Afrique du Nord

The Biodiversity Partners Program (BiPP) is a project-based learning and training programme that blends the most recent research about biodiversity regeneration and nature-based solutions and innovative practices related to managing a project in a complex world. This acceleration programme provides practical support to the conceptualisation and refinement of pro-nature business or project ideas. It is a six-month journey that brings together changemakers from diverse sectors.

The BiPP is open to Southern African-based entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs living in Angola, Botswana, Eswatini/Swaziland, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Applicants should have an existing business or project or a good concept of what they want to do, as well as being committed to the duration of the programme - six months - and able to travel to South Africa for the sponsored in-person session.

There is a nominal entry fee of R1 000 to secure your commitment. If you are unable to meet this amount please contact us. All costs for the week in South Africa are covered, including flights, accommodation and meals.

The programme starts on 24 April and the final pitch event is on 6 October 2023.

Candidates will be selected based on their application, motivation, and the impact on biodiversity restoration and the potential in terms of innovation and the potential impact for society of its project. The potential of scalability and replicability of the project are also part of the criterion upon which the jury will assess each application.

The Biodiversity Partners Program aims to support the emergence and acceleration of new regenerative practices on biodiversity in a wide spectrum of sectors. We understand innovative and pro nature projects as projects that:
- Do not simply focus on the conservation of nature, but encompass a much deeper ambition in order to bring together human development and biodiversity restoration.
- Establish a new method or practice that improve biodiversity considerations substantially in a given context.

All applicants will be notified by email by end-March 2023.

Each module has 8 hours of online contact time. Total time for online modules is 64 hours. There will also be some reading and short assignments to complete. Phase 3, which is in-person, is a week session (7 days) plus two days travelling time.

You will need to upload a CV along with your application and can upload other documents or videos or images as supporting evidence of your work. You can also upload a video that you make that describes your business or project and why you are keen to participate in the BiPP.

A jury comprised of representatives of the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Sustainability Institute and its associates will review all applications and select the finalists.