The Forever Costa Rica Association (FCRA or the Association) is the administrator of the Second Debt- for-Na- ture Swap between Costa Rica and the United States. Since 2010, FCRA pursues the conservation of terrestrial and marine ecosystems in perpetuity through the management of this fund, in addition to the Association’s private trust. Buoyed by the success of this work and the strategic mission-based alliances it has forged, the Association is launching a Program Related Investment (PRI) Initiative that will catalyze investments, with capital procured from the Debt-for- Nature Swap, in small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) or businesses developing sustainable use programs within and surrounding the Second Debt-for-Nature Swap prioritized geographical areas.
PRIs allow foundations to increase the scope of their work by making investments (most often in the form of low interest loans or guarantees) in charitable activities that increase the impact of the organization’s work. Using this approach, FCRA is in a unique position to further its mission in alignment with Costa Rica’s sustainability and economic development goals by supporting the creation and growth of green businesses rooted in social, economic, and environmental standards.
After obtaining approval of the Oversight Committee (OC) of the Second Debt-for-Nature Swap, FCRA launched its PRI Initiative that consists of the reallocation of $1 million to support innovative entrepreneurs whose businesses are generating financial returns while positively impacting the environment and the livelihoods of those associated with them.
