Deadline: February 16, 2026
The Nature-First Innovation Lab (NFIL) Implementing Partner Call for Proposals is now open. FSD Africa is seeking a qualified organisation or consortium to deliver an ambitious new accelerator designed to unlock private investment into scalable, nature-positive business models across Africa.
This Nature-First Innovation Lab (NFIL) Implementing Partner Call for Proposals represents a major opportunity for organisations with deep expertise in nature-positive finance, enterprise acceleration, and investor engagement to support the growth of investment-ready nature-first enterprises.
Introduction
FSD Africa is appointing an Implementing Partner to deliver the Nature-First Innovation Lab (NFIL), a market-building accelerator supporting nature-positive enterprises to achieve investment readiness.
NFIL is designed to unlock private investment into scalable, nature-positive business models across Africa, building on FSD Africa’s established track record in early-stage finance and market development.
The programme is a 12-month pilot running from March 2026 to March 2027, supporting a first cohort of 6–8 post-feasibility enterprises.
NFIL targets nature-first enterprises whose primary revenue streams are not carbon-linked, delivered through a cohort-based approach focusing on one or two business models at a time.
The first cohort will centre on regenerative and sustainable supply chains, while future cohorts may address:
- Environmental markets beyond carbon (biodiversity or ecosystem-integrity credits)
- Conservation and nature-positive tourism
- Payments for ecosystem services
- Outcome-linked financial instruments
Through catalytic capital, hands-on transaction advisory, targeted project development support, and structured investor engagement, NFIL aims to strengthen investment cases and move nature-first business models toward mainstream finance.
FSD Africa is also seeking an Implementing Partner willing to align incentives with programme success, including performance-linked delivery models, co-investment, or success-based remuneration.
Project Background
About FSD Africa
Established in 2012 and funded by the UK Government, FSD Africa is a specialist development agency working to strengthen financial markets across sub-Saharan Africa.
FSD Africa works with governments, regulators, financial institutions, and real economy actors to address barriers limiting investment and resilience.
About ANCA
The African Natural Capital Alliance (ANCA), established by FSD Africa in 2022, is Africa’s leading platform for advancing nature-positive finance, with over 130 member institutions representing more than £1 trillion in assets.
ANCA convenes financial institutions, governments, regulators, development partners, and civil society to shape policy, strengthen regulatory frameworks, and mobilise action on nature-related risks and opportunities.
Project Context
Africa hosts some of the world’s most important ecosystems and natural capital, yet remains severely under-financed in mobilising investment into nature-positive economic activity.
Globally, trillions continue to flow into nature-negative activities, while investment into nature-based solutions remains a fraction of what is required.
Africa receives only around 3% of global biodiversity finance, despite its ecological significance and dependence on natural capital for livelihoods, resilience, and economic growth.
Structural and transaction-level market failures persist, including:
- Shortage of investment-ready projects
- Limited developer capacity
- Weak track records
- High perceived investor risk
- Gaps in decision-useful data
Many locally led, high-integrity nature-first initiatives remain under-resourced and unable to scale due to limited access to catalytic capital, transaction structuring, and credible investor pathways.
NFIL is designed to address these transaction-level constraints directly.
Introduction to the NFIL Pilot
The Nature-First Innovation Lab is a market-building accelerator designed to tackle one of the most binding constraints to scaling nature-positive finance in Africa: the shortage of credible, investment-ready enterprises.
NFIL focuses on post-feasibility projects with demonstrated technical and commercial potential, but which cannot attract private capital due to transaction-level barriers and limited investor familiarity with nature-based revenue models.
The pilot will support 6–8 enterprises, with at least two projects sourced from Tanzania, Ethiopia, or Malawi.
While some enterprises may reach financial close during the pilot, others are expected to do so subsequently. The core objective remains to strengthen foundations for scalable investment and reduce information asymmetries between projects and investors.
As a pilot, NFIL will also generate evidence and learning to inform the design of future cohorts and potential expansion.
NFIL Pilot Objectives
The objectives of the NFIL pilot are:
- To deepen the financial sector and build investor confidence by bringing 6–8 nature-first enterprises to investment readiness
- To catalyse sector transformation by enabling nature-positive innovators and incumbents to scale
- To deliver lasting impact including climate resilience, ecological restoration, livelihood improvements, and gender-responsive outcomes
- To position NFIL for scale-up by using pilot evidence to refine delivery models and mobilise additional funding
Scope of Work and Deliverables
The NFIL pilot is structured around four interlinked workstreams.
Workstream 1: Platform Set-Up and Pipeline Identification
This workstream establishes the foundations for NFIL, including sourcing, screening, and selection of nature-positive transactions.
