Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Took Part in the IUCN World Conservation Congress In Abu Dhabi

The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation took part in the World Conservation Congress organized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Abu Dhabi from 9 to 15 October 2025. On the eve of the opening of this major event, which takes place every four years, the Foundation was invited to participate in the first edition of the IUCN Summit on Philanthropy.

Alongside experts, leaders and decision-makers from around the world, the Foundation was able to showcase its actions in terms of innovative solutions in both finance and conservation, with a particular focus on the Mediterranean region.

During the inaugural IUCN Summit on Philanthropy, held on 8 October, Olivier Wenden, Vice-Chairman and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, participated in a high-level discussion dedicated to the mobilisation of capital for inclusive ecosystem conservation, implemented for and with local communities to achieve sustainable results. He advocated for strategic partnerships and co-investments, bringing together public, private and philanthropic capital to strengthen and accelerate environmental and societal resilience.

On 10 October, as part of the official program of the World Conservation Congress, the Foundation co-organised a thematic session aimed at strengthening conservation through ambitious alliances and financial solutions in the Mediterranean Sea. Moderated by Marco Lambertini, Convener of the Nature Positive Initiative, the panel featured contributors from the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, theIUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation, the IUCN Species Survival Commission 2021-2025, the Mediterranean Action Plan UNEP/MAP, and the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People.

Two initiatives from the Foundation were presented: the Human-Wildlife Initiative, facilitating the harmonious coexistence of wildlife and human activities in rural and mountain areas, and the DIMFE Initiative, dedicated to conserving and restoring freshwater ecosystems in the Mediterranean. Through these examples, emphasis was placed on the importance of dialogue between stakeholders and the benefits of cooperation to amplify the positive impacts on the field.

The Foundation’s presence at the IUCN World Conservation Congress reaffirmed its commitment to build bridges between science, diplomacy, and finance in pursuit of planetary health.