Five months after a landmark announcement with the World Bank, BirdLife International’s ambitious initiative to conserve migratory bird flyways is not only gaining momentum but is accelerating, demonstrating significant progress in coordinating global development finance with nature-positive outcomes. This concerted effort, built on a foundation of shared expertise and learning rather than direct financial contributions from either organization, has moved from a visionary concept to concrete action across multiple fronts, solidifying partnerships, mobilizing resources, and strengthening the scientific and policy frameworks essential for safeguarding avian migratory routes.
From Ambition to Coordinated Action: Establishing the Framework
The initial phase of the initiative, launched in October 2025, prioritized the establishment of robust operational structures necessary to translate broad ambition into impactful conservation. BirdLife International has since dedicated significant effort to forming specialized technical and strategic teams. These teams are crucial for ensuring seamless alignment across diverse geographical regions and thematic areas, facilitating swifter decision-making processes, clarifying lines of accountability, and fostering deeper collaboration among BirdLife’s extensive global Partnership. This internal strengthening is a vital precursor to effective external engagement with international financial institutions and governmental bodies.
Strengthening Global Partnerships for Enhanced Impact
The past five months have witnessed the formalization and expansion of key strategic alliances. Building on successful precedents with the Asian Development Bank for the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and CAF, the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean for the Americas flyway, BirdLife International and the World Bank officially launched their joint African-Eurasian Flyway Initiative in November 2025. This launch marked a significant milestone, signaling a new era of collaboration between leading conservation organizations and multilateral development banks (MDBs).
Further solidifying the initiative’s global reach and influence, BirdLife International led crucial consultations in January 2026 with technical representatives from major Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). These engagements included dialogue with bodies such as the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), and the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA), among others. The objective was to ensure a strong alignment of BirdLife’s flyway conservation efforts with existing global biodiversity and migratory species frameworks. This comprehensive approach guarantees that flyway conservation is integrated into the policy and financial architecture that increasingly shapes global development decisions, offering a more holistic approach to environmental protection.
Mobilizing Resources at Scale for Critical Conservation
A fundamental pillar of the flyway conservation strategy is the securing of sustainable and scalable financial resources. In a significant development, BirdLife International, in collaboration with its partners, successfully secured a €5.2 million EU LIFE grant. This substantial funding will be directed towards the conservation of the Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), a species facing significant threats across its migratory range. The project will involve partners in Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, North Macedonia, Türkiye, Ethiopia, and Nigeria, underscoring the transcontinental nature of flyway conservation. This investment is a testament to the growing confidence in and global adoption of BirdLife’s flyway approach, demonstrating its efficacy in attracting significant funding for species-specific and habitat-focused interventions.
In parallel, a comprehensive €7.5 million proposal for restoration and scaling initiatives has been developed. This proposal focuses on seven BirdLife Partner organizations situated along critical flyway routes. Furthermore, over 30 priority flyway site investment profiles have been meticulously prepared. These profiles are designed to serve as catalysts for further funding, providing detailed information and compelling cases for investment in key migratory bird habitats.
To ensure long-term financial sustainability, a dedicated resource mobilization strategy is actively identifying existing donors and exploring prospective supporters. Complementing this, a proposal for a global flyway grant mechanism specifically for civil society organizations is being developed in conjunction with other MDB partners. Such a mechanism would represent a transformative step towards ensuring consistent and dedicated long-term financing for flyway conservation efforts worldwide, providing a much-needed stable funding stream.
Building a Strong Identity and Global Platform for Flyway Conservation
Effective communication and the establishment of a strong, recognizable brand identity have been central to amplifying the reach and impact of this initiative. Over the past few months, significant strides have been made in this area. A compelling launch video for the African-Eurasian Flyway Initiative (AEFI) has been produced, accompanied by the development of a distinct brand identity and comprehensive guidelines for the AEFI. To showcase the initiative’s engagement with MDBs and its broader vision, a dedicated webpage has been launched, serving as a central hub for information and updates.
A pivotal event in the flyway conservation calendar will be the second Global Flyways Summit, hosted by BirdLife International in Nairobi, Kenya, on September 11, 2026. This significant gathering will convene governments, financiers, leading experts, and civil society representatives to collaboratively address challenges and explore shared solutions for migratory bird conservation. The summit will also feature the premiere of a new series of short films dedicated to the world’s flyways, highlighting the critical and often unsung work of BirdLife’s Partners on the ground.
The African-Eurasian Flyway: Connecting Continents, People and Biodiversity through Partnership
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Shaping Policy and Practice for Nature-Positive Development
Looking ahead, the initiative is actively engaged in shaping the policy landscape to foster more nature-positive development. Scoping work is underway for the development of bird-inclusive investment principles and guidelines specifically for multilateral development banks. These practical tools are intended to assist MDBs in mainstreaming nature-positive approaches into their infrastructure and development finance operations. Engagements are planned at key international forums, including CMS COP15, with a particular focus on the Energy Taskforce, London Climate Action Week, and CBD COP. Furthermore, the initiative is exploring opportunities for regional and sector-specific capacity-building workshops, aiming to strengthen the on-the-ground implementation of conservation strategies.
Building a Strong Technical Foundation: Science-Driven Conservation
The bedrock of all these efforts is rigorous scientific data and analysis. In recent months, BirdLife International has undertaken a comprehensive assessment and ranking of over 5,680 Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) across the flyway, evaluating their significance for migratory birds. This data-driven approach is crucial for prioritizing conservation actions.
Through extensive partner consultations, 256 priority flyway sites have been identified along the eastern side of the African-Eurasian Flyway. Parallel consultations are currently underway to identify critical sites on the western side of the flyway. This evidence base will be instrumental in guiding the inception phase of the AEFI. It will enable the identification of priority sites, countries, and landscapes where early investment from BirdLife’s more than 80 Partners within the flyway can yield the greatest impact for migratory bird populations.
Once initial priority countries are confirmed, BirdLife International will engage proactively with governments, local civil society organizations, and research institutions. The aim is to ensure strong alignment with national priorities and to foster mutually beneficial approaches to conservation. Following the establishment of pilot countries, the strategy will focus on scaling the approach across the entire flyway.
Concurrently, consultations with the World Bank are exploring avenues for integrating BirdLife’s extensive knowledge and expertise as the world’s foremost authority on birds. This integration aims to embed BirdLife’s insights directly into the Bank’s project pipeline, providing essential technical advice to mainstream nature-positive solutions into development investments.
The trajectory of this ambitious initiative is rapidly becoming clear: by harmonizing science, strategic partnerships, and financial mobilization, BirdLife International and its allies are fundamentally reshaping how global development interacts with the needs of migratory birds. While the scale of the task ahead remains immense, the foundations are firmly established, and the vision of a sustainable future for migratory birds is drawing ever closer.
