The Restoration Explorer tool has been successfully piloted with a select group of restoration-focused entrepreneurs, trainers and NGOs in two days of workshops in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Restoration Explorer is a novel digital platform developed by UNEP that aims to guide project developers in the design stage of their restoration enterprises. Using a landscape approach, it helps users quickly compare the feasibility of different business models to choose the ones most compatible with their restoration activities. It is designed to capitalize on untapped potential to assist the identification and establishment of businesses or projects that are profitable, while also supporting the restoration of the ecosystems on which they depend.
The tool aims to bring critical business considerations to the attention of aspiring eco-preneurs in a user-friendly package, reducing the risk of selecting a commercial model unsuitable for their context, objectives, and capabilities.
The Restoration Explorer aims to provide the first step of business development support for early-stage eco-preneurs. The tool will support eco-preneurs to progress from the business ideation to the validation stage and prepares new enterprises to be further developed by the Restoration Factory, which is a 6-months long capacity building incubation program that assists entrepreneurs to devise bankable and attractive business models that restore landscapes and preserve ecosystems. By providing tailored support throughout the development of new restoration-focused businesses, the Restoration Explorer and Restoration Factory initiatives aim to grow the pipeline of investment-ready, restoration-focused businesses in line with the UNEP Climate Finance Unit’s systems-wide approach to mobilizing private finance for sustainable land use.
Helping participants develop commercially viable and climate-resilient businesses
Presented in collaboration with two local support organizations in Nairobi, Mt. Kenya Hub and E4Impact, the two, one-day pilot workshops invited participants to test and provide feedback on the Restoration Explorer tool and its training program. Upon using the tool, participants were encouraged to provide open feedback and recommendations on how the tool could best support the development of restoration focused businesses through their ideation and growth stages.
In their feedback, participants widely considered the Restoration Explorer tool to be helpful and well developed. Participants affirmed the usability of the tool and the effectiveness of the training program and provided valuable suggestions for improvement.
The first group of participants, comprising restoration entrepreneurs, stated that they would have found the tool to be equally useful for them in both their business ideation and growth stages.
The second group of participants, comprising industry experts accustomed to delivering business incubation training focused on restoration and sustainability, found the tool and the training program to be useful and well designed.
Across the participants from both groups, there was a general desire to use tool and the training program.
Next steps
The success of the Restoration Explorer pilot affirmed the tool’s capacity to support the growth of the thriving economy of eco-preneurs preparing for incubator programs such as the Restoration Factory program. The Restoration Explorer web tool and training program will now be updated to reflect the recommendations made by workshop participants. The Restoration Explorer tool will be launched to the public in 2024.
