South Africa and France have reaffirmed and deepened their long-standing collaboration on biodiversity, climate change and conservation during a high-level bilateral meeting held at the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) in Pretoria.
The meeting between SANBI Chief Executive Officer, Mr Shonisani Munzhedzi, and Director General of the French Biodiversity Agency (OFB), Mr Olivier Thibault, marked a key moment in an ongoing partnership anchored in the 2021 bilateral cooperation agreement between the two countries. This agreement has provided a strong framework for joint action in biodiversity conservation, climate resilience and sustainable development.
During the engagement, Mr Munzhedzi reflected on the significant achievements of current collaborative programmes, including the R76 900 400,00 (€4 million) Spatial Biodiversity Assessment, Prioritisation and Planning (SBAPP) Regional Project, which spans South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique and Malawi and is funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the Fonds Français pour l’Environnement Mondial (FFEM). The project has strengthened biodiversity assessment and planning across the region, aligning closely with the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
The CEOs also highlighted progress under the #SA-FRPartnership4Biodiversity technical exchange (FEXTE), also funded by AFD, which has facilitated knowledge exchange on biodiversity indicators, spatial planning tools and marine conservation governance. These collaborations have included international study tours, participation in global forums such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Conference of the Parties, and the co-development of practical tools for biodiversity prioritisation.
A key milestone during the visit will be the signing of a new FEXTE agreement – Capacities for Nature Finance (CAP4NATFIN) – which aims to strengthen SANBI’s role in shaping an enabling environment for biodiversity financing in South Africa and the broader Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The initiative will draw on French expertise in economic and regulatory instruments for nature finance, positioning biodiversity agencies as central actors in mobilising resources for conservation.
Discussions also focused on future priorities, including the potential development of a second phase of the SBAPP project, with an expanded focus on freshwater and marine ecosystems to complement the largely terrestrial emphasis of the first phase. Both parties emphasised the importance of advancing biodiversity mainstreaming across key sectors such as energy, mining and agriculture, as well as exploring opportunities linked to the just energy transition, including emerging sectors such as green hydrogen.
Nature finance and the biodiversity economy emerged as central themes, with both countries expressing interest in developing innovative, scalable models that balance economic development with ecological sustainability. The French delegation underscored the importance of strong compliance and safeguards to ensure that biodiversity outcomes are not compromised.
The meeting also explored opportunities to strengthen global collaboration through platforms such as the Global Biodiversity Agencies Network (GBAN), with discussions underway to potentially convene a high-level engagement at the upcoming CBD COP17.
Mr Thibault noted that South Africa remains a strategic partner for France, particularly in advancing biodiversity science, policy and financing mechanisms. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to expanding collaboration and leveraging joint expertise to address pressing global biodiversity challenges.
The French delegation will continue engagements in Cape Town, including a visit to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, where further technical discussions will take place with SANBI leadership.
This visit underscores the growing strength of the South Africa–France partnership and its critical role in advancing regional and global biodiversity conservation efforts.
For more on the partnership between South Africa and France, please see videos below: