The Central American Markets for Biodiversity Project (CAMBio) is a tri-partite initiative by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The project’s objective is enhancing biodiversity conservation and sustainable use within Micro, Small, and Medium-sized enterprise (MSME) development. This will occur by applying innovative financing mechanisms and by extending products offered by CABEI’s Financial Intermediary (FI) Network.

The CAMBio project will take place in five Central American countries: Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua. CAMBio, which ends in 2012, will receive financial support from GEF through the administration services of the UNDP. CABEI will serve as the project’s executing agency.

CABEI have developed new financial products specifically designed for Bio-friendly MSMEs (BF-MSMEs). The project uses GEF resources to create two financial mechanisms designed for supporting CABEI loans: a Partial Credit Guarantee Program and a Biodiversity Award for Micro and Small Enterprises (BIO-Award). Moreover, GEF have provided funds for technical cooperation aimed at BF-MSME development, creating an enabling environment that will promote biodiversity conservation within the region through policies and incentives reforms. CABEI will also provide over $17 Million in credit funds to the Project.

The CAMBio Project will look to partner with other regional institutions and organizations in order to foster the growth of Central American Bio-friendly MSMEs. Such strategic partners include: The Tropical Agronomical Center for Research and Education (CATIE), the National Biodiversity Institute (INBio), the Rainforest Alliance, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV).

For more information please visit the official CAMBio website (currently in Spanish only): www.proyectocambio.org