The fund aims to promote business and consumption practices that contribute to biodiversity conservation, to the sustainable use of natural resources and to mitigate climate change and adapt to its impacts, in Latin America, the Caribbean, and sub-Saharan Africa.
The eco.business Fund pursues its mission by providing dedicated financing and technical assistance to financial institutions and businesses committed to environmental practices in unique ecological landscapes both in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa. The fund focuses on sustainability in four economic sectors: agriculture and agri-processing, fishery and aquaculture, forestry, and sustainable tourism.
The eco.business Fund leverages the power of blended finance to amplify its impact and outreach via two separate sub-funds in i) Latin America, and the Caribbean, and ii) sub-Saharan Africa. In other words, the fund draws its capital from various layers: An initial base of public investors and donors provides a risk cushion to unleash the financial clout of private institutional investors.
The fund then invests this money either via intermediaries committed to promoting green finance or directly in businesses that pursue sustainable production and consumption.
In the case of intermediaries, these can be local financial institutions with which the fund works to deliver funding to businesses or producers or - in the case of sub-Saharan Africa – real-sector intermediaries, such as commodity buyers that are looking to enhance the sustainability of their supply chains by delivering finance to partner producers and businesses seeking financing for green investments.
In addition, fund beneficiaries – whether intermediaries or directly funded businesses – can access technical assistance provided by the respective eco.business Development Facility.
The eco.business Fund targets highly biodiverse regions of the world whose ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to the effects of agriculture, fishing, forestry, and tourism.
The eco.business Fund provides financing through three avenues:
In all cases, the fund provides debt financing.
Investees receiving eco.business Fund financing must:
For more on the sustainability standards and Green List activities qualifying investees for eco.business funding, please visit The Pathway to Impact.
The eco.business fund is a SICAV-SIF under Luxembourg law, a proven vehicle for development finance funds such as the EFSE, GGF, and SANAD.
The Board of Directors appointed by the shareholders is the main decision-making body. Approval of investment proposals submitted by the Advisor is delegated to the respective sub-fund Investment Committee, whose members are appointed by the Board.
In its role as Advisor to the eco.business Fund, Finance in Motion provides investment management services to the eco.business Fund’s Board of Directors and Investment Committees. The task of these bodies is to direct the fund’s investment decisions, objectives and policies. Finance in Motion furthermore supplies risk management, technical assistance, impact management, transaction management, reporting, and other fund services to the eco.business Fund.
Finance in Motion is an impact asset manager exclusively focused on development finance. With over EUR 2 billion in assets under management, the company develops and advises investment vehicles that promote the Sustainable Development Goals.
Michael Evers joined the eco.business Fund in March 2022. He currently serves as the Division Head and Regional Manager for Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia at KfW Development Bank. Throughout his 30-year career he has focused on development and finance at both private sector organizations and NGOs. Michael has experience in various sectors such as natural resources, renewable energy, climate change and urban development in Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. He holds an M.Sc. in Forest Science from the University of Göttingen.
Chimwemwe de Gaay Fortman is an independent advisor in the agrifood sector and impact finance. She is a member of the management at East Netherlands Development Agency (OostNL) where she is responsible for the Capital Unit. Chimwemwe has over 20 years’ experience in corporate and investment banking, impact financing and change management. She has held positions at ABN AMRO Bank, the Dutch Development Bank FMO in Latin America and Rabobank. Chimwemwe currently holds several Committee and Board positions, including the Credit Committee of the &Greenfund, and the Investment Committee of the Good Fashion Fund. She also sits on the Supervisory Boards of Dutch Cooperative Horticoop, and BidNetwork. Chimwemwe holds a master’s degree in Financial Economics from the VU University in Amsterdam.
Christopher Knowles is an independent advisor on climate and environmental finance. He was a long-term member of EIB until 2018, where he led the climate and environmental finance team, contributing scale and innovation to the bank’s climate change agenda. Chris has served on the supervisory boards and advisory committees of numerous clean energy, environmental, infrastructure, and carbon funds, including as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Green for Growth Fund until 2018. He is currently a Member of the Board of the eco.business Fund. Chris holds an M.Sc in Management Science from the University of Durham.
Launch of the eco.business Fund by KfW, the German Development Bank, Conservation International, and Finance in Motion
Read more
Initial first-loss capital
First investments in partner institutions
Read more
First private investor
DEFRA provides additional first-loss capital
KfW invests
Read more
FMO invests
Read more
ASN Bank and Calvert Impact Capital join private investor group
Read more
OeEB invests
Read moreInvestment portfolio surpasses USD 100 million
EU provides additional first-loss capital
eco.business Fund wins ALIDE award
Read more
Raiffeisenbank International broadens the private investor group further
Read moreInvestment portfolio surpasses USD 200 million
IDB Invest invests
Read more
First eco.business Fund conference, “Our Journey”
Read more
eco.business Fund expands to sub-Saharan Africa
Read more
Calvert Impact Capital expands relationship with eco.business Fund to increase financing for biodiversity conservation
Read moreAvailable funding surpasses USD 500 million.
First direct investment in sustainable business in Latin America
Read more
BMZ invests in eco.business Fund for biodiversity conservation in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa
Read moreeco.business Fund expands to Mexican market
Read more
eco.business Fund becomes a signatory of the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge
Read more
The fund aims to promote business and consumption practices that contribute to biodiversity conservation, to the sustainable use of natural resources and to mitigate climate change and adapt to its impacts, in Latin America, the Caribbean, and sub-Saharan Africa.
