The BioFA Project is represented at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference today – with a deep dive into sustainable entrepreneurship at the event on Building an Alliance for Innovative Green SMEs. Moderated by Urmi Goswami of The Economic Times, we’ll feature opening insights from global leaders like Stephan Contius (F20), Melanie Hauenstein (UNDP), and Diane Holdorf (WBCSD).
The session will explore how SMEs can drive circularity and low-carbon economies – with a panel discussion focused on entrepreneurship policy frameworks, speakers such as Arnold Kreilhuber (UNEP), Moustapha Kamal Gueye (ILO), Hajnalka Petrics (FAO), Dunja Krause (UNRISD), and Laura Marie Edinger-Schons will each offer insights on how their organizations support green enterprises and SMEs through policies, funding, and resources.
We will also feature SME leaders from Indonesia, Zambia, and Malawi, who shared their experiences in eco-inclusive innovation. Adi Reza, CEO of Mycotech in Indonesia, with share his view on scaling up innovative, sustainable materials derived from fungi. Farhana Mulla Handondo, Co-founder of Forest Africa Zambia Ltd, and Thokozani Chimasula, Founder of Tac-Maz Sustainable Ventures in Malawi, will share their journey of building resilient green businesses focused on sustainable agriculture and forest management.
What is the Biodiversity Finance Accelerator (BioFA)?
BioFA mobilises biodiversity investments and scales biodiversity-positive entrepreneurship, thus contributing to a sustainable use, conservation and restoration of ecosystems in Malawi and Zambia. Biodiversity-positive micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are supported to access finance and invest into growth while financial institutions and other ecosystem players are trained in conservation finance to co-create innovative financing instruments for biodiversity MSMEs.
This project is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German Bundestag. Please refer to the IKI webpage for further information: https://www.international-climate-initiative.com/en
What are biodiversity-positive enterprises?
Biodiversity-positive enterprises have developed business models which from the outset are designed to conserve and restore ecosystems and thus create positive biodiversity impacts.
These business models focus on:
- Sustainable agriculture
- Ecotourism
- Reforestation
- Invasive species management
- Provision of resource alternatives
- Biodiversity-based products
Please find more information on the business models of newly selected biodiversity-positive enterprises for the BioFA business acceleration programme under the News section!
