ICFA - International Climate Finance Accelerator - News , AnnouncementsICFA - International Climate Finance Accelerator - News , Announcementshttps://www.icfa.lu/news/announcementsWed, 15 Apr 2026 04:45:17 +0200http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[Call for External Reviewers]]>https://www.icfa.lu/news/post/call-for-external-reviewersWe’re recruiting External Application Reviewers Accelerating Impact is currently building our external review team for the upcoming International Clima ]]>

Call for External Reviewers for the ICFA 2026 Cohort

We’re recruiting External Application Reviewers
Accelerating Impact is currently building our external review team for the upcoming International Climate Finance Accelerator (ICFA) and International Social Finance Accelerator (ISFA) cohorts.

his is a paid, short-term expert role reviewing early-stage climate and social impact fund proposals, taking part in structured interviews, and helping identify standout emerging fund managers.

We’re particularly keen to hear from people with backgrounds in:
Impact / social finance
Fund setup or fund-of-funds investing
Emerging manager assessment/fund due-diligence
Climate or social investment strategies
Blended finance and innovative fund structures

If this sounds like you - or someone in your network - we’d love to connect.


Access the Indicative Terms of Reference


Interested?
]]>Fri, 12 Dec 2025 12:06:22 +0100<![CDATA[Informational webinar: ICFA Application window open for the 2026 Cohort]]>https://www.icfa.lu/news/post/webinar-icfa-application-window-openThe ICFA programme is receiving Expressions of Interest until 30 November 2025 to join the next Cohort. The ICFA team will host a webinar on 29 October ]]>

Call for Expression of Interest for the ICFA 2026 Cohort

The ICFA programme is receiving Expressions of Interest until 30 November 2025 to join the next Cohort.


The ICFA team will host a webinar on 29 October, 4 pm CET, to guide potential applicants through the process. 

The ICFA is an innovative multi-year programme that accelerates emerging fund managers focusing on key areas for climate action such as Climate Change Mitigation and Climate Change Adaptation.

To become an ICFA Cohort member, and benefit from technical and financial support, fund managers are selected through a highly competitive, three phase selection process, first by the ICFA team, then independent consultants, and finally by our Selection Committee. To highlight the competition of the programme, in 2025 we received 38 expressions of interest, and we selected only 4 high-impact and innovative fund managers to be part of the 2025 Cohort.

Selected fund managers receive access to financial support, trainings on a wide range of topics, an experienced coach, and many other benefits. To find out more, view the introduction to our initiative and the Eligibility Criteria to apply to our acceleration programme.                 


Ready to be accelerated? ➡️Apply for support


      


Apply for support
]]>Tue, 28 Oct 2025 09:21:09 +0100<![CDATA[Now open: Call for Expression of Interest for the ICFA 2026 Cohort]]>https://www.icfa.lu/news/post/now-open-call-for-expression-of-interest-for-the-icfa-2026-cohortThe Call for Expression of Interest for the ICFA 2026 Cohort is now open until 30 November 2025. The ICFA team will host a webinar on 29 October, 4 pm ]]>

Now open: Call for Expression of Interest for the ICFA 2026 Cohort

The Call for Expression of Interest for the ICFA 2026 Cohort is now open until 30 November 2025.


The ICFA team will host a webinar on 29 October, 4 pm CET, to guide potential applicants through the process. 

The ICFA is an innovative multi-year programme that accelerates emerging fund managers focusing on key areas for climate action such as Climate Change Mitigation and Climate Change Adaptation.

To become an ICFA Cohort member, and benefit from technical and financial support, fund managers are selected through a highly competitive, three phase selection process, first by the ICFA team, then independent consultants, and finally by our Selection Committee. To highlight the competition of the programme, in 2025 we received 38 expressions of interest, and we selected only 4 high-impact and innovative fund managers to be part of the 2025 Cohort.

Selected fund managers receive access to financial support, trainings on a wide range of topics, an experienced coach, and many other benefits. To find out more, view the introduction to our initiative and the Eligibility Criteria to apply to our acceleration programme.                 


Ready to be accelerated? ➡️Apply for support


      


Apply for support
]]>Wed, 01 Oct 2025 12:03:29 +0200<![CDATA[ICFA 2025 Cohort Spotlight: Zoscales Partners]]>https://www.icfa.lu/news/post/icfa-2025-cohort-spotlight-zoscales-partners Presenting Zoscales Partners, one of the members of ICFA 2025’s cohort.  ]]>

ICFA 2025 Cohort Spotlight: Zoscales Partners

Presenting Zoscales Partners, one of the members of ICFA 2025’s cohort. 

