The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is a key partner in advancing nature-positive finance through the Tiger Landscapes Investment Facility (TLIF) — an innovative blended finance mechanism designed to mobilize private and public capital for the protection, restoration, and sustainable management of tiger landscapes. TLIF was launched in 2025 in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Tiger Conservation Coalition, and critical donors, with the aim of catalysing up to US$200 million to address the financing gap for biodiversity in tiger landscapes.
UNCDF administers the de-risking and credit guarantee component of the Facility, enabling local financial institutions to extend sustainable finance to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) whose operations support conservation outcomes and livelihood resilience for biodiversity conservation in and around tiger landscapes. Initially planned to be operationalized in Bhutan, Malaysia, Nepal, and Thailand, TLIF combines technical assistance and risk mitigation to unlock domestic capital, strengthen nature-based enterprises, and deliver benefits for people and ecosystems alike.
About TLIF
The Tiger Landscapes Investment Facility (TLIF) is a blended finance mechanism created to close critical financing gaps in tiger landscape conservation by catalysing investment into nature-positive enterprises and initiatives. It brings together strategic partners including UNCDF, UNDP, the Tiger Conservation Coalition, and anchor donors such as Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN), Cartier for Nature, and Hans Wilsdorf Foundation.
UNCDF’s role centers on managing the guarantee and de-risking facility to enable local financial institutions to extend credit to biodiversity-linked MSMEs that protect and restore tiger habitats. Coupled with a Technical Assistance Facility provided by UNDP to develop investable project pipelines and strengthen enterprise capacity, TLIF aims to mobilize public and private capital towards biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods in tiger range countries. Initially guarantee scoping exercises have been conducted in Thailand and Malaysia, and the Facility design and initial negotiations are underway, intended to seek generate inclusive economic opportunities while reducing threats to biodiversity across key landscapes.
