Lastly, this solution has included capacity-building activities and awareness-raising meetings across all 21 provinces and the capital since 2022. For capacity-building, trainings have been provided online and in-person, while forums and workshops were also organized for broader discussions. Awareness-raising meetings have targeted specific local decision-makers and have been conducted in-person.  

The objective of these activities is to equip local actors with the knowledge and skills needed for environmental management and budgeting aligned with the NRUF, through exercises on planning, execution reporting, and monitoring and evaluation of local environmental budgets. Trainings have also focused on the Environmental Budget and Expenditure Database, helping local governments to disclose their information and improving data-driven planning and decision-making.  

 Moreover, UNDP BIOFIN is working with the government of Mongolia in the development of an expenditure taxonomy, which will provide a standardized categorization of environmental expenditures, adding clarity and consistency to budget reporting.  

BIOFIN and the National Audit Office of Mongolia jointly assessed the implementation level of the NRUF and examined institutional and regulatory gaps affecting law enforcement. The review found that weak enforcement resulted from legal ambiguities, inconsistent regulations, and ineffective coordination among government agencies. Following this process, BIOFIN provided technical assistance to develop revised regulations that address these legal ambiguities.  

Beyond regulatory enhancements, a fundamental component was strengthening cooperation and communication between government agencies — ensuring that the NRUF and its revised regulations are understood and effectively implemented. This is particularly important since local governments are responsible for incorporating the NRUF, a national law, into their budget processes. To support this, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) began to issue bi-annual budget call circulars: official instructions that explain the procedures to prepare next fiscal year’s budget, helping local governments to incorporate biodiversity expenditures. The MoF also increased efforts to review and approve dedicated budgets for environmental protection and natural resource rehabilitation.  

Drawing on empowerment theory, the project focused on three dimensions:

• Personal capacity-building (climate education, financial literacy, leadership, and domestic violence prevention).
• Support networks (monthly women’s group meetings).
• Community engagement (collaborating with external partners to improve the local environment).

This approach enabled women to recognize their potential and overcome feelings of disempowerment.

The Project gains access into communities through formal institutional channels and collaborates with the communities to better understand local needs, which informs the service plan design. They leverage community resources to conduct promotional activities and post repair service notices. Service offerings cover home repair such as kitchen and bathroom renovations, plumbing, electrical work, appliance fixes, lock and screen replacement, pipe unclogging, waterproofing, as well as home installations like setting up appliance, faucet, lighting, and toilet.

In order to accurately determine the size of the Cathaya argyrophylla population in the Nature Reserve and to keep track of its basic status, we attached durable, unique identification tags to each tree. Each nameplate has a unique serial number, species name (Cathaya argyrophylla ), protection level, and a customized QR code. Along with the tagging, a comprehensive "health check" is performed on each tree, recording all data to create a "personal profile". Key parameters recorded include: serial number, location coordinates (latitude and longitude), elevation, tree height, DBH (diameter at breast height), crown spread, vigor of growth, slope direction, slope position, soil exposure status, associated plant species, and the presence of any pests, diseases, mechanical damages, dead branches, or other visible conditions.

Drawing on empowerment theory, the project focused on three dimensions:

• Personal capacity-building (climate education, financial literacy, leadership, and domestic violence prevention).
• Support networks (monthly women’s group meetings).
• Community engagement (collaborating with external partners to improve the local environment).

This approach enabled women to recognize their potential and overcome feelings of disempowerment.

Funds raised were used both to cover reforestation costs and to create hundreds of green wages and jobs. On the one hand, Costa Rica aims to reach 60% of forest cover by 2030, and seedlings require ongoing care to ensure they survive and thrive. On the other hand, the socioeconomic conditions of already vulnerable communities in the northern region of the country worsened with the COVID-19 pandemic.

#Footprints4ourFuture addresses these two challenges in an integrated way. Each tree planted comes with a five-year maintenance plan to ensure its survival. This plan is implemented by local workers who plant and prune trees, improving the living conditions of vulnerable populations and providing a sustainable source of income beyond the period of the pandemic. This approach also contributes to raising local awareness and promoting community ownership of reforestation efforts.

Donors can contribute to the campaign through different packages/amounts: “My Footprint” (one tree for 15 USD), “Family Footprint” (10 trees for USD 150), “Small Business Footprint” (100 trees for USD 1,500), and “Corporate Footprint” (1,000 trees for USD 15,000). 

These packages can be purchased on the campaign’s website, that launch to a national account for FUNBAM. It is also possible to contribute by directly making bank transfers to an account in dollars or Costa Rican colones, or quickly donate using SINPE Móvil, the country’s instant mobile money transfer system. Companies and organizations, as well as Embassies made the transfer through this modality under a signed agreement with FUNBAM (the executing agency). Initially, it was also possible to donate through UNDP’s international platform, which was later removed since outreach activities were nationally focused.

Moreover, through a partnership with the corporate hardware store Ferretería EPA, customers in seven physical stores are invited to donate their spare change and complement to plant a tree, reaching those who may not have been initially aware of the campaign. 

Finally, for the 1,000-tree corporate package, meetings were arranged with potential partner companies to encourage collaboration. Embassies such as Spain, Italy and others also used this modality. 

Following the development of the legislative and regulatory framework for issuing green bonds, it was also necessary to create incentives that enhance their attractiveness for both issuers and investors. With BIOFIN’s advocacy and in close collaboration with the Working Group, two key incentives were established.  

First, investors benefit from a 15% exemption in withholding tax on green bonds listed on a Zambian exchange with a maturity of at least three years. This measure encourages investment in projects with positive environmental outcomes and accelerates resource mobilization. It also motivates potential issuers, who can expect stronger investor demand and, consequently, higher returns on their bonds.  

Second, the SEC introduced a 50% reduction in green bond registration fees in Zambia. By lowering issuance costs, this measure further strengthens the attractiveness of the market for issuers.  

Since 2018, UNDP BIOFIN has organized various capacity building workshops and provided support towards the development of the green bonds market in Zambia, engaging with key financial sector regulators. These activities have been instrumental in the formulation of the Green Bonds Guidelines and Listing Rules, and have also included targeted trainings for the SEC on the review and approval of green bond applications. 

As an example, a series of capacity-building sessions to scale up the market for green bond issuances in Zambia was delivered to members of the Working Group and other key stakeholders (e.g., investment brokers, transaction advisors, institutional investors, etc) in July 2025. The sessions covered topics such as the fundamentals of green bonds, the structuring process, and eligibility requirements.  

BIOFIN has also provided technical assistance to high-potential green bonds issuers in Zambia. In 2024, a global call was launched to offer tailored guidance for five companies or other prospective issuers. This support includes drafting green bond frameworks, identifying eligible project pipelines, liaising with investment banks, and engaging second-party opinion providers for certification. It also provides advisory services on aligning bonds with international standards, impact reporting, and market positioning.