Deadline Date: March 19, 2026
The Institute of Rural Development (INDER), the Nature Investment Facility (NIF), and the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched the +Natura +Rural program, opening its first call for applications aimed at women-led enterprises in the Brunca Region.
The program focuses on strengthening enterprises that integrate sustainability, responsible use of biodiversity, and income generation, while recognizing the key role rural women play in the local economy, ecosystem conservation, and territorial identity. Its objectives include supporting women who transform natural wealth into productive initiatives, promoting economic inclusion in rural communities, consolidating enterprises with positive economic, social, and environmental impacts, providing specialized technical assistance, co-investment, sustainability guidance, business management, formalization, market access, and capacity development.
+Natura +Rural offers a comprehensive model that combines technical support with productive co-investment to help enterprises grow and become resilient. Participants will receive support in key areas such as sustainability, business management, formalization, market access, and capacity development. The program also prioritizes investment in equipment, tools, and strategic inputs that enhance productivity, improve the quality of products and services, and strengthen sustainable business models.
The initial investment for this first call is CRC 250 million, with a goal to mobilize at least CRC 2.15 billion between 2026 and 2030. The program aims to benefit more than 350 rural women and progressively expand to new territories across the country.
The program establishes two support categories according to the level of enterprise development and consolidation. The Entrepreneur category targets early-stage and non-formalized initiatives with up to CRC 4,000,000 in support, while the Scaling/Operational category is for more established ventures with some level of formalization, offering up to CRC 7,000,000.
Women residing in the Brunca Region who lead enterprises with at least six months of operation can apply, provided their activities include agrotourism, handicrafts with territorial identity, natural cosmetics, natural medicine, or textiles with cultural identity. Applications from enterprises located in Indigenous territories of the Brunca Region will not be accepted in this call, as these initiatives are supported through the Raíces Program, which follows a differentiated approach.
For more information, visit UNDP.
