As part of the latest InFiNe Visit, members of the Inclusive Finance Network Luxembourg had the opportunity to engage in an in-depth exchange with Rio Impact and the EcoTela Fund.
Following his participation in the São Tomé and Príncipe Investment Forum, held in Brussels on 11 December, Mr. Acacio Bonfim, Chair of the Board of the EcoTela Fund, visited InFiNe Luxembourg on 12 December. The visit was organised in collaboration with Rio Impact and was accompanied by Ludwig Liagre, Managing Director of Rio Impact, which supports and advises the EcoTela Fund in its development.
The EcoTela Fund is the Conservation Trust Fund of São Tomé and Príncipe, designed to ensure long-term, sustainable financing for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration and climate resilience in the country. During this visit, the EcoTela team had the opportunity to present the concept of Conservation Trust Funds (CTFs), highlighting their role as innovative financial mechanisms that combine environmental objectives with sound governance and robust financial structures.
São Tomé and Príncipe holds a truly exceptional position in terms of natural capital. The country has been recognised by UNESCO as the world’s first nation entirely designated as a Biosphere Reserve. This designation highlights São Tomé and Príncipe’s outstanding biodiversity, high levels of endemism, and the vital role its terrestrial and marine ecosystems play in climate regulation, livelihoods, and sustainable development. Preserving this unique natural heritage is therefore not only a national priority, but also a global responsibility, that the EcoTela Fund is designed to support through long-term, sustainable conservation finance.
A particular focus of the presentation was placed on the creation process of the EcoTela Fund, including its institutional setup, governance arrangements, and financial model. The discussion also addressed current fundraising challenges, notably the need to mobilise diversified and sustainable funding sources, including from the private sector. The presentation showcased how the fund aims to balance long-term capital preservation with impact-driven disbursements.
The exchange with InFiNe members proved especially rich and inspiring. Representatives from the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), LuxDev, LuxFLAG, and Friendship, actively contributed to the discussion. These conversations enabled the sharing of best practices, lessons learned, and innovative ideas, while also helping to identify potential connections with key actors in Luxembourg’s inclusive and sustainable finance ecosystem.
Looking ahead, Acacio Bonfim and Ludwig Liagre highlighted the next strategic priorities. These include strengthening EcoTela’s capitalization, particularly for its endowment and sinking fund windows. This will help to pilot spending modalities for the three fund’s priority areas:
Enhanced financial management and careful piloting of expenditures across these priorities will be essential to maximise impact and ensure long-term sustainability.
Mr Bonfim expressed its strong appreciation for the quality of the dialogue within the InFiNe network and for the openness of Luxembourg’s ecosystem to innovative conservation finance solutions. Such exchanges play a crucial role in fostering collaboration and advancing inclusive finance approaches that benefit both people and nature.
For further information about the EcoTela Fund and potential collaboration opportunities, please contact: Ludwig.Liagre@rioimpact.lu
Author : Ludwig Liagre
Photo © Inclusive Finance Network Luxembourg asbl
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