Zoscales is launching a climate-focused initiative accelerating the decarbonization of Africa’s industrial economy by supporting low-carbon and circular solutions across hard-to-abate sectors, those essential to growth but underserved by climate finance. 

With a pipeline of commercially viable opportunities, Zoscales is looking to partner with multinational firms seeking reliable decarbonization strategies. Zoscales supports companies from feasibility to scale, across their life cycle. 

Their approach is grounded in real-economy fundamentals, aligned with blue-chip offtakers’ supply chains to deliver predictable and risk-mitigated outcomes. 

Built on the lessons learned previously,  Zoscales Partners draws from the most impactful and financially sound opportunities within its network. Their initiative is designed with a deep understanding of local contexts and a commitment to measurable impact, including emissions reduction, job creation, and gender inclusion.  

With experienced climate and private equity leaders at the helm, Zoscales is driving industrial transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Congratulations to Zoscales and the entire team! We’re eager to collaborate, accelerate your progress, and grow together as you lead industrial decarbonization and sustainable development across Africa.
 
🌐 Learn more:  Zoscales Partners

Learn more about the ICFA Programme
]]>Wed, 27 Aug 2025 10:59:09 +0200<![CDATA[ICFA 2025 Cohort Spotlight: Matanataki]]>https://www.icfa.lu/news/post/icfa-2025-cohort-spotlight-matanataki We are delighted to introduce one of ICFA 2025 cohort members:  Matanata ]]>

ICFA 2025 Cohort Spotlight: Matanataki

We are delighted to introduce one of ICFA 2025 cohort members:  Matanataki , with their pioneering project dedicated to building climate resilience across Pacific Island nations.  

Led by Jodi Smith and Malakai Naiyaga, and headquartered in Fiji, Matanataki supports SMEs advancing waste management, regenerative agriculture, sustainable fisheries, and low-impact tourism. Matanataki’s strategy is guided by coral reef health, gender equity, and local ownership. 

Their interconnected engagement model strengthens supply chains, fosters collaboration, and amplifies climate-positive impact. Supported by experienced regional partners leveraging deep local knowledge, Matanataki pairs active ownership and tailored technical assistance ensure that companies are equipped to scale, adopt regenerative practices, and deliver measurable social and environmental outcomes. 

Matanataki aims to catalyse systems change by addressing the primary drivers of reef degradation such as poor waste management and overfishing while advancing gender equity and expanding access to finance for marginalised groups. The project aims to demonstrate that Pacific-led, community-rooted solutions can deliver both impact and financial outcomes and provide global leadership.  

Backed by deep regional knowledge and a powerful purpose, Matanataki is transforming economic pathways through equitable, regenerative growth for island communities. 

Congratulations to Matanataki and their passionate team! We look forward to supporting your mission of an equitable, regenerative growth, and gaining insights from your efforts to strengthen climate resilience in Pacific Island communities.  

🌐 Learn more: http://www.matanataki.com/

Learn more about the ICFA programme
]]>Wed, 20 Aug 2025 09:51:13 +0200<![CDATA[ICFA 2025 Cohort Spotlight: Impact Earth]]>https://www.icfa.lu/news/post/impact-earth-icfa-2025-cohort-memberPresenting Impact Earth, one of ICFA 2025 Cohort members. Impact Earth is a pioneering impact investment advisory firm mobilizing capital into nature-p ]]>

ICFA 2025 Cohort Spotlight: Impact Earth

Presenting Impact Earth, one of ICFA 2025 Cohort members.


Impact Earth is a pioneering impact investment advisory firm mobilizing capital into nature-positive, climate-resilient, and socially inclusive enterprises across frontier markets. Through their latest initiative, the team aims to provide catalytic support to enterprises and projects that conserve and restore natural ecosystems while promoting sustainable livelihoods. 

Following previous successes which supported early-stage ventures across Brazil’s Amazon, Impact Earth is now expanding its reach to tropical regions globally.  The project is designed to deliver interlinked climate mitigation, adaptation, biodiversity enhancement, and social impact, with a strong focus on vulnerable populations in tropical frontier markets.

