFUND team, the partners, and all the beneficiaries, to whom I extend my sincere gratitude.”

Despite the positive results, the importance of strengthening the monitoring of BIOFUND’s impact on the ecosystems where it operates was highlighted, as well as investing in innovative financing mechanisms to ensure the Foundation’s long-term sustainability.

The session included the election of 26 new ordinary members of BIOFUND (16 individual and 10 institutional), as well as the renewal of the mandates of the governing bodies. Noteworthy were the end of the mandates of the Chairperson of the Board (Narciso Matos) and the Vice-President (Jorge Ferrão), and the election of 4 new members of the Board of Directors and 1 new member of the Supervisory Board. Both governing bodies will meet soon to elect the new Chairperson, Vice-President and the new Chairperson of the Supervisory Board.

The session was followed by a scientific presentation on the Mozambique Mountains Initiative, aimed at promoting the conservation and valorisation of the country’s mountain ecosystems.