C3 and HSBC Launch ”Nature Impact Accelerator” to Drive Ecosystem Restoration Across MENAT and Southeast Asia
C3, a Dubai-based global enterprise dedicated to empowering sustainable entrepreneurship, has announced the launch of the Nature Impact Accelerator in partnership with HSBC. This initiative aims to accelerate the growth of promising community-led, nature-based solutions (NbS), enhancing their capacity to restore ecosystems and build resilient communities across the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey (MENAT) region, as well as Southeast Asia.
The launch comes at a critical time when nature-based solutions are increasingly recognized as some of the most effective tools for combating climate change, preserving biodiversity, and boosting climate resilience. Scientific studies indicate that protecting and restoring ecosystems could contribute up to 37% of the global emissions reductions required by 2030. However, current investments in this sector fall significantly short of what is needed to meet global climate, biodiversity, and land restoration targets.
C3 highlighted that while many community environmental initiatives possess innovative and scalable solutions, they frequently face barriers to accessing technical expertise, strategic partnerships, and funding. The new accelerator was designed to bridge this gap, connecting these initiatives with the necessary capital and knowledge networks to scale their impact.
Leadership Perspectives
"Nature is one of our strongest allies in mitigating climate risks and enhancing community resilience. Yet, nature-based solutions require greater funding and broader partnerships," stated David Ramos, Head of Philanthropy at HSBC. "No single entity can restore ecosystems at the necessary speed and scale. Therefore, this program aims to unify efforts and support promising community initiatives across MENAT and Southeast Asia."
Medea Nocentini, Founder of C3 and Senior Partner at Global Ventures, added: "Nature-based solutions have immense potential to comprehensively address our most pressing environmental challenges. The Nature Impact Accelerator provides a platform that combines capacity building, specialized mentorship, strategic partnerships, and implementation support to help community initiatives grow and achieve sustainable impact."
Program Structure and Core Pillars
The accelerator features a 10-week training track, during which 20 selected initiatives will participate in intensive, expert-led workshops focusing on technical and operational development, financial readiness, and environmental and social impact measurement. In the second phase, 10 to 12 initiatives will be selected to receive one-on-one mentorship sessions with top experts and practitioners in sustainability and impact investing.
The program focuses on three main pillars tailored to the region's most pressing environmental challenges:
Arid and Desert Ecosystems: Restoring degraded landscapes in dry environments.
Urban Nature: Enhancing nature within cities and increasing their resilience against heatwaves.
Wetlands and Freshwater: Restoring vital aquatic ecosystems.
Ecosystem Building and Upcoming Showcase
Beyond training and mentorship, the program aims to build an integrated regional ecosystem for nature-based solutions by connecting participants with municipalities, NGOs, corporations, financial institutions, and sustainability leaders. This collaborative approach opens the door for joint projects and long-term partnerships.
The program will conclude with the HSBC Nature Impact Showcase at HSBC’s headquarters, where participating initiatives will pitch their projects to a curated audience of investors, policymakers, and sustainability leaders to secure funding and accelerate implementation.
Applications for the inaugural cohort are now open, with C3 inviting eligible initiatives across the MENAT and Southeast Asia regions to apply before August 16, 2026.
Note: Certified as a B Corp in 2024, C3 leverages a network of over 7,000 experts and 1,000 investors. To date, the enterprise has supported over 400 startups across 27 countries, collectively raising over $1 billion in funding. C3 collaborates with prominent global institutions, including HSBC, Accenture, Standard Chartered, Google, DMCC, and Engie.