Through a resilience lens, Impact Earth aims to reduce risks and improve outcomes for local stakeholders by helping companies tailor actions that enhance environmental and community resilience. With the ICFA programme , they aim to accelerate this mission and scale climate-positive, inclusive solutions across critical ecosystems.  

Learn more: Impact Earth

We warmly welcome Impact Earth to the ICFA 2025 Cohort. We look forward to supporting your mission, and learning from your efforts to drive sustainable impact across ecosystems.




Learn more about the ICFA programme
]]>Wed, 13 Aug 2025 11:10:42 +0200<![CDATA[ICFA 2025 Cohort Spotlight: Vitamin°C]]>https://www.icfa.lu/news/post/vitamin°c-icfa-2025-cohort-member We are pleased to shed some light on one of the 2025 ]]>

ICFA 2025 Cohort Spotlight: Vitamin°C

We are pleased to shed some light on one of the 2025 ICFA cohort members, Vitamin°C, a female-led early-stage initiative focused on climate change mitigation and human adaptation targeting impact in the fields of energy transition, food & agriculture, and carbon removal. 

The team, Vitamin°C , led by Sophie Lamparter, Nathalie Moral, and Arijana Walcott, brings together strong investment experience with specialized knowledge in policy, blended capital, talent development, and international expansion. 

Their focus lies on major CO₂-emission: energy transition, food & agriculture, and carbon removal - complemented by solutions that strengthen human resilience and health at the intersection of tech, policy, and impact. With primary focus on Europe, Vitamin°C aims to support companies that remove at least 100,000 tons of CO₂ or improves 100,000 lives annually within five years. 

Through systemic thinking and support founders beyond capital, their dedicated Vitamin°C Lab offers research grants, strategic policy insights, impact validation, scaling support, and guidance for team resilience.  

Congratulations, Vitamin°C!

Learn more: www.vitaminc.ventures 




Learn more about the ICFA programme
]]>Mon, 11 Aug 2025 16:21:04 +0200<![CDATA[Presenting the ICFA 2025 Cohort]]>https://www.icfa.lu/news/post/presenting-the-icfa-2025-cohort We are thrilled to welcome the four outstanding fund managers joining the 2025 Cohort of the ICFA - International Climate Finance Accelerator. Congrat ]]>

Presenting the ICFA 2025 Cohort

We are thrilled to welcome the four outstanding fund managers joining the 2025 Cohort of the ICFA - International Climate Finance Accelerator.

Congratulations to Impact Earth for their Tropical Resilience Fund, Matanataki Pte Ltdfor raising the Matanataki Pacific Fund 1, VitaminºC for their focus on CO2 reduction and human adaptation, and the Sustainable Noble Assets Platform (SNAP) for accelerating industrial decarbonization and circular economy solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa, all of which drive impactful change in climate finance.


Let’s meet the members of the ICFA 2025 Cohort:

🏆 Building on the success of its first advisory vehicle, the Amazon Biodiversity Fund (BRL 250 million), Impact Earth continues its mission to drive impactful investment in environmental finance with the Tropical Resilience Fund that will expand this vision across the Tropical Belt, providing catalytic venture debt to enterprises and projects that conserve and restore natural ecosystems while supporting sustainable livelihoods. Designed to deliver interlinked climate mitigation, climate adaptation, biodiversity enhancement, and social impact, the fund targets vulnerable populations in tropical frontier markets.

🏆 Matanataki Pte Ltd, a woman-founded business developer and emerging fund manager in Fiji, is launching the Matanataki Pacific Fund 1. The fund provides investors with access to community-serving, gender equitable businesses that deliver climate resilience to Pacific communities, with coral reefs as the guiding star indicating the health and climate resilience of the whole.

🏆 VitaminºC is a female-led early-stage venture fund investing in climate mitigation and human adaptation. Their north star is CO2 reduction to mitigate climate change, with a focus on major CO₂-emission “bubbles”: energy transition, food & agriculture, and carbon removal—complemented by solutions that strengthen human resilience and health. They rewire venture capital with systemic thinking and support founders beyond capital through the dedicated non-profit Vitamin°C lab.

🏆 The Sustainable Noble Assets Platform (SNAP) accelerates industrial decarbonization and circular economy solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa. Built on Zoscales’ prior investment experience, SNAP targets hard-to-abate sectors with commercially anchored, resilient solutions tied to real-economy demand. The platform is designed with a deep understanding of local contexts and a commitment to measurable impact, including emissions reduction, job creation, and gender inclusion.


