BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes (BioCF-ISFL)


The BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes (BioCF-ISFL) is a multilateral fund managed by the World Bank catalysing the development of low-carbon rural economies, fostering livelihoods and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the land sector. It engages national and sub-national governments and the private sector through impact-based payment systems. Switzerland has an interest piloting such incentive systems in order to shape development cooperation that is fit for the future.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Global
Climate change and environment
Forestry policy
Environmental policy
01.12.2018 - 31.12.2030
CHF  10’000’000
Background Two of the world’s most pressing challenges – climate change and rural poverty – are inextricably linked. Global greenhouse gas emissions from land use account for nearly one-quarter of the total global greenhouse gas emissions. Agricultural expansion is the leading driver of deforestation globally, yet agriculture is also a major force for economic growth in developing countries. The BioCF-ISFL works in an integrative manner to incentivize alternative development pathways in these competing sectors to replace unsustainable practices and policies that are resulting in deforestation and land-and forest degradation.
Objectives

As per the BioCF-ISFL logframe:

Contribute to low carbon development by delivering benefits to communties and reducing greenhous gas emissions in BioCF- ISFL program areas and catalyzing progress beyond the BioCF-ISFL.

As per Swiss Climate Change policy/SDC-GPCCE:

Learning from BioCF-ISFL delivery mechanisms for globally upscaling mitigation approaches in the land-use sector (fulfilling international mitigation targets and achieving the goals of the Green Climate Fund (GCF)).

Target groups Client countries in Africa, Tropical America and Indonesia/governments (national and sub-national level), citizens (including women), private/ corporate sector (both global and domestic)
Medium-term outcomes

Impacts in BioCF-ISFL countries as per the BioCF-ISFL logframe:

  • Improved land management and land use, including forests;
  • Benefits for land users;
  • Leveraged partnerships with and between the public and private sectors to advance the BioCF-ISFL vision and approach.

Swiss expectations:

  • Advanced application of impact-based payment systems;
  • Mobilised Swiss private sector (public-private partnerships).
Results

Expected results:  

Swiss expectations:

  • Fostering a broad land use-based mitigation approach in which forests play a key role; prevention of further environmental degradation;
  • Drawing lessons to shape other multilateral instruments, such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF);
  • Bringing to the table expertise in mobilizing the private sector to engage in the international efforts;
  • Switzerland engages as a strategic, like-minded partner in programme steering.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Development cooperation
Project partners Contract partner
International Financial Institution (IFI)
  • World Bank - International Bank for Reconstruction and Development


Other partners
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
Coordination with other projects and actors State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), UN-REDD, Forest Investment Program (FIP), PROFOR, Climate Investment Funds (CIF), Green Climate Fund (GCF), United Convention on Biological Diversity (UN-CBD)
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    10’000’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    10’000’000
Project phases Phase 1 01.12.2018 - 31.12.2030   (Current phase)