Land Degradation Neutrality Fund Technical Assistance Facility

The Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Fund Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) is a global project designed to bridge the gap between promising land restoration concepts and 'investor-ready' projects. Managed by IDH and co-promoted by the UNCCD and Mirova, the TAF provides technical, operational, and financial assistance to SMEs, cooperatives, and private companies. It focuses on two main components: improving the technical quality and impact of projects (both pre- and post-investment) and establishing a knowledge management system through a Learning Network. The facility aims to increase private investment in sustainable land management (SLM), particularly in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), while aligning with the UNCCD's Land Degradation Neutrality targets.

• The TAF addresses a significant financing gap in land restoration, noting that while investors reported $3.1 billion in unallocated capital in 2015, there is a critical lack of 'investor-ready' project pipelines.
• The project is structured into two primary components: the first provides technical assistance to project developers in the pre-investment and implementation stages to enhance SLM and restoration impacts; the second focuses on monitoring, evaluation, and the creation of a Learning Network for developers and investors.
• The TAF specifically targets the reduction of land degradation caused by overgrazing, deforestation, and unsustainable arable agricultural practices, which are identified as the primary anthropogenic drivers.
• To ensure inclusivity and sustainability, the TAF requires project developers to integrate gender equality into their designs, utilizing the IDH Gender Toolkit to identify risks and opportunities for women and men.
• The facility aims to enhance the capacity of national governments to implement Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) by involving UNCCD National Focal Points in project kick-off workshops in at least six countries.
• The TAF's governance includes a shared Strategic Board with the LDN Fund, a Donor Committee for operational oversight, and a Project Selection Committee that includes at least one non-IDH active member to avoid conflicts of interest.
• The project's total cost is $6,933,880, consisting of $2,000,000 from the GEF Trust Fund and $4,933,880 in confirmed co-financing from entities including AFD, Mirova, IDH, and WWF.
• The TAF intends to develop an innovative LDN impact measurement and tracking tool to allow project developers and the LDN Fund to monitor long-term measurements of land degradation neutrality.

APA

WWF International (2023). Land Degradation Neutrality Fund Technical Assistance Facility. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/977/m2rl1weya_CEO_ER_From_GEF_Portal.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. Land Degradation Neutrality Fund Technical Assistance Facility. 2023. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/977/m2rl1weya_CEO_ER_From_GEF_Portal.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Land Degradation Neutrality Fund Technical Assistance Facility |date=18 September 2023 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/977/m2rl1weya_CEO_ER_From_GEF_Portal.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2023land, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Land Degradation Neutrality Fund Technical Assistance Facility}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2023}, month = sep, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/977/m2rl1weya_CEO_ER_From_GEF_Portal.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }