• Cornerstone junior commitments from the Nordic Development Fund and the Luxembourg – European Investment Bank Climate Finance Platform
• Unique blended finance facility prioritising investment in the blue economy across Small Island Developing States
• Aims to benefit at least 2 million people, support more than 12,500 jobs, avoid 1 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions and enhance the resilience of more than 100,000 hectares of natural ecosystems
Announcement originally published on Outrigger Impact on 28 July, 2026
Outrigger Impact (Outrigger) today announced the launch of the Outrigger Impact Fund I, a blended finance vehicle that will provide equity and debt financing to blue economy businesses in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The project aims to build resilience to climate change and help close the estimated US$10 billion annual global adaptation finance gap for islands by fostering a sustainable ocean economy.
SIDS are better understood as “Big Ocean States” and the custodians of our ocean ecosystems. Together, they steward around 30% of the world’s ocean through their Exclusive Economic Zones, are home to more than 20% of global biodiversity and approximately 40% of the world’s coral reefs. Their economies, livelihoods and cultures are fundamentally dependent on healthy oceans, with the blue economy contributing more than 40% of GDP in many island nations. Yet despite sitting on the front line of climate change, they receive a disproportionately small share of global development finance.
Outrigger Impact will focus primarily on investments in blue economy sectors that strengthen climate adaptation and resilience, including circular economy, sustainable fisheries, ecosystem restoration, coastal resilience and climate-smart infrastructure. The portfolio will also support distributed clean energy, energy efficiency and low-carbon shipping where these contribute to broader resilience outcomes for islands.
