The Climate Investment Funds (CIF) has approved $143 million to support nature-based solutions in Brazil, Kenya, and Africa’s Zambezi River Basin, with nearly $1 billion in co-financing expected across the three regions. The funding, part of CIF’s Nature, People, and Climate (NPC) program, aims to restore ecosystems, enhance biodiversity, and improve livelihoods while engaging the private sector in sustainable development efforts.
Brazil’s $250 million investment plan, including $47 million from CIF, will focus on restoring 54,000 hectares of degraded forest in the Amazon and Cerrado biomes. This initiative, the first CIF investment in Brazil’s Amazon, aims to create 21,000 jobs, combat illegal deforestation, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The plan leverages $100 million in credit lines from the Brazilian Development Bank and $100 million from the World Bank to support private sector participation in environmental services.
In Kenya, where nature-based tourism contributes 8.2% of GDP, the NPC plan will allocate $35.66 million in CIF funding, with $108 million in co-financing. The initiative targets the Lake Victoria South and Ewaso Ng’iro North areas, supporting Indigenous communities like the Maasai, regenerative agriculture, and ecotourism. The African Development Bank and the World Bank Group will implement the plan to strengthen natural capital and livelihoods.
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The Zambezi River Basin plan, backed by $60.35 million from CIF, will benefit 51 million people across Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zambia. The initiative is expected to generate over $10 in co-financing for every $1 invested, focusing on sustainable forestry, wildlife conservation, and alternative livelihoods for communities affected by deforestation. The plan also addresses human-wildlife conflicts and promotes voluntary carbon markets.
Additionally, CIF’s Dedicated Grant Mechanism (DGM) will channel $15 million directly to Indigenous and local communities in the three regions, empowering them to lead sustainable development projects.
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CIF CEO Tariye Gbadegesin stated, “This $143 million is expected to attract almost $1 billion in total, showing how the right funding at the right time can open up exciting new opportunities. These investments reward people for protecting forests, waterways, and wildlife, ensuring long-term sustainability.”
The NPC program, which has committed nearly $300 million to date, underscores the role of nature-based solutions in addressing climate change while improving rural livelihoods.
