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The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is the United Nations' flagship catalytic financing entity for the world’s 46 Least Developed Countries (LDCs). With its unique capital mandate and focus on the LDCs, UNCDF works to invest and catalyse capital to support these countries in achieving the sustainable growth and inclusiveness envisioned by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Doha Programme of Action for the least developed countries, 2022–2031.

Project Description

UNCDF builds partnerships with other UN organizations, as well as private and public sector actors, to achieve greater impact in development; specifically, by unlocking additional resources and strengthening financing mechanisms and systems contributing to transformation pathways, focusing on such development themes as green economy, digitalization, urbanization, inclusive economies, gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.

To deliver the actions necessary to fulfil the targets outlined in the Global Biodiversity Framework, UNCDF has established a nature-based financing service line – the Nature Asset Team (NAT). In collaboration with UN agencies, national and international governments, private sector institutions and other key partners, NAT works to strengthen institutional capacities, catalyze resource flows, and improve access to technical expertise, thereby creating the context for sustained investment in nature assets and long-term distribution of co-benefits.

Within the scope of UNCDF NAT’s portfolio of Africa-based programmes, this RfA seeks to identify and pool pipelines of viable nature-positive investment opportunities. By leveraging grant funding to provide seed capital for a select number of MSMEs and SMEs, UNCDF NAT will aim to scale-up solutions with the potential for transformative impact in emerging and developing markets in Africa. Specifically, UNCDF will engage and invest in companies contributing and/or aiming to contribute to long-term conservation of land-based natural assets and resilient food systems in high-priority jurisdictions across Central Africa.

Financing will support selected companies to shift the pressure of human activity from areas where there is significant ongoing degradation to high productivity zones with greater potential for local job-creation. Business models around critical ecosystems that are nature-positive and achieve adaptation outcomes by improving food production in a manner that reduces emissions (mitigation) and build climate resilience for both communities and natural ecosystems (adaptation) will be prioritized.

For queries write to john.sankara@uncdf.org cc uncdf.rfa@uncdf.org

Please submit your proposal trough this e-investment platform. Submissions using other templates or sent by other electronic or non electronic means will not be eligible.

Webinar - 9:30am to 10:15am EDT (New York time) on 14 July 2023 (click here to register and read the Frequently Asked Questions here)

Application submission deadline - 23:59pm EDT (New York time) on 11 August 2023

Applicants may also view the RFA documents on Google Drive by following this link.