Scaling up market-based approaches to biodiversity conservation in Malawi and Zambia

The project team was helping micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in Malawi and Zambia scale their biodiversity-friendly business models. Working with the financial sector in those countries, the team was also creating new, innovative financing instruments for the small businesses.

Lake Malawi is home to over 800 species of fish, most of which are endemic to the lake. Zambia is home to 224 different species of mammals, with over 28 of these species and subspecies considered endangered, critically endangered or threatened with extinction. However, the distinct biodiversity of the two southern African countries is increasingly threatened by agricultural and settlement expansion.

Unsustainable social and economic development is rapidly reducing Malawi’s and Zambia’s biodiversity.

Harnessing the innovative power of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises

In order to address the ongoing decline in biodiversity, the national biodiversity strategies of both countries envisage strong private sector participation and the mobilisation of private investment. Market-based solutions developed by green micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) have enormous potential to contribute to biodiversity conservation due to their high level of innovation. However, both countries lack bankable business models and tailor-made instruments to operationalise biodiversity finance. This is where this project came in.

Scaling biodiversity-friendly entrepreneurship

Biodiversity-friendly MSMEs were given access to finance so that their business models can be scaled up. The conservation and restoration of ecosystems are integral parts of these companies’ products and services. In this way, they actively contribute to species conservation. Targeted advisory services and improved entrepreneurial capacities increased the performance potential of biodiversity MSMEs in both countries and create models that can be replicated in other regions. Biodiversity roundtables and other exchange formats also promoted cross-sectoral cooperation and raised awareness among various stakeholders of market-based approaches to biodiversity conservation.

Financing biodiversity 

As part of the project, the understanding of conservation finance in financial and public institutions has been improved. Furthermore, innovative financial instruments have been developed. Interactive training and lab formats helped strengthen the capacity of commercial banks and public institutions to mobilise biodiversity finance and offer suitable financing instruments. A wide range of stakeholders, including the private and financial sectors, were involved in the development of innovative financing prototypes.

adelphi was implementing the project together with the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) based in Malawi and the Women's Entrepreneurship Access Center (WEAC) based in Zambia.