Momentum for the Environment Initiative
Grounding global environmental goals in local leadership.
About the Initiative
The Momentum for the Environment Initiative is an effort to sustain and accelerate global environmental progress at a moment of major transition in international development. The initiative identifies high-impact climate, conservation, and pollution projects and local organizations with robust public sector vetting and connects them to funders. By grounding global environmental goals in local leadership, the initiative helps maintain momentum for hard-won environmental gains.
Building Momentum
Catalytic funding
We have helped mobilize $14 million to date toward system transforming efforts, demonstrating early demand and laying the groundwork for significantly greater scale.
Vetted project pipeline
We have identified 80+ high-potential projects and organizations that have undergone extensive quality screening, drawing on prior public-sector due diligence, implementation track records, and expert review to ensure strong foundations, credible delivery capacity, and relevance to global climate, biodiversity, and pollution goals.
Local knowledge
Through interviews, group discussions, and surveys, we have engaged ~150 practitioners across multiple regions to understand what has been lost, what remains resilient, and where targeted support can make the greatest difference.
Global expert network
We have convened a network of 600+ former USAID climate and environment experts across 65+ countries, preserving institutional knowledge, relationships, and local insight critical to effective action.
What’s Coming Next
A synthesis to inform the sector
A concise synthesis capturing what has been lost, what remains viable, and where targeted, near-term support can have outsized impact.
Clear opportunities for funders
We will continue developing curated summaries of high-potential projects, organized by sector, geography, and strategic focus, to support efficient, well-aligned funding decisions.
Deeper, more targeted engagement
We will facilitate more focused connections between funders and locally led efforts, supporting catalytic investments that strengthen institutions and sustain progress.
Expanding locally led solutions
As resources allow, we aim to work directly with local partners to help design the next generation of climate and environmental initiatives grounded in local priorities.
Our Supporters
The Navigation Fund
The Fund for Science and Technology