The Asian Development Bank has unveiled a new financing mechanism aimed at mobilizing $2 billion by 2035 to support land restoration and drought resilience efforts across Asia and the Pacific region.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched the Financing Investments and Eradicating Land Degradation and Desertification (FIELD) Initiative in collaboration with multiple international partners. The program seeks to channel $2 billion into investments that restore degraded lands and enhance drought resilience across Asia and the Pacific by 2035.
Land degradation and desertification pose significant threats to regional ecosystems and the livelihoods of millions of people in rural areas, according to the ADB. The bank noted that worsening drought, soil erosion, and unsustainable land practices are undermining dryland ecosystems that support over 40 percent of the region's population, with consequences for agricultural output, biodiversity, and economic resilience. The initiative aims to bring approximately 1 million hectares of land under sustainable management during this period.
The FIELD Initiative will employ innovative financing approaches including derisking structures, blended finance mechanisms, and capital market instruments to attract private investment. It will also provide technical assistance and grants to help developing member countries establish sustainable land management policies and build institutional capacity. A preliminary pipeline of land restoration, forest management, and water resource projects has already been identified for implementation.
The initiative operates as a dedicated funding window within the ADB's broader Nature Solutions Finance Hub and aligns with the organization's $40 billion commitment to transform food systems across the region by 2030. Initial partners expressing interest in collaboration include the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the Qatar Fund for Development, and the Middle East Green Initiative, alongside existing hub partners such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the European Union.
