Convergence is hosting two design funding webinars to discuss its decision making process, tips on how to submit a successful application, and answer any questions you may have. Please RSVP through the links below:

RSVP to webinar: January 14th, 10:00am – 11:00am SGT (GMT +8)

RSVP to webinar: January 20th, 9:00am – 10:00am EST (GMT-5)

The Asia Natural Capital Design Funding Window provides grant funding for the design and launch of catalytic blended finance solutions focused on natural capital in Asia. This Window is funded by the RS Group, a family office based in Hong Kong.

This Window will support blended finance solutions that find new ways to enhance and protect the world's stock of natural assets, including water, land, soil, air, plants and animals, by attracting private investment at scale. For example, solutions could be aimed at:

• Protecting biodiversity
• Reducing ecosystem degradation (e.g. deforestation)
• Mitigating and adapting to climate change
• Reducing unsustainable use of land and oceans
• Restoring and rehabilitating impaired terrestrial, coastal and aquatic ecosystems

...while providing a fair and sustainable living to local communities.

Please refer to the Factsheet on the Asia Natural Capital Design Funding Window for more information

Types of Applications

Practitioners can apply for feasibility study or proof of concept funding:

• Feasibility study: Funding to explore the feasibility of the vehicle. For example, assessing the investability/bankability of the transaction, conducting market scoping and developing the vehicle structure. Convergence will award grants between $50,000 and $200,000 for feasibility studies. Promising feasibility studies funded through the Design Funding Window will be considered for follow-on proof of concept funding.
• Proof of concept: If a feasibility study (or equivalent) has been completed, funding to complete all design and structuring activities to launch the vehicle. For example, finalizing the capital structure and financial model, establishing the legal structure, and producing key documents. Convergence will award repayable grants between $200,000 and $500,000 for proof of concept work.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for consideration for the Asia Natural Capital Design Funding Window, proposals must meet the following criteria:

• The proposal must be for a blended finance vehicle. The vehicle must aim to use catalytic capital from public or philanthropic sources to attract private sector investment to the identified development challenge.
• The vehicle must focus on the natural capital sector.
• The target region for the blended finance vehicle must be in Asia. Preference would be given to proposals targeting Southeast Asia. Practitioners should have on the ground presence or partnerships in Asia.
• Practitioners can only use the awarded grant funding for the design and launch of the blended finance vehicle – not for investment capital or to fund operational activities of an already established vehicle. See grant portfolio for examples of previous grants made by Convergence.
• The proposal must adhere to the applicable proposal template, detailing the development challenge, proposed blended finance vehicle, key risks and mitigation strategies, design activities and costs, and the applicant's relevant experience.
  • Feasibility study proposals must 1) include an initial vehicle structure and investment thesis, and 2) have initiated engagement with potential funders and relevant stakeholders.
  • Proof of concept proposals must 1) detail interest and ideally commitment to participate, from funders and relevant stakeholders, and 2) include an initial financial model.
• Proposals are only accepted from organizations or consortiums of organizations. The lead organization must be able to provide 1) proof of incorporation, and 2) audited financial statements for the previous fiscal year.
• Practitioners awarded funding are expected to regularly report key challenges, learnings, and results. This will be synthesized into a case study or learning brief and published to support market-wide learning.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• Scalability and/or replicability: How much private capital does the vehicle aim to catalyze? If the vehicle is successful, can other practitioners use a similar approach? Will the vehicle contribute to creating a pipeline of investable deals/projects in natural capital in Asia?
• Demonstration effect: Is the vehicle testing a new design? Is the vehicle replicating an existing approach in a new market? Is the vehicle attracting partners that have not participated in the blended finance space before?
• Impact: Does the vehicle propose to drive a significant amount of natural capital impact? Will the vehicle have a measurable impact on an ecosystem? How will environmental impact and risk be measured and will it have a scientific basis? Are there other social, economic, or environmental impacts of the vehicle?
• Additionality: Does the vehicle aim to deploy financial instruments that are under-supplied and will therefore catalyze financing with a high degree of additionality? Does the vehicle have strong potential to address a market failure in the short term, and catalyze broader market financing in the long term?
• Stakeholder support: Does the vehicle have the support of key stakeholders in the target region / country (e.g., government)?
• Likelihood to achieve financial close: Is the vehicle likely to attract investors and close within the short or medium term?
• Contributions to portfolio and development risk-return: Does the vehicle represent a strong development risk-return (i.e., high risk vehicles should have the potential to achieve significant natural capital impact)?
• Field Building: Does the vehicle contribute to field building? Does is it contribute to building local capacity and strengthening breadth and depth of local markets and communities? Does the applicant have a strong local presence in Asia?

Application Submission Deadlines

Applications to the Asia Natural Capital Design Funding Window will be considered on a rolling basis. The upcoming application deadlines are given below.

• February 11, 2021
• June 3, 2021