Terminal evaluation for the Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) (CZZ2388)

Published on August 19, 2025

The Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) was a six-year project (2019–2025) executed by IDH with funding from GEF and AFD, with WWF-GEF as GEF Agency, and strategic oversight from Mirova and UNCCD. UNCCD and Mirova were the project (TAF) proponents, with the UNCCD GM having spearheaded the design of the LDN Fund following a COP12 decision, and Mirova having been selected to manage the LDN Fund. The TAF was designed to de-risk LDN Fund investments, maximize Environmental and Social (E&S) Impact, and serve as a platform for knowledge management and sharing. A key function of the TAF was to strengthen the pipeline of investment-ready, sustainable land-use projects in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and underserved countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This evaluation assessed the project’s relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, sustainability, safeguards, and gender mainstreaming with a particular focus on the delivery and outcomes of pre- and post-investment technical assistance (TA) provided by the LDN TAF.

Recommendations

The TA should continue to be institutionalized as a core component of blended finance facilities to strategically strengthen project concepts and improve alignment with investment criteria. Such a structured approach not only supports due diligence but also helps de-risk projects for potential investors, thereby increasing the likelihood of successful capital mobilization.
Future TAFs should be designed with pathways to connect investees to multiple funds rather than relying on a single investment vehicle. Given the diversity of project profiles and the variation in investment readiness levels, a single fund’s eligibility criteria—such as minimum ticket size or risk appetite—may not be suitable for all.