The Origination Facility, managed by WWF Netherlands (WWF-NL) and SNV, identifies and develops climate-focused projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It provides early-stage funding to help transform promising initiatives into scalable, bankable solutions that can attract further investment from the DFCD Investment Facilities or third-party investors.
Focus Areas
The Origination Facility supports projects in high-impact sectors, including:
- Forestry
- Agriculture
- Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)
- Environmental Protection
By addressing the financing gap, it accelerates progress toward global climate and biodiversity goals.
What Origination Facility Funding Can Be Used For
Funding is available for:
- Feasibility studies
- Due diligence assessments
- Environmental and social safeguard checks
- Pilot projects to prove concept
- Business model development
These activities help create a pipeline of investable projects for the Water and Land Use Facilities.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible Countries
Projects must be based in ODA-eligible countries, with at least 25 percent of funding directed to Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and 25 percent to development cooperation focus countries as defined by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. - Commercial Viability
Initiatives must demonstrate potential financial sustainability and the ability to scale. - Climate Adaptation and Mitigation (Rio Marker 2)
Projects must primarily focus on climate adaptation or mitigation, following the OECD Rio Marker 2 methodology. - Biodiversity Protection
Projects should do no harm to biodiversity and ideally support species conservation, ecosystem diversity, and sustainable land use. - Alignment with National Development Goals
Initiatives must align with host country policies and climate priorities. - Support for Vulnerable Groups
Projects should contribute to the well-being of youth, women, and other marginalized communities, incorporating Gender, Equality, and Social Inclusion (GESI) principles.
Excluded Activities
Funding cannot be used for projects involving deforestation, fossil fuels, or nuclear energy.
Organizational Requirements
The lead organization must:
- Be a private sector entity
- Have at least €5 million in assets or annual turnover
- Demonstrate a long-term need for financing (at least €5 million)
- Provide co-investment (cash or in-kind from own or external resources)
- Ensure DFCD funding is additional to its existing mission
How to Apply
Organizations interested in securing funding can review the full criteria and submit an application through the DFCD website: www.thedfcd.com
For further inquiries, contact: info@thedfcd.com