The United Nations Development Programme Biodiversity Finance Initiative (UNDP BIOFIN), in collaboration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), under the auspices of the Green Finance Mainstreaming Working Group (GFMWG), invites Expressions of Interest (EOI) from organizations and institutions interested in issuing green bonds in Zambia. 

About BIOFIN and Zambia’s Green Bond Market Development

BIOFIN is a global initiative implemented by UNDP to support countries in identifying, developing, and implementing innovative finance solutions for biodiversity conservation. In Zambia, BIOFIN has spearheaded transformative initiatives to strengthen the green bond market, including:

• Development and gazetting of Zambia’s 2019 Green Bond Guidelines.
• Advocacy efforts that led to:
  • Exemption of the 15% investors’ interest income tax on green bonds.
  • A 50% reduction in registration fees for green bonds by the SEC.

Recently, these efforts led Zambia’s landmark and inaugural USD 200 million green bond issuance. The development of the green bond market is anchored in Zambia’s environmental policies and strategies, including the Green Growth Strategy, the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs). Green bonds play a pivotal role in financing initiatives that support biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, sustainable development, and a green economy transition.

What We Are Offering

As part of Zambia’s green finance agenda, UNDP BIOFIN Zambia, in partnership with SEC and the GFMWG, is offering technical handholding support to potential green bond issuers. This support includes:

• Capacity building and technical assistance to at least five entities towards green bond issuances in the local market.
• Focused support for high-potential issuers, including tailored guidance on:
  • Drafting green bond frameworks. 
  • Identifying eligible green projects or pipelines (e.g., biodiversity conservation, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, waste management, or green infrastructure).
  • Liaising with investment banks, and
  • Engaging second-party opinion providers for certification.
• Advisory services on alignment with international green bond standards.
• Guidance on impact reporting, certification, and market positioning.
• Support with stakeholder engagement to foster collaboration and investor confidence.

Eligibility

We welcome EOIs from:

• Corporations, private or financial institutions, and public entities seeking to fund green project pipelines.
• Organizations operating in sectors such as biodiversity conservation, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, waste management, and green infrastructure.

How to Express Interest

To express your interest, please click the link below, which will direct you to a questionnaire designed to capture the details of your project. The questionnaire will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. We encourage you to share the link with other companies that may benefit from this initiative: https://forms.office.com/e/hyk6QpWAex

Why Participate?

This initiative offers an unparalleled opportunity to access technical expertise, build capacity, and unlock green finance opportunities that contribute to Zambia’s environmental and development goals. By participating, you will play a vital role in advancing the Global Biodiversity Framework, Zambia’s Green Growth Strategy, and the NBSAP, while supporting sustainable economic growth and biodiversity conservation.

For further inquiries, please contact Mr. Benson Mwileli, UNDP BIOFIN Zambia’s national coordinator, at benson.mwileli@undp.org.

Let us work together to create a sustainable, resilient, and biodiverse future for Zambia.