Seed Capital Assistance Facility: Unlocking private finance for forest and landscape restoration (SCAF-FLR)

The project unlocks private investment into forest landscape restoration in developing countries by setting up the Restoration Seed Capital Facility which will co-fund pre-investment costs with fund managers or investment advisors. This model combining reimbursable and non-reimbursable grants ensures efficient use of public capital while also leveraging private capital. Outcomes support the achievement of the Bonn Challenge and contribute to objectives of climate change adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods. Direct beneficiaries include fund managers, investors and project operators. Indirect beneficiaries include local communities as well as national and local governments that benefit from supported projects in meeting their goals and commitments. The project leverages the insights gained to stimulate additional investment in restoration through outreach to financial institutions, NGOs, governments and other stakeholders.

Project data

IKI funding: 20,000,000.00 €
Included preparation phase: 202,648.00 €
Duration: 12/2019 till 04/2027
Status: open
Implementing organisation: United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment)
Implementing Partner: Frankfurt School of Finance & Management gGmbH
Online: https://www.restorationfacility.org/

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State of implementation/results

The project started its implementation phase in October 2020.
The Restoration Seed Capital Facility (RSCF) was launched during a high-level virtual event “Investing in Forest Restoration, Investing in Our Future” on the 27th of October by representatives of the governments of Germany, Luxemburg and UN Environment. The event targeted fund managers, investors and other stakeholders in the field of private investment in forest landscape restoration (FLR). Attendance was over 300 participants. Recording of the event (www.unenvironment.org/…) and a press release (www.unenvironment.org/…) are available.
To date the Facility has received 18 expressions of interest from fund managers and is processing its first applications.
In support of the launch, the following communications and outreach materials have been developed:
The Website (www.restorationfacility.org) was launched in October 2020 to provide information to fund managers interested in receiving support from the Facility. To date it has had over 6500 views.
The first knowledge exchange online seminar was held, jointly with the Restoration Factory project, on June 22nd 2021 to discuss the challenges in developing a portfolio of restoration projects for private investment from the perspective of both project developers and impact fund managers.
The project was presented in several online events and conferences, including the ministerial-level meeting of the Bonn Challenge for Latin America and the Caribbean held online, July 2-30, 2021.

Latest Update:
03/2023