152
TNFD piloting sessions conducted across financial institutions to deepen understanding of nature-related risks.
600
Trained professionals including 10 C-suite or board-level executives in TNFD principles and sustainable finance.
21
Regulatory road-mapping sessions
4
Major networking events hosted by the African Natural Capital Alliance (ANCA), fostering dialogue among finance leaders and environmental stakeholder
The problem
Africa’s ecosystems are a pillar of its economic stability and social well-being. However, the continent faces a substantial shortfall in financing for natural capital, risking the degradation of its rich biodiversity and threatening its economic foundations. Recognising this urgency, FSD Africa has taken a lead role in driving investment towards sustainable development by promoting nature-related financial disclosures tailored to Africa’s unique context. Through the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), FSD Africa has created pathways for financial institutions to identify, manage, and disclose nature-related risks, ensuring that African perspectives shape the global sustainability conversation.
The solution
In partnership with FirstRand, one of Africa’s largest financial services groups, FSD Africa has launched a pioneering initiative to integrate TNFD principles into Africa’s financial sector. This collaboration involved piloting TNFD frameworks across sectors most sensitive to environmental risks, such as agriculture and extraction, where nature-based dependencies and impacts are high. Through targeted capacity-building programmes, regulatory road-mapping sessions, and real-world pilot initiatives, FSD Africa and FirstRand are setting new standards for sustainable finance in Africa.
This multi-tiered approach combines technical support, sector-specific assessments, and institutional readiness exercises, helping African financial institutions embrace nature-positive practices.Through this initiative, FSD Africa and FirstRand have equipped African financial leaders with the tools and understanding needed to assess and disclose nature-related risks. One FirstRand executive, deeply involved in the programme, reflected,
Integrating nature risks into our decision-making has transformed how we view long-term sustainability.” – FirstRand executive
This collaboration has not only strengthened FirstRand’s capacity but also empowered broader financial stakeholders across Africa to safeguard natural capital. FSD Africa’s partnership with FirstRand stands as a beacon for how strategic, locally adapted frameworks can drive meaningful change across Africa’s finance landscape.