SNV holds workshop with Nicaraguan coffee trader EXPASA
SNV Netherlands Development Organisation held a kick-off workshop with Exportadora Atlantic S.A. (ECOM-EXPASA) to support access to climate finance needed to implement the Resilient Coffee Production Project in Nicaragua. Using F1 hybrids for improved planting stock, the project comes under agroforestry systems in the country, and increases the climate resilient production of coffee by smallholder farmers.
As part of the Origination Facility for the Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD), SNV is supporting EXPASA with Technical Assistance and EUR 103K grant funding.
Albert Bokkestijn, DFCD-SNV Project Manager, indicated they are working together to develop a EUR 6 million investment proposal to submit for co-investment to the Land Use Facility of the DFCD in 2022.
Bokkestijn stressed that the project proposal must be bankable, not only in terms of profitability, but also in terms of impact for the most vulnerable people in the face of climate change, adaptation and mitigation, and sustainable development.
The Technical Assistance Plan provided by SNV includes three work packages:
Updating EXPASA's Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) and defining the project's business model.
Developing a projection model and financial evaluation of the project.
Conducting a risk analysis and preparing a risk mitigation plan.
The objective of the workshop was to align how to establish, organise and execute EXPASA's Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) among key personnel who will be involved in the project, as well as highlight the standards of environmental and social objectives and principles that guide the dynamics of projects financed by the DFCD.
The workshop provided an overview of the environmental and social management process, as well as gave meaning to the integration of plans and actions developed around the ESMS and other initiatives, standards, certification systems or internationally recognized codes of practice that the company practices or plans to incorporate into project management.
The workshop also provided an opportunity to understand the Technical Assistance Plan and the scope of each of its activities, as well as the milestones agreed with the DFCD.
At the end of the workshop, dates were agreed upon for implementing the first work package.
EXPASA is developing a proposal for investment for their F1 hybrids.
More information: The Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD) enables private sector investment in projects aimed at climate adaptation and mitigation in developing countries. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made available €160 million to increase the resilience of communities and ecosystems most vulnerable to climate change. The DFCD is managed by a pioneering consortium of Climate Fund Managers (CFM), Worldwide Fund for Nature Netherlands (WWF-NL) and SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, led by the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank, FMO.