Guatemalan coral reefs. Photo: Ana Giró/Healthy Reefs Initiative
MAR+Invest, the Business Development and Finance Facility of the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR), was launched in July 2022, and aims to invest in market-based initiatives that make a positive contribution to the health and resilience of the coral reef ecosystems and communities of the MAR. It is led by MAR Fund, and convenes a partnership of organizations from the region, integrated by Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative, Mexican Fund for the Conservation of Nature / Sureste Sostenible, and New Ventures / Viwala, and is funded by the Global Fund for Coral Reefs.
The first six months of the initiative have seen the launch of the Build & Connect call for proposals, attracting more than 80 applicants. A total of 25 leaders and 16 projects, with a market angle and a positive impact on the coral reef were selected and will start a mentoring and networking program in 2023 to build their business initiative and strengthen their skills to be successful leaders in the region.
The MAR+Invest Acceleration Program call for proposals is being designed, and will be launched in January 2023, to select 12 projects that will benefit from business and finance mentoring and acceleration.
MAR+Invest’s portfolio is currently investigating or developing reef-positive solutions in seaweed farming, shrimp farming, king crab mariculture, blue carbon and sustainable ecotourism and fisheries.
In 2023, the portfolio projects will start implementation, and we look forward to presenting the initiative at international events!
Take a look at this MAR+Invest video: https://marfund.org/en/mar-invest/#videos
Download the project briefs here
