CTIS Webinar Recap

Katy Mathias, manager of the Conservation Trust Investment Survey (CTIS) Project and co-author, with Ray Victurine, of the CTIS annual report, conducted two webinars for CFA members on December 18 to share results of the CTIS report for Calendar Year 2017. The presentations were held 12 hours apart to accommodate a range of time zones. A webinar audio recording and Powerpoint slides, as well as a link to the 2017 report, are available on the CFA website.

The webinar highlighted key findings from the most recent study. The participants' organizational and endowment nominal investment returns for calendar year 2017 were higher than those from 2016, while sinking fund returns were slightly below 2016. In general, however, CTF returns were lower than might be expected given global investment performance in 2017. This may be attributed to, on average, the CTFs' tendency to under-allocate equity, relative to fixed income and cash.

USAID provides USD 37.5m guarantee to Food Securities Fund

Clarmondial is pleased to confirm that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through the Bureau for Food Security (BFS) and the Development Credit Authority (DCA), will support the Food Securities Fund with a USD 37.5 million credit guarantee. The agreement covers a portfolio of up to USD 150 million.

After extensive due diligence, USAID approved significant support to the implementation of the Food Securities Fund. In addition to its investment objectives and strategy, the Fund was selected based on its alignment with USAID’s impact priorities, in particular on sustainable agriculture and food security in Feed the Future countries. USAID and Clarmondial are planning an invitation-only signing ceremony with key partners in Washington DC this November.

The Food Securities Fund combines an innovative investment strategy with a standard and liquid fixed-income fund structure in Luxembourg to deliver change at scale. The Fund addresses the gap in season-long loans for agriculture production in emerging markets, thereby contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals – notably SDGs 1, 2, 8, 12, 13 and 15 – by promoting climate smart agriculture and responsible, deforestation-free supply chains.

The fund offers investors access to growth markets. The use of blended finance significantly reduces risk, while partnerships with leading international companies grant access to an extensive pipeline at low transaction costs.

The Food Securities Fund is supported by the blended finance platform Convergence (announcement available here). It has also received support from Climate-KIC, as well as from leading companies in the agricultural sector.

M2PA Launches Request for Proposals

The Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas program (M2PA) launched a request for proposals (RFP) for a study on Mediterranean marine protected areas financial needs assessment and management effectiveness monitoring. This RFP is funded by the GEF as part of M2PA’s project “Long term financial mechanism to enhance Mediterranean MPA management effectiveness.” The results will inform, among others, the capitalization targets and the financial structure of the environmental fund and will be used to monitor the impact on the grants awarded to MPAs. 

The deadline for receiving proposals is November 16th 2018.  The request for proposals and terms of reference are available for download in French and English. Please share this request with your professional networks.

Conservation International is Seeking a Full-Time Project Manager for an Innovative “pay for success” Project to Engage Hydropower Companies to Pay for Cloud Forests Conservation

Conservation International (CI) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) are collaborating as the proponents of The Cloud Forest Blue Energy Mechanism (CFBEM).  CFBEM aims to mobilize commercial finance to reforest and conserve cloud forests in Latin America that provide crucial benefits to the hydropower industry.  CFBEM will employ “pay for success” contracts in which a hydropower plant pays for measurable ecosystem benefits provided by cloud forests within the plant’s catchment – principally reduced sedimentation and improved water regulation.  Please see background video here.

CFBEM aims to develop pilot projects in three different locations over a nineteen month period.  Three key phases until anticipated financial closure of the pilot projects, will consist of (1) site selection, (2) business case development, including ROI analysis, and (3) pilot structuring / negotiation of transactions.   

CI is seeking a Spanish speaking Project Manager for a senior position based at CI’s office in Bogotá, Colombia.  The PM’s role is to ensure the overall success for the CFBEM project through to financial closure.

To view the full job description in Spanish, please see the description on CI's website. The ToR is also available for download.

All application materials must be submitted before November 2, 2018 at 5pm.

IUCN - Incubator for Nature Conservation (INC) Consultancy/Internship

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is seeking candidates with interest in financing nature conservation for a paid internship with CIMA, a Peruvian NGO (http://www.cima.org.pe/en).  The specialist will work from the CIMA office in Lima, Peru, and help to develop an internal business development, capitalization, and financial management plan, with a specific focus on building long term financial capacity for the management of the Cordillera Azul National Park. The specialist will also visit the CIMA field headquarters near the park, and receive backstopping and technical support provided by a U.S. based specialist working with the IUCN Conservation Finance Incubator (INC). The specialist will work directly with the CIMA team for a period of six months starting in January 2019, with the contract potentially renewable for another six months, with a fixed stipend of U.S.$12,000 for each 6-month period. An ability to read, write, and converse confidently in Spanish will be essential. A detailed Terms of Reference with requirements and formal application procedures for this work can be obtained by sending a concise note to jtolisano@gmail.com. Applications for this position must be delivered to Justine.Brossard@iucn.org, with a closing date of November 23, 2018.

CFA at CAFÉ

The Conservation Finance Alliance was pleased to participate in the CAFÉ Assembly held in Kasane, Botswana in early September, 2018, hosted by Forest Conservation Botswana.

Nearly 60 CFA members and potential members gathered for a CFA-hosted networking dinner on

the second day of the Assembly. Constance Corbier-Barthaux spoke about FFEM’s commitment to CFA and why the network plays a vital role in convening experts and fostering collaboration and innovation. Karen Price, President of CAFÉ, and Rosa Montanez, President of RedLAC, shared the history of the collaboration and partnership between CFA and their respective networks, including the CTIS, the Practice Standards for CTFs, and the original Conservation Finance Guide.
 
In addition, Kathy Mikitin and Katy Mathias gave a presentation on Innovative Finance for CTFs, organized by the CFA, as part of the Assembly. They presented on Biodiversity Offsets, PA Finance through Tourism, Impact Investing & Incubators, and Project Finance for Permanence. In addition, Katy presented the preliminary results of the CTIS for calendar year 2017.

North America CFA Members and Parters Event Held December 12th

The CFA held a Members and Partners meeting in North America at World Wildlife Fund’s offices in Washington DC on October 12th.  The meeting and networking event was a great opportunity to share the CFA’s activities and strategy as well as hear from a range of members and partners and build on the CFA’s outreach.  This event comes as part of our effort to energize the network and build momentum for the wide range of conservation finance initiatives we are all working on. 
 
In addition to a presentation from the CFA Executive Director (that can be found here) we heard from a range of partners including Melissa Moye who spoke about WWF’s many conservation finance initiatives including their Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) which recently closed on the Bhutan for Lifeproject.  Chris Stone and Romas Garbaliauskas from Conservation International respectively shared their efforts to support over 30 Conservation Trust Funds (CTFs) through the Global Conservation Fund and implement a range of innovative approaches to engage the private sector in conservation finance – in part through the Coalition for Private Investment in Conservation (CPIC). Frank Hawkins of IUCN presented a detailed overview of CPIC’s initiatives including work on blueprints to replicate and scale private investments in conservation.  Forest Trends and Ecosystem Marketplace were represented by Kelly Hamrick and Michael Jenkins who shared their work on tracking market mechanisms for conservation and a publication last year on The State of Private Investment in Conservation.  Katy Mathias of the Wildlife Conservation Society explained a range of activities being implemented by WCS including work on biodiversity offsets, coral reef finance, and the Conservation Trust Investment Survey(CTIS) that is a collaborative annual report on CTF investment strategies and results.  Active discussions and questions continued through a short networking session.  As well, the Protected Areas Finance Working Group was officially relaunched by Charles Besancon as Chair (see related news).

CFA partnering with BBOP for European Event – Reception for CFA Members and BBOP Attendees

The CFA is working with the Business and Biodiversity Offset Programme (BBOP) to support the upcoming conference called: Working for Biodiversity Net Gain: Taking stock and prospects for the future that will be held in Paris during the Natural Capital Week – November 27th.  There will be a reception open to all CFA members (RSVP required) from 5:45 to 7:15pm at Caisse des Dépôts 15 quai Anatole France, 75007 Paris, followed by a group dinner for interested parties nearby. 
 
During the workshop that day, the CFA will host a breakout session entitled “Financing Biodiversity Net Gain” that will include a presentation by CFA Executive Director, David Meyers, called Building expertise in finance for net gain: the Conservation Finance Alliance and a presentation entitled Options and financing mechanisms for mitigation including offsets by CFA Ex Co Member Ray Victurine.  That session is open to attendees only.  You can download the full agenda for the BBOP meeting on November 27th, and register to attend using the email provided at this link (paid).  See the full range of events and conferences at the Natural Capital Coalition Website.

Save the Date for Relaunch of Innovation Working Group

We are pleased to announce that on November 15th, 2018 at 11am EDT we will have an online meeting to relaunch our Innovation Working Group. Hosted by Chair Ray Victurine, the meeting will cover the CFA Incubator as well as have a discussion around specific interests of the group for future activities.

Please RSVP on the Innovation Working Group page.

Online Meeting for Relaunch of Protected Areas Finance Working Group

Join us for a the first online meeting of the Working Group on Protected Area Finance on November 5th at 15:00 UTC. Annabelle Bladon will present the work she is doing for the Conservation Finance Guide on protected area entry and activity fees.

The webinar will also include a short presentation from Charles Besancon on short and longer-term priorities of the CFA Working Group on Protected Areas Finance including developing best practice guidelines on PA Finance, a semi-annual global report on PA Finance for the Convention on Biological Diversity and other international bodies and targeted support to national governments on PA finance options and implementation. David Meyers, the Executive Director of CFA will be on hand to discuss overall CFA priorities and some upcoming CFA events.

For further information and to RSVP please visit the PA Finance Working Group page

Best wishes,
    Charles Besancon
Chair, Working Group on Protected Area Finance