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 - seven months - and able to travel to South Africa for the sponsored in-person session.
BiPP is a fully paid for programme by AFD Group Campus.
Induction webinar will take place on Monday, 2 December.
Programme starts on Tuesday, 21 January.
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.
By Monday, 18 November
Phase 1: 25 hours online, up to 10 hours at home
Phase 2: 14 hours online, up to 15 hours at home
Phase 3: 10 days in person excluding travel time
Phase 4: up to 30 hours online (including mentoring) and 20 hours at home
Everything you need to prepare is detailed on the application form.
A selection committee comprising representatives of AFD and African Project Solutions will review all applications and select the finalists.