THE CHALLENGE
Addressing Africa’s Biodiversity and Carbon Financing Gap
A Continent of Untapped Potential.
Africa’s natural capital is being depleted at unsustainable rates, with losses estimated at $195 billion every year. At the same time, 62% of the continent’s GDP is highly or moderately dependent on natural capital, yet there remains a significant funding gap for nature-based carbon and biodiversity projects. Despite the immense opportunity, many promising initiatives seeking to address this issue stall due to the absence of bankable structures, high development costs, and investor risk aversion.
OUR SOLUTION
A New Approach to Nature-Based Financing
CAPE was designed to solve this. Our unique approach targets projects that are technically feasible but have yet to reach financial close. By providing a combination of project development funding and hands-on transaction advisory services, we create investable demonstration cases. Similarly, we aim to build a “living lab” of open-source best practices, helping to replicate and scale high-integrity projects across the continent.
How CAPE
works
By fostering high-quality projects, CAPE seeks to strengthen confidence in African nature-based carbon markets, paving the way for sustainable investment flows.
Initial Assessment
Eligible projects undergo a comprehensive needs assessment and co-create a tailored support plan.
Development & Advisory Support
Projects receive recoverable grant funding for project development and transaction advisory services.
Investment Readiness
With CAPE’s support, projects advance towards financial close, equipped with the resources needed to attract investors.
How It Works
Tailored Support on the Journey to Investment
Project Development
- Guidance on MRV techniques for carbon and biodiversity outcomes
- Developing jurisdiction-specific Project Design Documents (PDDs)
- Creating benefit-sharing frameworks
- Developing biodiversity studies
- Due diligence assessments
- Legal support
Transaction Advisory
Creating materials for commercial viability (financial models, pitch decks, business plans)
Identifying and engaging with investors
Managing investor outreach
Building data rooms
Modelling and structuring investment terms
Supporting project-specific credit ratings
A Coalition of Expertise
Our Partners
A specialist development agency with over a decade of experience in development finance in Africa. CAPE is an FSD Africa initiative, with funding from UK International Development.
An African-led collaborative initiative focused on mobilising private capital for nature-based solutions and building capacity across the continent.
A mission-driven social enterprise and FCA-regulated advisory firm that designs and delivers investment solutions for nature- and climate-focused projects globally.