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Swedfund has invested €15 million in Hummingbirds Gondwana, a new platform that finances nature-based solutions.
The investment will support the restoration and protection of forests and coastal ecosystems. It will also support sustainable land use and clean cooking solutions.
“Nature-based solutions are a critical but underfinanced part of the climate transition. Through this investment, Swedfund takes a first step into this space, guided by integrity and long-term impact, and by a belief in new business models that can deliver both sustainability outcomes and financial viability,” says Maria Håkansson, CEO of Swedfund.
Gondwana will finance projects including forest conservation, reforestation, mangrove restoration and agroforestry. It will also backed clean cooking solutions that reduce pressure on natural forests.
The platform is launched by Hummingbirds, a Paris-based nature-based solutions developer that develops and finances community-driven projects in partnership with local actors across Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America.
“Investing in nature-based solutions means investing simultaneously in climate, people, and ecosystems. These investments offer strong potential for social impact, especially for women and rural communities, while also delivering climate mitigation and biodiversity protection,” says Jérémie Hoffsaes from the energy and climate team at Swedfund.
Swedfund is investing alongside development finance institutions Proparco and British International Investment.
The investment is supported by an EU guarantee under the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) Carbon Sinks programme, which aims to de-risk investments in nature-based climate solutions.
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