Key activities include:
- Identifying and selecting the first cohort of 6–8 regenerative supply chain projects
- Establishing governance and delivery models with clear roles and protocols
- Finalising a detailed workplan with timelines and milestones
Key deliverables include:
- NFIL governance and delivery plan
- Comprehensive workplan
- Pipeline register with screening and ranking criteria
- Recommendations for selected enterprises
- Project-specific scoping reports
- Updated longlist for future phases
Workstream 2: Transaction Advisory, Project Development and Investor Engagement
This is the primary focus of NFIL resources.
Services include:
a) Grant-Funded Transaction Advisory
- Financial structuring
- Data rooms
- Due diligence support
- Term sheet negotiation
b) Targeted Project Development Support
- Impact measurement
- Certification schemes
- Specialist studies
- Community benefit-sharing
c) Structured Investor Engagement
- Investor mapping and studies
- Matching projects with appropriate investors
- Investor convenings and working groups
- Capacity building for African financial institutions in Tanzania, Malawi, or Ethiopia (NORAD requirement)
Key deliverables include project readiness assessments, progress tracking reports, and investor engagement documentation.
Workstream 3: Market-Building and Knowledge Sharing (Living Lab)
This workstream will generate insights and tools to build market confidence, including:
- Case studies documenting successes and lessons
- Guidance materials on structuring biodiversity investments
- Knowledge-sharing events and publications
Outputs will emphasise accessible and actionable resources.
Workstream 4: Learning, Evaluation and Scale-Up Design
This workstream will synthesise pilot evidence and define recommendations for scaling NFIL.
Activities include:
- Defining learning questions and success metrics
- Conducting quarterly progress reviews
- Evaluating biodiversity, resilience, and social inclusion impacts
- Identifying design refinements for future cohorts
- Developing funding and implementation roadmaps
Deliverables include quarterly learning summaries, an internal assessment report, and a roadmap for a multi-year NFIL programme.
Project Governance
NFIL will operate under an integrated governance structure shared with FSD Africa’s Carbon Accelerator Programme for the Environment (CAPE).
A joint Steering Committee will provide strategic oversight. Day-to-day delivery will be managed by an NFIL Project Working Group co-led by FSD Africa staff and the Implementing Partner.
Roles and decision protocols will be documented in the NFIL governance plan.
Timelines and Availability
The pilot runs from March 2026 until March 2027.
Based on performance and availability of funds, the Implementing Partner may be retained for subsequent cohorts.
The Implementing Partner is expected to maintain high availability, especially around milestone dates, and may be requested to participate in relevant public forums such as COP events and London Climate Action Week.
Proposal Submission Requirements
This is an open competitive call for proposals.
Proposals should be concise (recommended maximum of 15 pages plus annexes) and include:
- Cover letter and confirmation of availability
- Approach and methodology across all workstreams
- Outcome-linked delivery and risk-sharing mechanisms
- Qualifications and experience of firm and team
- Detailed budget in GBP (fees vs grant/disbursement funds)
- Implementation and governance arrangements
- Up to three references for similar programmes
Submission Deadline
Proposals must be submitted by:
12:00 hrs EAT on Monday 16 February 2026
Basis of Award and Evaluation Criteria
Mandatory requirements include deep experience in:
- Nature-positive finance and business models
- Pipeline sourcing across Africa
- Transaction advisory and enterprise support
- Blended finance and grant management
- Investor engagement and FI capacity building
- Intellectual property related to nature finance flows
Proposals will be scored as follows:
- Experience and technical expertise – 25%
- Ability to execute scope (especially WS2) – 15%
- Proposal quality and originality – 20%
- Sustainability value add (localisation, gender, ethics) – 10%
- Value for money – 30%
Shortlisted bidders may undergo oral presentations and due diligence checks.
Budget and Fee Schedule
Budgets must be itemised in GBP, showing:
- Person-day consultancy fees
- Reimbursable expenses
- Separate grant/disbursement funds vs professional fees
Annex 1 provides the required fee schedule format.
Contact and Clarifications
Questions must be received no later than:
10:00 hrs EAT on Friday 6 February 2026
Clarifications will be issued by:
12:00 hrs EAT on Tuesday 10 February 2026
Applicable Taxes
FSD Africa will withhold appropriate taxes in line with Kenyan law and applicable treaties.
Indicative withholding tax rates include:
- Kenya – 5%
- United Kingdom – 12.5%
- Canada – 15%
- Germany – 15%
- India – 10%
- EAC non-residents – 15%
- All other countries – 20%
