This report was commissioned by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) as part of its efforts to support the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration through the implementation of the project
”Support for the Design and Implementation of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration“. The report provides an overview and assesses funding sources that are relevant for local non-profit organizations implementing ecosystem restoration activities in Central America and Africa (Kenya, Cameroon, Malawi,Rwanda).
Ecosystem restoration is critical for addressing the climate and biodiversity crises. Meeting the objectives of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration could contribute to generating USD 9 trillion in ecosystem services and remove between 13-26 gigatons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the atmosphere.

Local level non-profit organizations are crucial for the successful implementation of restoration projects and activities. Local communities and local level non-profit organizations including local community-based initiatives, civil society/ non-governmental organizations, or government-led initiatives and indigenous people and local communities (IPLC) hold critical knowledge about restoration needs and potential solutions.
Participatory approaches and local restoration action can be fundamental for achieving the needed restoration
successes.

Despite the recognized importance of scaling up ecosystem restoration, a substantial financing gap continues to hamper the implementation of restoration interventions. The financing gap for ecosystem restoration is estimated at around USD 300 billion per annum.

Local non-profit organizations face a range of challenges when seeking to access ecosystem restoration funding. The availability of funding sources is limited; international funding mechanisms that are traditionally focused on environmental conservation or restoration tend to have high fiduciary, administrative, and technical requirements; and there remains a mismatch between local restoration project sizes and the expectations of funders. The exception are small grants programs that are specifically designed to overcome these challenges and, to a certain extent, philanthropic platforms that aim to connect restoration projects directly with philanthropic individuals and companies.