Congratulations to these outstanding fund managers, we are very much looking forward to work together to solve the planet’s most pressing issue - climate change!


Learn more about the ICFA programme
]]>Mon, 07 Jul 2025 14:49:05 +0200<![CDATA[Pauline Fruchaud joins the ICFA Selection Committee 2025]]>https://www.icfa.lu/news/post/pauline-fruchaud-joins-the-icfa-selection-committee-2025 We are delighted ]]>

Pauline Fruchaud joins the ICFA Selection Committee 2025

We are delighted to shed the spotlight on Pauline Fruchaud who has joined the ICFA - International Climate Finance Accelerator Selection Committee for 2025.

Pauline is a seasoned, mission-driven investment executive with over 20 years of experience in impact investing, development finance, and consulting, with a strong focus on financial inclusion, climate, and agri-finance in emerging markets.


Throughout her career, Pauline has worked across regions and sectors—investing in Debt and Private Equity Funds, leading innovative financing solutions for fintechs and agri-tech firms, and advising on fund structures that promote food security and financial access in frontier markets.


Her impressive track record includes roles as Head of Debt Investments at Obviam (advisor to SIFEM, the Swiss DFI), Head of Eastern Europe at BlueOrchard Finance, and a strategic advisor at the IFC, where she worked to unlock investment opportunities across West and Central Africa. She has also contributed to initiatives with UNDP, UNICEF, and grassroots microfinance institutions.


Pauline previously served on the ICFA Selection Committee from 2018 to 2020, during the program’s formative years. We’re thrilled to welcome her back, bringing deep sector expertise, cross-cultural insight, and a passion for building resilient, inclusive financial systems.


Pauline shares:

“It's very energizing and inspiring to support new climate fund managers in developing innovative financing solutions and unlocking investments in climate-smart companies, which our planet needs most. I'm truly honoured and delighted to be part of the ICFA ecosystem!"


With Pauline’s extensive experience and dedication, we are confident her contributions will be instrumental in identifying and empowering the next generation of impact-focused fund managers.




Learn more about the ICFA programme
]]>Mon, 26 May 2025 17:33:59 +0200<![CDATA[Martin Poulsen – Member of the ICFA Selection Committee 2025]]>https://www.icfa.lu/news/post/martin-poulsen-–-member-of-the-icfa-selection-committee-2025 We are delighted to count on Martin Poulsen as member of the ICFA - International Climate Finance Accelerator Selection Committee.  Martin brings ]]>

Martin Poulsen – Member of the ICFA Selection Committee 2025


We are delighted to count on Martin Poulsen as member of the ICFA - International Climate Finance Accelerator Selection Committee. Martin brings a remarkable blend of experience, insight, and commitment to sustainable finance and emerging markets—making him an invaluable addition as we continue to identify and support the next generation of climate-focused fund managers.


Martin Poulsen is a veteran of sustainable investment and private equity, with over 25 years of hands-on experience across sustainability, SME finance, and climate-oriented capital mobilisation. He is the Managing Director of Acacia Sustainable Business Advisors, where he advises fund managers, SMEs, NGOs, and public institutions—particularly those pioneering innovative approaches in climate finance.

Martin’s career spans both the GP and LP sides of the investment world. He has successfully raised capital from both public and private sources, served as founder and co-CEO of the Moringa Partnership, and played key roles at institutions such as the African Development Bank, European Investment Bank, and Kennet Capital.


He currently sits on the IDH Farmfit Fund Investment Committee, serves as Senior Advisor to Consilium Capital, and has been instrumental in launching numerous impactful sustainable finance initiatives.

Martin’s global perspective and deep technical expertise—especially in climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, and inclusive finance—are perfectly aligned with ICFA’s mission to accelerate innovative climate investment solutions. As he emphasizes:


“I am very much looking forward to working with ICFA to select the most promising new climate-focused funds for the 2025 cohort.  In the context of a growing global climate crisis mobilising investment capital for the climate has never been more important and ICFA is playing an important grass-roots role in addressing this question."


 We're confident that Martin's strategic vision and longstanding dedication to sustainable investment will further strengthen our commitment to fostering meaningful climate impact.


Learn more about the ICFA programme
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