Regional

Lead Government Partner: -

Status: Active

Active Since: 2021

CAFI fundings may be channelled beyond single countries, engaging actors across several or all partner nations to tackle issues that require cross-border coordination and learning. Dedicated funds or facilities, meant to complement national efforts, address region‐wide thematic priorities, such as

A Regional Private Sector Facility (US$100 million) to support early project stages and pilots in energy, agriculture, forestry, ecotourism.

In 2023, CAFI (Central African Forest Initiative) launched a call for Expressions of Interest to engage implementing organizations in building its private sector portfolio. The initiative targets investments in partner countries to address drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in sectors such as:

· Charcoal value chains & clean cooking solutions

· Agriculture (palm oil, maize, rubber, cocoa, coffee, timber)

· Forestry

· Ecotourism & innovative forest conservation approaches

CAFI’s Private Sector Facility aims to allocate USD 100 million through three mechanisms:

Project development grants – for early-stage projects and piloting new technologies.
Investment grants – using blended finance to reduce risk and offer concessional terms.
Performance-based grants – rewarding verified environmental services like carbon and biodiversity benefits.

The call for expression of interest close in august 2025. Multiple projects are currently under development or implementation (see portfolio)

A Regional Technical Assistance Facility (~USD 10 million over 3 years) for capacity‐building, fulfilling commitments under climate/biodiversity accords
A South‐South Cooperation Facility