“Businesses in emerging markets are key in moving the needle to improve climate resilience”
The WWF DFCD team is happy that after a transition period Jaap de Jong can now fully dedicate himself to his role as the new program manager. In this short blog he shares his passion for engaging business as a force for good.
When we started working with a large agricultural bank on nature-related financial disclosures, I once again realized that companies often negatively influence climate and nature, but at the same time depend on them. The impact and dependencies on nature are huge, especially in countries or landscapes most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. It is in those places that the DFCD makes a concrete difference by investing in businesses to improve the climate resilience of landscapes and enhance biodiversity.
I believe companies in Africa, Asia and Latin America are key in moving the needle to combat climate change. That’s why I feel privileged to join the DFCD. Especially when you consider the fund’s unique approach of combining the improvement of nature, the well-being of vulnerable communities and sustainable businesses with private capital investment.
A few years ago I lived and worked in South Africa, where I assisted organizations with identification and development of climate projects. It was there that I truly experienced that climate resilience, socio-economic development and nature conservation are interdependent. With local embedding as the key to success, well-designed projects can benefit communities all the way to household level.
The first two months in my new position already proved to be exciting and I look forward to unlocking the potential of scaling bankable nature solutions. With our wonderful team of the Origination Facility we strive to make even bigger impact in the next coming years.
WWF has already developed a great portfolio of about 18 projects. Our main priority this year is to assist these companies in implementing their workplan to ultimately hand them over to the investment managers of FMO and CFM.
We will also try to raise the profile of DFCD and strengthen the position of Bankable Nature Solutions as a successful contributor to nature conservation. For example, by increasing our visibility at meetings and conferences where we will showcase DFCD's projects.
To grow the fund and secure funding, we will increase our engagement with potential investors. To begin with an investor workshop on March 6 in Luxembourg. We strengthen our relationship with similar funds and look for opportunities to cooperate. Raising private capital for bankable climate adaptation projects has proven to be a true challenge that we need to tackle.
I invite you to stay engaged in this exciting journey. Let’s grow our impact together!
Best,
Jaap