Drive a Nature-Positive Economy with BIRA
Africa's leading Biodiversity Investment Researcher and Accelerator
About Us
Our Thesis
We envision an Africa where nature is not just protected — it’s powering prosperity. At BIRA, we unlock funding for nature-positive enterprises across the continent, helping scale solutions that restore ecosystems, drive green jobs, and build resilience for a thriving future.
Africa is home to a quarter of the world’s biodiversity — yet it receives only 6% of global biodiversity funding. We exist to change that funding mismatch.
Our Mission
Our Journey
BIRA began as a bold collaboration of partners who saw the untapped potential of nature markets on the continent. Over the past three years, the BIRA coalition successfully designed and implemented Africa’s first and only biodiversity accelerator — with support from FSD Africa Investments — connecting high-impact nature-positive enterprises with funders, and building investor-ready pipelines.
Beyond acceleration, BIRA has also played a key role in advancing the development of high-integrity nature markets, offering technical support and thought leadership on biodiversity measurement, innovative financing, and inclusive market design.
Now, we are building on that momentum with our second accelerator, refined to go further and deeper in critical ecosystems across Africa.
What We Do
Accelerating Investments
We strengthen the pipeline of nature-positive enterprises by providing tailored investment readiness support, connecting them with aligned funders, and fostering peer learning and leadership development through Communities of Practice.
Advancing Research
We advance high-integrity nature markets by building robust and credible systems for measuring biodiversity and ecosystems, designing innovative financing mechanisms, and leveraging AI, data & best practices to meaningfully integrate Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) — ensuring conservation efforts are inclusive and impactful.
We accelerate investments in three key sectors with high potential to attract sustainable investments at scale while driving nature-positive growth:
Agriculture
Currently focused on agroforestry and biochar solutions that improve soil health.
Forest Ecosystems
Currently focused on forest ecosystems through climate-smart economies that tap into growing demand for products to increase value of ecosystems.
Blue Economy
Currently focused on mangrove forests that sustainably leverage Africa’s vast ocean resources, and are primed for scaling.
Who We Work With
Nature-Positive Enterprises
In an era where donor funding is becoming increasingly uncertain, we believe that supporting nature-positive enterprises to build sustainable, revenue-generating business models is essential for long-term impact. Our work helps bridge the gap between purpose and profit—empowering mission-driven businesses to attract investment, scale their solutions, and thrive independently.
We partner with organisations developing nature-positive business models across Africa, offering targeted business development and investment readiness support. Our accelerator helps enterprises refine their models, build investor alignment, and access catalytic funding.
Funders' Circle
Africa’s nature-based solutions are underfunded – but funders can lead the shift. Our Funders’ Circle brings together aligned investors committed to closing the biodiversity financing gap. We channel funding to:
- Early access to high-quality African biodiversity projects, aligned with demand-driven use cases.
- Underfunded ecosystems and regions.
- Proven models ready for scale.
Buyers' Club
BIRA is convening a first-of-its-kind Buyers’ Club for organisations committed to shaping Africa’s emerging market for biodiversity certificates.
- Early access to high-quality African biodiversity projects, including support developing projects, aligned with demand-driven use cases.
- Fair and transparent pricing based on market demand.
- Recognition as a first mover in nature credits.
Who We Are
We are a coalition of leaders and experts, with diverse capabilities in conservation models and approaches, business development services, nature markets and blended finance, research and executive training. Together we build systems and solutions needed to unlock Africa’s nature economy.
A center of excellence aiming to be the global hub for learning innovative, African-led conservation approaches designed, developed, and successfully implemented across the continent
A leading provider of forest and nature-based project due diligence and assessment; lending NbS investors and corporate buyer insights to organizations and guidance on presentation and financing propositions.
Our Impact
Kijani Pamoja: The Kilimanjaro Project in Tanzania
The Kilimanjaro Ecosystem Restoration Initiative (KERI), led by Kijani Pamoja, was catalyzed through the Biodiversity Investment and Research Accelerator (BIRA) under the African Leadership University. BIRA challenged the project’s founder to look beyond carbon and explore innovative financial mechanisms for large-scale restoration—laying the groundwork for one of Africa’s first carbon-stacked biodiversity initiatives. Anchored in the Kahe landscape of northern Tanzania, KERI integrates ecological science, community stewardship, and financial innovation to restore 2,000 hectares of degraded land. With support from BIRA partners including CreditNature and Xilva, the project unlocked pioneering funding from UBS Optimus Foundation and La Grammont Foundation, launching a new class of nature investment certificates that place biodiversity at the heart of investable nature recovery.
Upemba National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Forgotten Parks is protecting and restoring one of the oldest National parks in Africa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The inaugural accelerator provided comprehensive feedback and strategic direction, equipping the Upemba team with a robust set of investment readiness recommendations to secure long-term funding for park management and ensure community engagement.
News and Stories
- By Carbon Pulse