MAR+Invest enters the second phase!

The MAR+Invest partners are thrilled to announce the launch of MAR+Invest’s second phase, made possible by the unwavering support of the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR)!

Since its first phase in July 2022, MAR+Invest has been diligently working towards fostering a sustainable ocean-based economy in the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) region. The MAR is the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, spanning 1,000 kilometers across Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. Thanks to the generous support from donors, partners, and collaborators, MAR+Invest achieved significant milestones during the first phase, from exploring the business landscape to designing financial products and offering crucial technical assistance.

Some of the impact results of the MAR+Invest components with the potential to address key threats to the MAR are:

• Build & Connect program: 21 leaders, representing 14 projects, completed the program in March 2024.
• Acceleration Programme: 8 projects completed the first edition of the program in December 2023.
• Investment Banking: 30 companies were identified with the potential to attract impact to the MAR region, and 2 companies received capital investment support.
• Portfolio Projects: 4 different projects were supported in the sectors of aquaculture, sustainable fishing, blue carbon and biodiversity credits and seaweed farming.
  

This second phase will allow MAR+Invest to continue its mission of supporting reef-positive initiatives and addressing key challenges facing the MAR.

In this new phase, the MAR+Invest partnership is committed to:

• Providing concessional loans to reef-positive ventures identified in the first phase.
• Creating a guarantee fund which supports the de-risking of investments in the region.
• Continuing to support reef-positive market initiatives through capacity-building and the acceleration programs.
• Researching best practices regarding the collection and disposal of sargassum in Quintana Roo, Mexico.
• Mapping and financing solutions that address the lack of wastewater treatment/sanitation and overfishing, two of the most prevalent threats to the health of the reef.
  
• Through these efforts, MAR+Invest continues to work with local partners to develop and strengthen the Blue Economy sector in the MAR region. Together, we’re making strides towards a brighter, more sustainable future for the MAR and its communities.
  

MAR+Invest donor:

Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR):
GFCR is a unique blended finance vehicle dedicated to coral reefs globally. Hosting both a Grant Fund and an Investment Fund, the GFCR is designed to bolster the resilience of coral reefs, associated marine ecosystems, and the communities and economies that depend on them. https://globalfundcoralreefs.org/

MAR+Invest partners:

Mesoamerican Reef Fund – MAR Fund:
A regional, private environmental fund with 20 years of experience, created to support the protection of the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR). Its mission is to drive regional funding and partnerships for the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of the MAR. https://marfund.org/en/

Mexican Fund for the Conservation of Nature (FMCN):
A non-profit organisation with 30 years of experience, dedicated to allocating financial resources for nature conservation and to connecting various stakeholders involved in protecting Mexico’s biodiversity. https://fmcn.org/en

Sureste Sostenible:
A Mexican regional environmental fund, established in 2020 that finances and implements conservation, sustainable use, and climate change projects through strategic alliances and collaborative efforts with governments, civil society organisations, and the private sector in Mexico. https://surestesostenible.org/eng/

Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative (HRI):
A globally unique international collaborative of coral reef-focused research, management and conservation dedicated to safeguarding the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR), with over 20 years of experience. Their vision is to improve scientific understanding of the functioning of the MAR, and enhance its health through management interventions. https://www.healthyreefs.org/cms/

New Ventures:
A company dedicated to accelerating and supporting business innovations, designing, connecting, and managing financial solutions in Latin America. Since 2004, New Ventures has used the power of business to accelerate, finance, and connect impact-driven individuals. https://www.nvgroup.org/

VIWALA:

A company established in 2019, part of New Ventures group, that specializes in social and environmental impact. It supports businesses that strive to include marginalized populations into the formal economy. https://www.viwala.com/somos-viwala