To demonstrate achievement of the Fund’s objectives, to contribute to the high-level policy goals, and to bring guidance to activities, a fund-level Environmental & Social (E&S) impact framework allows partners and stakeholders to comprehensively assess impacts of the Fund against pre-established KPIs.
The purpose of E&S screening is to assist the Fund Manager to select projects and landscapes for investment that are likely to significantly contribute to achieving the core objectives of the Fund, whilst also mitigating any environmental and social risks.
Fund-level Impact KPIs have been defined for each of the three core impact objectives of the fund – 1) Protection of existing natural forests and restoration of natural ecosystems; 2) Sustainable Agriculture; and 3) Improved Rural Livelihoods.
1. Protection of existing natural forests and restoration of natural ecosystems
- Protection of natural forests and other natural ecosystems such as grasslands and wetlands to prevent deforestation or degradation, sustain ecosystem functions and processes, and improve biodiversity.
- Restoration of natural and modified ecosystems, particularly ecological corridors, to contribute to forest landscape restoration, strengthened climate resilience and the sequestration of carbon.
2. Sustainable agriculture
- Deployment of sustainable farm management solutions such as ecological intensification and/or diversification; regenerative agriculture focusing on restoring soil health; integrated crop-livestock forest (ICLF) that results in reduced carbon emissions, rehabilitation of degraded land, enhanced water management, improved soil fertility, and/or strengthen climate resilience, while improving yields for farmers.
3. Improved rural livelihoods
- Improving income and strengthening skills of farmers and/or smallholders, through improving income and/or decent employment opportunities for rural communities and/or enhancing opportunities for women in agriculture/forestry.