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DFCD
Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD) is proud that they has been awarded the Investment Fund of the Year 2026 by ESG Investing, in the category Best ESG Investment Fund: Climate Transition (Private Markets).
Second award for the DFCD
The Best ESG Investment Fund award is a second international recognition, as FMO with the DFCD won the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Europe Awards in 2025, which is widely considered one of the top, most authoritative accolades in the legal industry. Both the high prestige ESG Investing Award and the FT Award are a global recognition that underscores the DFCD’s leadership in driving innovative finance structures to secure high‑impact climate action where it matters most – and where it is often most challenging.
A Prestigious Global Benchmark for ESG Excellence
ESG Investing is recognized worldwide as a leading media platform covering environmental, social, and governance developments for institutional investors, fund managers, and listed companies. Its annual awards highlight the best performers across more than 40 ESG categories, spanning investment funds, research, products, and service providers. The ESG Investing Awards are the only global awards dedicated exclusively to identifying and evaluating excellence in ESG investing. They are designed for banks, investment managers, research institutions, ratings agencies, ETF providers, and exchanges – making the competition both broad and exceptionally rigorous.
Entries are judged by an independent panel of experts from leading academic institutions and investment organizations, including MIT Sloan School of Management, Yale University, ESADE, the London School of Economics, Lightrock, Charles Stanley, Chronos Intelligent Sustainability, and others. Their evaluation covers fund performance, impact reporting, market contribution, and demonstrable climate outcomes. Winning in this environment is a significant achievement -and a strong testament to the DFCD’s innovative and transformative approach.
A Recognition of True Climate‑Transition Leadership
Receiving the award in the category of Climate Transition (Private Markets) is especially meaningful. Climate transition is one of the most urgent and complex challenges of our time, requiring not only capital, but creativity, resilience, and true collaboration.
This recognition affirms the DFCD’s role in:
- Creating new markets in frontier regions
- Strengthening European engagement in climate action
- De-risking early-stage promising climate solutions
- Mobilizing private investment into vulnerable landscapes
- Accelerating adaptation and mitigation at scale
It also highlights the strength of our unique partnership model, bringing together public and private actors to unlock climate opportunity where traditional finance often hesitates.
A Collective Achievement Across the DFCD Partnership
This award reflects the collective strength of the entire DFCD consortium. It is first and foremost a testament to the commitment and expertise of all partners – FMO, Climate Fund Managers (CFM), SNV, and WWF‑NL, whose on‑the‑ground presence, technical capabilities, and climate‑action leadership form the backbone of the fund’s impact. Their partnership, together with the dedication of FMO teams working as One FMO and the strategic persistence of FMO’s Partnership for Impact department (P4I), has been essential in shaping the DFCD into a high‑performing, mission‑driven climate finance facility.
The fund’s success remains inseparable from the strategic support of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, anchoring governance and evaluation, and the European Commission, whose EFSD+ backing and Global Gateway alignment amplify DFCD’s reach and credibility.
It is a moment to celebrate the collaboration, expertise, and impact-driven mindset that have brought the fund to this point.
“Our win is a testament to the impactful work by FMO—across departments and teams—, the inspiring cooperation with Climate Fund Managers, WWF and SNV, and the unwavering support of our key stakeholders within the Dutch government and the European Commission. I am particularly proud that we have been recognized in the climate transition category, perhaps the greatest challenge of all. Our role in this space has now been acknowledged as leading and truly impactful, which fuels our ambition to take next steps, together.” (Amos de Jong, senior ESG Advisor FMO, DFCD).
Looking Ahead
This award strengthens our resolve to continue pushing the boundaries of climate finance. The DFCD will remain focused on delivering scalable, sustainable solutions that support communities, protect ecosystems, and enable developing countries to thrive in a changing climate.
As we move forward, we remain deeply grateful to our teams, partners, and stakeholders who make this work possible.
