• The bond initiative entails environmental protection and inclusive economic growth.
• Investor money, along with the progress of the projects, is tracked on a dedicated website.
• The objectives of the programme are to reduce deforestation, protect biodiversity, and improve local livelihoods in the Amazonia region.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank have launched a new sustainable programme for the Amazonia region.

Known as the Amazonia Bond Issuance initiative ("programme" or "initiative"), it has been designed to raise private capital for sustainable development in the region, as well as to combine environmental protection with social and economic development.

The programme's object is to protect the rainforest and the people depending on it for survival.

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It has taken its cue from the newly published Amazonia Bond Issuance Guidelines, which explain how these bonds should work—for example, how the funds should be used and ways to measure the impact of the projects—all while increasing transparency so that investors understand where their money goes and whether it is being spent for the right purpose of protecting the environment and helping local communities.

The IDB, in its first approach, plans to issue up to $1 billion in Amazonia Bonds. The proceeds will be used to reduce deforestation, protect biodiversity, improve local livelihoods, and provide the inhabitants of the Amazon with new economic opportunities without destroying the forest and its ecosystem.

The financial organisations have highlighted the importance of attracting private investors to help address the most pressing global issues through the programme, which helps countries issue credible bonds that create a real impact. The initiative also builds on the World Bank's previous work of raising money through green, social, and sustainability bonds.

Spain has given $2 million to the development of the guidelines and has offered technical support for nations that want to issue Amazonia Bonds in the future.

To scrutinise all bond activities, the Green Bond Transparency Platform — which is basically a public website run by the IDB with support from the German government — makes it easier and more transparent for investors to see the progress of each project aimed at safeguarding the Amazon forests.

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Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, World Bank vice-president for Latin America and the Caribbean, said: "We are proud to support the launch of the Amazonia Bonds Issuance program – an important step toward mobilizing sustainable finance for one of the world’s most vital regions.

"Through the Amazonia Viva framework, we are helping countries design credible, high-impact instruments that can attract private capital at scale – turning sustainable finance into real, lasting impact.

"This builds on technical assistance from the World Bank Group, which has helped emerging market public sector borrowers and commercial banks raise significant resources through labeled green, social, and sustainability bonds."

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Source: IDB