Today, I'm joined by Heiner Skaliks, Senior Advisor and Head of Latin America and the Caribbean at Convergence. In this conversation, we discuss blended finance's role in forest investment. We unpack the fundamentals of blended finance and explore how it strategically combines public, philanthropic, or otherwise concessional capital with private investment to de-risk and catalyze impactful investments. Heiner outlines six core archetypes of blended finance – from building concessional finance in the capital stack to technical assistance and results-based financing – and illustrates their real-world application through forestry-specific case studies. If you're curious how development finance institutions, governments, and private investors can collaborate to close the $4 trillion SDG financing gap or how blended structures can make forest projects investable, this episode is for you. Plus, you'll hear insights into Convergence's role in fostering partnerships and designing solutions that help forest finance take root.
Blended finance is really about partnerships—about working together with different stakeholders coming under one roof and coming up with solutions.
Email: heiner.skaliks@convergence.finance
Favorite tree: Evergreen
Founding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink
Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives
01:08
History of Convergence & Heiner’s professional background
08:30
Definition of blended finance
14:09
Two components of the finance structure
16:59
Six archetypes of blended finance
29:33
Examples in forestry
36:53
How do you bring different partners together?
40:20
Advice for investors concerned about blended finance structures
43:29
Lessons learnt across 10 years of Convergence’s existence
48:33
Actionable advice for new investors
49:55
Contact details
Nature by MaxKoMusic/Soundcloud
Sopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/Soundcloud
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