Bi-Annual Newsletter

WELCOME TO THE NBS INVEST NEWSLETTER!

It’s been a busy few months for NBS Invest—we've published our first biennial progress report, joined discussions with practitioners in the field on how nature-based solutions (NBS) are being scaled in Kenya, Malawi, and Zambia, and continued leveraging technical support and enhancing cross-sectoral partnerships to scale NBS.

In addition, we are excited to announce that earlier this month the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Secretariat endorsed additional funding for NBS Invest, extending the program through 2031. This endorsement reflects the growing recognition that nature-based solutions are essential to achieving climate, biodiversity, and development goals.

The NBS Invest team looks forward to continuing its work to accelerate the adoption of NBS in low- income countries. We are grateful for the continued support of the GEF and look forward to strengthening this collaboration in the years ahead.

Stay tuned for more results and impact stories from NBS Invest supported projects in the next newsletter, until then happy reading!

The NBS Invest Team

#3 / December 2025

IN THIS ISSUE

BIENNIAL REPORT

NBS INVEST 2.0

CAPACITY BUILDING & EVENTS

NBS KNOWLEDGE

HIGHLIGHTS

NBS Invest Biennial Progress Report Showcases 2023-2025 Results

We are pleased to share the newly released NBS Invest Biennial Progress Report for 2023–2025, which highlights the progress, impact, and strategic direction of the NBS Invest.

Over the past two years, NBS Invest has made significant strides in mainstreaming nature-based solutions (NBS) across World Bank operations in Least Developed Countries (LDCs). With over $115 million in LDCF funding mobilized and $1.01 billion in IDA investments influenced, the initiative is helping to scale up climate adaptation and biodiversity outcomes through integrated, nature-positive approaches.

Key highlights from the report include:

Mobilizing over $115 million in LDCF funding, co-financed with IDA investments of $917 million
Mainstreaming NBS into $1.01 billion of IDA investments through technical assistance
Training a global network of 283 stakeholders in NBS design and implementation, reaching over 2,400 beneficiaries through the supported investments and initiatives
Embedding NBS solutions into strategic frameworks and active World Bank investments across 25 countries in Africa and Asia.

Download the full report here >>

NBS Invest 2.0

In December 2025, the GEF Council endorsed an additional $10 million for the next phase of NBS Invest (2027-2031), which will focus on expanding co-finance for climate adaptation and resilience. This additional financing will support NBS Invest to continue build a pipeline of World Bank projects integrating NBS and scale up investments for climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation.

Learn more about NBS Invest >>

Webinar Recap: Implementing Nature-Based Solutions in Kenya, Malawi, and Zambia

On September 17, 2025, NBS Invest and the Climate Investment Funds’ Nature, People, Climate program hosted a webinar exploring how NBS are being scaled in Kenya, Malawi, and Zambia. The event brought together practitioners and policymakers to share experiences, lessons, and strategies for implementing NBS. The session highlighted the importance of collaboration, integration, and investment in nature to drive impact.

Watch the full recording here >>

Report: Agriculture Rooted in Biodiversity

Agriculture depends on biodiversity, and halting its decline is critical to transforming agriculture to feed the world. Healthy ecosystems rely on biodiversity to provide the ecosystem services that are the bedrock for agriculture.

The objective of the report is to raise countries’ understanding of biodiversity’s importance for agriculture and provide the knowledge, policy tools, and investment options to increase biodiversity to meet the growing demand for food and provide healthy diets.

Download the full report here >>

Watch report launch event >>

New GEF adaptation projects to strengthen resilience and support ecosystems

The work program approved by the LDCF and SCCF Council includes approximately $52 million in GEF support and is expected to leverage more than $116 million in co-financing, scaling up country-driven adaptation solutions across Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.

NBS Invest facilitated co-financing to one of the projects approved in this work program - Haiti Resilient Productive Landscapes II.

PROJECT APPROVALS

Zambia Transforming Landscapes for Resilience and Development, TRALARD II

NBS Invest team facilitated additional co-financing to embed NBS into the Zambia Transforming Landscapes for Resilience and Development project, TRALARD II. The additional financing will help the Zambian government expand its efforts to address highly vulnerable regions, including the Southern Province, to promote climate-resilient livelihoods and support green jobs in priority sectors.

Sierra Leone Food Systems Resilience Program

The NBS Invest team facilitated an additional $18.3 million to embed NBS into the Sierra Leone Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP) from the GEF’s LDCF. The additional financing will support integrated landscape management biodiversity conservation, and climate-sensitive interventions, with targeted investments in research, innovation, and community capacity building to improve food security and protect vulnerable landscapes.

Central African Republic Urban Resilience and Inclusive Cities Project

NBS Invest team offered technical assistance for an additional co-financing to embed NBS into the Central African Republic Urban Resilience and Inclusive Cities Project. This additional financing aims to improve access to climate resilient infrastructure in the cities of Bangui and Berberati by financing nature-based solutions, including the regeneration of urban forests and greening of streets and public spaces through tree planting.

São Tomé and Príncipe Transport Sector Development and Coastal Protection Project

NBS Invest team facilitated an additional co-financing to embed NBS into the São Tomé and Príncipe - Transport Sector Development and Coastal Protection Project. The project objective is to improve transport connectivity, road safety, and transport resilience to climate change on the project roads.

Guinea Water and Sanitation Project

NBS Invest Team facilitated an additional co-financing to embed NBS into the Guinea Water and Sanitation Project. The project will implement NBS in the Kankouré watershed and the Gangan National Park while improving integrated water resource management at the basin level.

Freetown, Sierra Leone (World Bank Flikr, 2024)

CAPACITY BUILDING & EVENTS

Upcoming

Webinar: Pathways to Improved Jobs through Nature-based Solutions: Lessons from Mali and Zambia | January 28, 2026

NBS Invest Capacity Building: Training program on Nature-based Solutions

· Marrakesh, Morocco | March 30 – April 3, 2026

· Nairobi, Kenya | May 11-15, 2026

Past events

Implementing Nature-Based Solutions in Kenya, Malawi, and Zambia | September 17, 2025

Nature-based Solutions in Fragile and Conflict-affected Situations | June 12, 2025

Nature-based Solutions: Integrating Nature into Climate and Development Planning | May 28, 2026 (internal)

NBS KNOWLEDGE

The World Bank: MDB Common Principles for Tracking Nature Finance
The Nature Conservancy: State of Investment in Nature-based Solutions for Water Security
The World Bank: Biodiversity Guidance for Road Corridor Investments: Mobilizing New Data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility
World Resources Institute: Growing Resilience: Unlocking the Potential of Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa
FAO: The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) report

LEARN MORE ABOUT NBS INVEST

NBS Invest is a global knowledge program designed to catalyze financing for nature-based solutions in low-income countries for improved socio-economic, climate, and biodiversity outcomes.

The program is funded by the Global Environment Facility’s Least Developed Countries Fund and implemented by the World Bank Group.

worldbank.org/nbsinvest

NBS INVEST COUNTRIES