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RedLAC annual meeting: Innovation at the center of reflection
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Nearly 140 environmental fund representatives from Latin American RedLAC and African CAFE networks were welcomed for the 20th RedLAC meeting from October 29th to November 1st in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.
The main partners of these environmental funds (EF), NGOs, experts, donors, also participated in this meeting. Bolivia was particularly well represented, with all stakeholders in biodiversity conservation: SERNAP, FUNDESNAP Foundation and Protected Area Managers.
At the heart of this meeting: the theme of innovation, which has generated time for reflection, exchange and high quality testimonials. The assembly highlighted the main contributions and innovations of environmental funds for conservation and sustainable development.
Environmental funds are indeed major players in biodiversity conservation, and innovation is at the heart of their action. While the CAFE, created less than ten years ago, brings together 18 EFs, RedLAC, the "big brother" created in 1999, today brings together 53 FE endowments, which manage more than 2 billion US dollars, support 900 protected areas (marine and terrestrial) in the Latin America-Caribbean region, ie 120 million hectares. The RedLAC and CAFE networks encourage exchange of experiences and partnerships between environmental funds, capacity building and joint knowledge management initiatives.
Several FE-led innovation experiences were highlighted, in particular the financial innovations supported by Project K, presented by members of RedLAC and CAFE. This K project (Knowledge for Action), funded by the FFEM alongside the MAVA Foundation and the Global Environment Facility, has encouraged environmental funds to innovate in mobilizing their financial resources through a call for projects that resulted in support for the implementation of seven innovative projects supported by RedLAC and CAFE networks. In a exchange of experiences dynamic, the K project also intends to document, monitor, evaluate and disseminate the solutions tested in practice. Many participants praised the success and added value of Project K, not only to assume some of the risks inherent in any innovative venture, but also to promote mentoring and partnerships between two EFs or groups of EFs.
The annual meeting of the RedLAC network concluded with a round table of donors with the participation of the FFEM, around a discussion on financial mechanisms at a global or regional level, as catalysts of innovation for the fight against climate change, conservation and sustainable development.