The eco.business Fund pursues its mission by providing dedicated financing and technical assistance to financial institutions and businesses committed to environmental practices in unique ecological landscapes both in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa. The fund focuses on sustainability in four economic sectors: agriculture and agri-processing, fishery and aquaculture, forestry, and sustainable tourism.
The eco.business Fund leverages the power of blended finance to amplify its impact and outreach via two separate sub-funds in i) Latin America, and the Caribbean, and ii) sub-Saharan Africa. In other words, the fund draws its capital from various layers: An initial base of public investors and donors provides a risk cushion to unleash the financial clout of private institutional investors.
The fund then invests this money either via intermediaries committed to promoting green finance or directly in businesses that pursue sustainable production and consumption.
In the case of intermediaries, these can be local financial institutions with which the fund works to deliver funding to businesses or producers or - in the case of sub-Saharan Africa – real-sector intermediaries, such as commodity buyers that are looking to enhance the sustainability of their supply chains by delivering finance to partner producers and businesses seeking financing for green investments.
In addition, fund beneficiaries – whether intermediaries or directly funded businesses – can access technical assistance provided by the respective eco.business Development Facility.
The eco.business Fund targets highly biodiverse regions of the world whose ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to the effects of agriculture, fishing, forestry, and tourism.
The eco.business Fund provides financing through three avenues:
In all cases, the fund provides debt financing.
Investees receiving eco.business Fund financing must:
For more on the sustainability standards and Green List activities qualifying investees for eco.business funding, please visit The Pathway to Impact.
The eco.business fund is a SICAV-SIF under Luxembourg law, a proven vehicle for development finance funds such as the EFSE, GGF, and SANAD.
The Board of Directors appointed by the shareholders is the main decision-making body. Approval of investment proposals submitted by the Advisor is delegated to the respective sub-fund Investment Committee, whose members are appointed by the Board.
In its role as Advisor to the eco.business Fund, Finance in Motion provides investment management services to the eco.business Fund’s Board of Directors and Investment Committees. The task of these bodies is to direct the fund’s investment decisions, objectives and policies. Finance in Motion furthermore supplies risk management, technical assistance, impact management, transaction management, reporting, and other fund services to the eco.business Fund.
Finance in Motion is an impact asset manager exclusively focused on development finance. With over EUR 2 billion in assets under management, the company develops and advises investment vehicles that promote the Sustainable Development Goals.
Michael Evers joined the eco.business Fund in March 2022. He currently serves as the Division Head and Regional Manager for Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia at KfW Development Bank. Throughout his 30-year career he has focused on development and finance at both private sector organizations and NGOs. Michael has experience in various sectors such as natural resources, renewable energy, climate change and urban development in Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. He holds an M.Sc. in Forest Science from the University of Göttingen.
Chimwemwe de Gaay Fortman is an independent advisor in the agrifood sector and impact finance. She is a member of the management at East Netherlands Development Agency (OostNL) where she is responsible for the Capital Unit. Chimwemwe has over 20 years’ experience in corporate and investment banking, impact financing and change management. She has held positions at ABN AMRO Bank, the Dutch Development Bank FMO in Latin America and Rabobank. Chimwemwe currently holds several Committee and Board positions, including the Credit Committee of the &Greenfund, and the Investment Committee of the Good Fashion Fund. She also sits on the Supervisory Boards of Dutch Cooperative Horticoop, and BidNetwork. Chimwemwe holds a master’s degree in Financial Economics from the VU University in Amsterdam.
Christopher Knowles is an independent advisor on climate and environmental finance. He was a long-term member of EIB until 2018, where he led the climate and environmental finance team, contributing scale and innovation to the bank’s climate change agenda. Chris has served on the supervisory boards and advisory committees of numerous clean energy, environmental, infrastructure, and carbon funds, including as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Green for Growth Fund until 2018. He is currently a Member of the Board of the eco.business Fund. Chris holds an M.Sc in Management Science from the University of Durham.
Launch of the eco.business Fund by KfW, the German Development Bank, Conservation International, and Finance in Motion
Read more
Initial first-loss capital
First investments in partner institutions
Read more
First private investor
DEFRA provides additional first-loss capital
KfW invests
Read more
FMO invests
Read more
ASN Bank and Calvert Impact Capital join private investor group
Read more
OeEB invests
Read moreInvestment portfolio surpasses USD 100 million
EU provides additional first-loss capital
eco.business Fund wins ALIDE award
Read more
Raiffeisenbank International broadens the private investor group further
Read moreInvestment portfolio surpasses USD 200 million
IDB Invest invests
Read more
First eco.business Fund conference, “Our Journey”
Read more
eco.business Fund expands to sub-Saharan Africa
Read more
Calvert Impact Capital expands relationship with eco.business Fund to increase financing for biodiversity conservation
Read moreAvailable funding surpasses USD 500 million.
First direct investment in sustainable business in Latin America
Read more
BMZ invests in eco.business Fund for biodiversity conservation in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa
Read moreeco.business Fund expands to Mexican market
Read more
eco.business Fund becomes a signatory of the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge
Read more
