Biodiversity and financing - Publications

Enriched Nordic · Found: 2026-03-11 08:07

The Nordic Development Fund (NDF) was established in 1988 and commenced operations in 1989. NDF is a joint Nordic international finance institution of the five ...

Source: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2023-540/5-ndf-nordic-development-fund.html

Funding Details

Funder

Nordic Development Fund (NDF)

Funding Goal

To finance climate change mitigation and adaptation activities at the nexus of climate change and development in lower-income countries and countries in fragile situations.

Funding Amount

Total portfolio of EUR 627 million across 144 projects. Individual project sizes not specified publicly.

How to Apply

NDF does not operate through open calls for proposals. The fund works primarily through co-financing partnerships with multilateral development banks and other international financial institutions. Interested parties can contact NDF through their contact form or explore tender notices on their website. Projects are identified and developed in collaboration with partner institutions.

Target Region

Africa, Asia, Latin America (lower-income and fragile countries globally)

Contact

NDF is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland. Contact form available at https://www.ndf.int/contact-us/contact-form.html

Last Checked

2026-03-12 05:41

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Project must focus on climate change mitigation and/or adaptation in lower-income or fragile countries
• Applicants typically engage through co-financing partnerships with multilateral development banks or other IFIs

Project Scope

• Financing available as grants, concessional loans, or equity — individually or in combination
• Projects should deliver synergetic adaptation and mitigation benefits where possible

Constraints

• Projects must comply with IFC Performance Standards or World Bank Environmental and Social Standards
• Environmental and Social Policy requires safeguarding ecosystems and biodiversity

Summary

The Nordic Development Fund (NDF) is a joint Nordic international finance institution established in 1988 by Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, NDF provides concessional financing for climate and development projects in lower-income and fragile countries. As of 2024, NDF manages 144 projects across 30 countries with an accumulated climate finance portfolio of EUR 627 million. NDF offers grants, concessional loans, and equity investments, with a strong focus on climate adaptation and resilience. The fund prioritizes projects that deliver synergetic adaptation and mitigation benefits, working through strategic co-financing partnerships with multilateral development banks and other international financial institutions. Geographic focus is primarily Africa (54% of portfolio), followed by Asia (16%), Latin America (13%), and multi-regional projects (17%). Rather than running open calls for proposals, NDF typically works through partnerships with development finance institutions. Biodiversity is integrated into NDF's climate work rather than being a standalone focus area — all projects must comply with IFC Performance Standards or World Bank Environmental and Social Standards, which include biodiversity safeguards. NDF's Environmental and Social Policy requires recipients to safeguard and, where feasible, enhance ecosystems and the biodiversity they support.

Historical Context

NDF was established in 1988 and commenced operations in 1989. Since 2009, NDF has focused specifically on climate change and development. As of end-2022, the active portfolio was EUR 359.3 million; by 2024 the accumulated climate finance portfolio had grown to EUR 627 million across 144 projects in 30 countries.

Sources

• https://pub.norden.org/temanord2023-540/5-ndf-nordic-development-fund.html
• https://www.ndf.int/
• https://www.ndf.int/what-we-do
• https://www.ndf.int/what-we-finance
• https://www.ndf.int/how-to-engage

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