Blended Finance 101 - with Heiner Skaliks

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.QuoteBlended finance is really about partnerships—about working together with different stakeholders coming under one roof and coming up with solutions.Useful resourcesConvergenceEmail: [email protected] tree: EvergreenProduction teamFounding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLinkProducer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted CreativesTimestamps01:08History of Convergence & Heiner’s professional background08:30Definition of blended finance14:09Two components of the finance structure16:59Six archetypes of blended finance29:33Examples in forestry36:53How do you bring different partners together?40:20Advice for investors concerned about blended finance structures43:29Lessons learnt across 10 years of Convergence’s existence48:33Actionable advice for new investors49:55Contact detailsSound libraryNature by MaxKoMusic/SoundcloudSopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/SoundcloudSign up now for the ForestLink’s newsletter, where you’ll receive technical advice, reflections, and best-practice guidance to support you with your forest-linked investment strategy or business straight to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.