The Business Case for Agroforestry In Asia-Pacific
2026
This study assessed the opportunities and barriers to scaling agroforestry in Cambodia, the Philippines, and Bangladesh, identifying policy, institutional, market, and financing constraints that limit adoption despite its significant climate, livelihood, and ecosystem benefits. The analysis highlighted practical strategies and innovative financing approaches to accelerate investment and large-scale implementation.
GEF-PPG ENABLE: Excelling Protected Area Management Effectiveness for Biodiversity Conservation through a Landscape Based Approach
2026
The ENABLE project strengthens biodiversity conservation and climate resilience by improving the management and long-term sustainability of Indonesia’s protected areas through a landscape-based approach.
Symmetry served as Conservation Financing Specialist for the UNDP–GEF Project Preparation Grant, assessing sustainable financing mechanisms and developing conservation finance strategies to support the long-term management of protected areas and surrounding landscapes.
Supporting Ecopreneurs Beyond Incubation: Developing an Exit Strategy
2025
The Restoration Factory (UNEP-led) supports early-stage ecopreneurs in ecosystem restoration, but many cannot access follow-on finance after incubation. Symmetry is helping develop an Exit Strategy to connect them with markets, policy support, and suitable financing to scale their impact.
Accelerating Green and Climate Finance in the Philippines: Nature-Based Solutions
2025
The Philippines faces strong climate vulnerability but still has insufficient private finance for nature-based solutions. Symmetry supports UNDP and the Department of Finance by developing a national NbS investment roadmap, including a project inventory, policy analysis, case studies, and recommendations to scale climate-resilient and nature-positive investment
Global Biodiversity Framework Early Action Support
2025
UNDP’s GBF-EAS project supports countries in aligning national biodiversity plans with the Global Biodiversity Framework to halt biodiversity loss. Symmetry contributed by reviewing assessments, analyzing policies and financing, and preparing a consolidated baseline report with recommendations for integrating
biodiversity into national planning and budgets.
Strengthening the Macroeconomic Framework for Forest and Biodiversity Finance in Vietnam
2026
This study assessed barriers and opportunities within Viet Nam’s macroeconomic framework to increase investment in forests and biodiversity conservation. Symmetry analysed the policy, institutional, and financing constraints to develop recommendations to mobilise public and private capital for long term forest protection and biodiversity outcomes. A range of innovative financing mechanisms were identified.
SOUTHERN SHRMIP JSC: SCALING MANGROVE SHRIMP FARMING IN THE MEKONG DELTA
2023 – 2025
Symmetry is a lead partner of the “Scaling climate resilient mangrove shrimp farming in the Mekong Delta” initiative funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The partnership works with the Vietnam Sustainable Shrimp Alliance and Southern Shrimp JSC to scale Integrated Mangrove Shrimp across 3,000ha in a highly vulnerable region of the Mekong Delta.
Development of the UN REDD Global Project Document
2021 and 2025
UNEP’s UN-REDD programme is being strengthening to improve clarity, coordination, and alignment with climate finance goals. Symmetry supported this process by refining the project design, clarifying roles, and improving the results framework to ensure effective implementation.
Resilience for People and Biodiversity–Africa Adaptation Hub
2024
Africa faces severe climate risks, but adaptation funding remains insufficient, fragmented, and difficult to access at scale. The WWF Africa Adaptation Hub is shifting toward a more strategic approach to secure larger, multi-year financing for resilience. Symmetry supports this effort by analysing funding gaps, mapping donors, developing bankable concepts, and strengthening fundraising strategy, partnerships, and climate finance capacity.
Climate Adaptation and Resilience – Mainstreaming Considerations into Financing Decisions
2024
Climate adaptation needs far exceed available funding, and private investment has not yet reached scale due to risk and weak incentives, limiting resilience solutions. Led by OPM for FCDO, the work is government-facing and focuses on informing climate finance strategy and policy. Symmetry supports by analysing investment barriers, identifying scalable solutions, and translating strategy into practical finance mechanisms.
SUSTAINABLE FINANCING IN THE NORTHERN PLAINS OF CAMBODIA
2024
Cambodia is seeking to attract significantly more finance for protected area management. This assignment provided an examination of 25 financial mechanisms and a more detailed assessment, outlining the business case and proposed roadmap for five promising financing options.
Analysis of Climate and Biodiversity Funding Entities
2023
Africa and Asia face rising climate and biodiversity challenges, while funding is increasingly complex and fragmented. The work focuses on mapping and analysing key funding opportunities with organisational priorities. Symmetry supports this by analysing donor trends, assessing alignment and identifying priority funding and engagement strategies.
LAO PDR LANDSCAPE INVESTMENT PLANS
2023
The Lao PDR Livelihoods Landscape project aids the Lao government in developing a productive forestry sector through sustainable forest management and high-quality private investment. The Symmetry team created Landscape Investment Plans for five key landscapes, covering eight provinces and 49 districts.
STIMULATING INVESTMENT INTO THE FOREST AND LAND USE SECTORS IN CAMBODIA, LAO PDR, AND VIETNAM
2023
In Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Vietnam, the Forest and Other Land Use (FOLU) sectors are crucial for achieving NDC targets, but a significant funding gap exists. Carbon markets, results-based payments, and private sector investment can bridge this gap. This study explores opportunities to attract investment in the forestry and agriculture sectors to meet NDC goals.
MOBILISING PRIVATE FINANCING FOR BIODIVERSITY AND ECOLOGICAL SERVICES
2022
Examined the role of private financing for biodiversity and ecological services. The task assessed the potential of different financial instruments, highlighting evolving global practices. The team also undertook a deeper analysis on options to establish a biodiversity credit scheme in Vietnam, with recommendations shared and discussed with key stakeholders.