The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched a new initiative through its Funding Windows to support Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Indonesia, Jordan and Kazakhstan in aligning national development priorities with climate and nature goals, while mobilizing public and private investment at scale.

As countries face climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution challenges alongside fiscal constraints, the initiative will help pilot designing and scaling solutions that move beyond fragmented projects toward cohesive, economy-wide investment platforms financing models that align financing strategies and country platforms across the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to forge coherent, actionable, and investable pathways for a climate-resilient and nature-positive future.

A core feature of the initiative is the integration of gender-responsive finance approaches that address climate change and biodiversity loss, ensuring that women have greater access to financing opportunities, participation in decision-making and benefits from climate and nature investments.

The five countries showcase a range of innovative solutions:

• Côte d’Ivoire will strengthen the Cacao Carbone+ (ICC+) platform to create an integrated financing model linking carbon, biodiversity and adaptation benefits in the cocoa sector, while expanding opportunities for women-led cooperatives and vulnerable groups through an investment-ready pilot.
• Kazakhstan will develop and test biodiversity finance mechanisms to support the restoration of Zerenda Lake, demonstrating how wetland restoration can attract public and private investment while improving ecosystem health and climate resilience. 
• Indonesia will design an integrated blended finance facility for nature-based solutions and social forestry in Sumatera, building on successful Islamic finance models to expand investment opportunities for rural communities, women and youth. 
• Jordan will create a pipeline of investment-ready projects in Aqaba across marine conservation, sustainable tourism, circular economy and coastal resilience, helping connect climate and nature priorities with public and private finance. 
• Ecuador will strengthen public financial management by operationalizing its Green Classifier, enabling better tracking and alignment of public spending with climate, biodiversity and development priorities through gender-responsive fiscal approaches.

The initiative will provide financial support, technical assistance and knowledge exchange to help countries test and scale integrated finance solutions.

By piloting new approaches to public finance, blended finance and investment mobilization, the initiative aims to demonstrate how countries can move beyond fragmented projects and unlock investment that delivers simultaneous benefits for climate action, biodiversity conservation, sustainable development and gender equality.

Originally the articles was publised at climatepromise. org

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About Funding Windows

Funding Windows is UNDP’s primary mechanism for flexible and pooled thematic funding. The Funding Windows resources enable UNDP to respond swiftly and comprehensively to needs and emerging challenges across the world. 

This initiative is made possible through generous contributions from the Governments of Luxembourg, Denmark and the Republic of Korea, via the Funding Windows.

About UNDP

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP.