Colombia is the first partner of the initiative as a biodiversity outcomes co-payer

CALI, Colombia – The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and its innovation and venture capital arm, IDB Lab, today launched the Jaguar Impact Initiative, a novel approach to enhance effectiveness, scalability and transparency to climate and biodiversity projects using innovative outcomes-based financing (OBF) mechanisms in the Jaguar Corridor, which spans 18 Latin America countries. 

Under the Jaguar Impact Initiative, individual OBF in pilot countries will be identified and financed. IDB Lab will co-design specific operations incorporating biodiversity, climate, and socio-economic indicators, using biodiversity and natural capital frameworks, international standards, and best practices. 

The initiative will serve as a platform, connecting public and private outcomes co-payers, impact investors, and local biodiversity solutions providers interested in building their capacity to perform under OBF and Pay for Results mechanisms such as Social Impact Bonds (SIBs), Development Impact Bonds (DIBs), Social Impact Incentives (SIINCs), and Conservation Development Bonds (CBD) using the Jaguar as a proxy variable for biodiversity outcomes in terms of ecosystem regeneration. The announcement occurred today during the United Nations Conference on Biodiversity, COP16.

Colombia’s Ministry of Environment, through the “Fondo para la Vida y la Biodiversidad”, will be the first biodiversity outcomes co-payer in the Initiative, with the purpose of contributing to the implementation of Colombia's National Biodiversity Plan in the context of the Kunming-Montreal framework. 

The Jaguar Impact Initiative will be funded by IDB Lab with $1 million and by the IDB Natural Capital Lab, through the French Government, with $3 million, totaling $4 million.

OBF instruments focus on measuring outcomes, enabling innovative problem-solving at the frontline, leveraging public-private partnerships, and rewarding cost-effectiveness, making the Jaguar Impact Initiative a catalyst for biodiversity and green growth in the region. The initiative is part of IDB Lab's OBF agenda, which builds early markets (service providers, investors, and outcomes payers) for OBF, and supports price finding, outcomes verification and initial governmental public adoption of these financial mechanisms through public policy and knowledge.

The Jaguar Corridor

The Jaguar Corridor is a conservation initiative devoted to preserving the connectivity of jaguar populations across their range, spanning from Mexico to Argentina. This corridor ensures that jaguars can move freely between different habitats that are crucial for their survival, genetic diversity, and ability to find mates, hunt, and establish territories. Several organizations are involved in this effort, working with governments, local communities, and other stakeholders to protect these corridors and mitigate human-jaguar conflicts.

Latin America and the Caribbean at COP16  

The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean are a nature powerhouse and a critical part of the solution to biodiversity loss. In its three pavilions, the IDB is hosting more than 50 events with international leaders and experts to showcase initiatives on nature and biodiversity, and innovative approaches to nature-positive investments aiming to restore and conserve biodiversity. Journalists covering CO16 on site are welcome to visit the pavilions, with no registration required. Consult the event schedule here. 

Find us at our Blue Zone pavilions:

📍 Amazonía Siempre

📍 Conservation International, Fondo Acción & IDB

📍 Joint MDB: Nature, People, and Planet