In the second week of February 2026, BIOFUND met with the European Union Ambassador to Mozambique, Antonino Maggiore, to take stock of the final phase of PROMOVE Biodiversity and align potential areas of cooperation for 2026, strengthening institutional dialogue between the two parties.

BIOFUND, represented by its Chair of the Board of Directors, Carlos dos Santos, its Executive Director, Luís Honwana, and their team, hosted the visit of the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Mozambique, Antonino Maggiore, accompanied by Anne-Ael Pohu (Head of the Resilience and Climate Change Team) and Aude Guignard (Environment and Climate Change Programme Officer).

The meeting focused on presenting BIOFUND since its establishment, including its main strategic objectives, key activities, organisational structure, and mechanisms for managing both its own funds and third-party funds, while also reinforcing dialogue with the EU Delegation in Mozambique.

One of the highlights was the completion, this year, of the EU-funded PROMOVE Biodiversity programme (2019–2026). Within this support framework, results and relevant actions were shared, with a focus on three main areas:

1. Strengthening management in Gilé National Park

• Opening 65 km of boundary demarcation tracks within the park;
• Reintroduction of wildlife, including the translocation of 200 buffalo;
• Introduction of real-time communication and ecological monitoring technologies.

2. Transformative investments in APAIPS

• Installation of offices;
• Recruitment of staff;
• Acquisition of maritime and land transport assets.

3. Progress in the process to declare Mount Mabu as a Community Conservation Area

• Outreach and engagement with communities, with a focus on community-based organisation for conservation.

The programme’s contribution to applied research and the development of community management tools was also emphasised, including economic feasibility analyses of value chains and mechanisms to strengthen financial sustainability.

Beyond the programme review, the meeting explored potential areas for synergy and cooperation, including initiatives such as Green Value for Growth, focused on export-oriented value chains (coffee, soybeans, and cashew nuts) in Manica and Zambézia, as well as activities in Transboundary Conservation Areas based on a landscape approach.

The parties also discussed opportunities for greater private-sector engagement, including payments for ecosystem services and biodiversity offsets, as well as the need to promote and deepen policy and technical dialogues—nationally and internationally—on the importance of biodiversity and its complementarity with priority agendas such as energy, digitalisation, education, tourism, and innovative investments.

The meeting helped strengthen institutional ties between BIOFUND and the European Union Delegation in Mozambique, share information and ideas, identify synergies, and align perspectives for planning joint activities throughout 2026.