Deadline: 17-Jun-2026
The Government of Indonesia and UNDP BIOFIN are seeking a qualified civil society organization to implement a biodiversity credit pilot project in Jambi Province. The initiative aims to test biodiversity credits as an innovative conservation finance mechanism that supports community-based forest management, biodiversity protection, and sustainable livelihoods. One organization will receive up to USD 60,000 to implement the 12-month pilot and generate lessons for future biodiversity financing policies in Indonesia.
Program Overview
The Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Indonesia Government, is launching a biodiversity credit pilot project in Jambi Province.
The initiative seeks to explore biodiversity credits as an innovative financing mechanism that can:
- Generate new funding for biodiversity conservation
- Support community-based forest management
- Strengthen sustainable livelihood opportunities
- Encourage private sector investment in conservation
- Help close Indonesia’s biodiversity finance gap
The project aligns with Indonesia’s biodiversity conservation priorities and international commitments under the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
What Are Biodiversity Credits?
Biodiversity credits are market-based financial instruments that reward measurable conservation outcomes.
These credits aim to:
- Create financial incentives for biodiversity protection
- Mobilize private investment for conservation
- Support sustainable natural resource management
- Generate long-term funding for local communities
- Promote ecosystem restoration and conservation activities
The pilot will assess how biodiversity credits can be implemented effectively within community-managed forest areas.
Key Focus Areas
The project focuses on:
Biodiversity Finance
- Biodiversity credit development
- Conservation finance mechanisms
- Sustainable environmental investment
- Resource mobilization for biodiversity protection
Community-Based Forest Management
- Village forest conservation
- Community participation
- Sustainable natural resource management
- Local governance strengthening
Social and Environmental Safeguards
- Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)
- Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI)
- Community consultations
- Social impact assessments
Monitoring and Verification
- Biodiversity baseline assessments
- Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV)
- Environmental performance tracking
- Evidence-based conservation planning
Project Objectives
The pilot seeks to:
- Test biodiversity credit feasibility at the community level
- Strengthen biodiversity financing mechanisms
- Improve conservation outcomes in village forest areas
- Support sustainable livelihoods linked to conservation
- Generate evidence for future biodiversity policies
- Develop scalable models for biodiversity credit implementation
Funding Details
Grant Amount
- Up to USD 60,000
Number of Awards
- One grant will be awarded
Project Duration
- 12 months
Implementation Period
- June 2026 to May 2027
Geographic Focus
- Community-managed forest areas in Jambi Province, Indonesia
Scope of Work
The selected organization will undertake several technical and operational activities.
Inception and Feasibility Assessment
- Conduct biodiversity credit feasibility study
- Review local conditions and opportunities
- Prepare an inception report
- Develop implementation methodology and work plan
Biodiversity and Social Assessments
- Conduct biodiversity baseline assessments
- Implement FPIC processes
- Undertake social assessments
- Integrate GESI considerations throughout implementation
Biodiversity Credit Development
- Prepare Project Identification Note (PIN)
- Develop Project Design Document (PDD)
- Apply recognized biodiversity credit methodologies
- Align project design with accepted standards
Monitoring and Reporting
- Establish MRV systems
- Monitor project performance
- Document implementation results
- Generate lessons learned
Policy and Knowledge Development
- Develop policy recommendations
- Support stakeholder engagement
- Produce evidence for future biodiversity financing initiatives
- Contribute to national biodiversity policy development
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants must be:
- Civil society organizations (CSOs)
- Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
Organizations must demonstrate:
- At least three years of operational experience in Indonesia
- Experience in forest conservation projects
- Experience in community-based natural resource management
- Experience in rural development initiatives
- Direct engagement with local communities
Preferred Qualifications
Applicants should have proven expertise in:
Conservation and Community Development
- Biodiversity conservation
- Sustainable livelihood development
- Community participation approaches
- Environmental management
Biodiversity and Carbon Markets
- Biodiversity credit projects
- Carbon credit development
- Conservation finance mechanisms
Standards and Methodologies
Experience with:
- Verra
- Plan Vivo
- Gold Standard
- Other biodiversity credit frameworks
Stakeholder Engagement
- Government collaboration
- Private sector partnerships
- Development partner coordination
- Civil society engagement
Organizational Capacity
- Project management
- Financial administration
- Compliance and reporting
- UNDP or UN agency project implementation
How to Apply
Step 1: Review Eligibility Requirements
Confirm organizational eligibility, technical expertise, and minimum experience requirements.
Step 2: Develop Technical Proposal
Prepare a proposal demonstrating:
- Biodiversity credit expertise
- Community engagement experience
- Implementation methodology
- Project management capacity
Step 3: Demonstrate Relevant Experience
Provide evidence of:
- Similar projects completed
- Community-based conservation initiatives
- Biodiversity or carbon credit experience
- Policy and stakeholder engagement work
Step 4: Submit Required Documentation
Include all organizational, technical, and financial information required under the call for proposals.
Why This Initiative Matters
This pilot is significant because it:
- Tests innovative biodiversity financing solutions
- Supports conservation beyond traditional grant funding
- Creates incentives for biodiversity protection
- Strengthens community forest governance
- Generates evidence for future biodiversity markets
- Encourages private sector participation in conservation
- Supports Indonesia’s biodiversity and climate goals
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Insufficient experience in community-based conservation
- Weak understanding of biodiversity credit systems
- Limited stakeholder engagement strategy
- Inadequate FPIC and social safeguard planning
- Lack of biodiversity baseline assessment methodology
- Weak monitoring and verification framework
- Failure to demonstrate policy engagement capacity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main purpose of the project?
The project aims to test biodiversity credits as a financing mechanism for community-based biodiversity conservation.
Where will the pilot be implemented?
The pilot will be conducted in village forest areas of Jambi Province, Indonesia.
Who can apply?
Eligible applicants are civil society organizations and NGOs with relevant conservation and community development experience.
How much funding is available?
One selected organization may receive up to USD 60,000.
How long will the project run?
The implementation period is 12 months, from June 2026 through May 2027.
Is experience with biodiversity or carbon credits required?
Yes. Applicants should demonstrate experience with biodiversity credits, carbon markets, or related conservation finance mechanisms.
What key deliverables are expected?
Major outputs include a feasibility study, biodiversity baseline assessments, FPIC implementation, PIN and PDD preparation, MRV systems, policy recommendations, and a lessons-learned report.
Conclusion
The Indonesia Biodiversity Credit Pilot Project represents an important step toward developing innovative conservation finance mechanisms that support both biodiversity protection and community development. Through testing biodiversity credits in community-managed forests, the initiative seeks to generate practical evidence, strengthen sustainable financing models, and contribute to long-term biodiversity conservation and policy development across Indonesia.
For more information, visit UNDP.