What is the Land Accelerator?

In 2018, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and Fledge launched the Land Accelerator, a training and mentorship program targeted specifically toward businesses that restore degraded forests, farmland, and pasture. It is a curated program that builds the capacity of restoration entrepreneurs to grow their businesses, engage investors and build strong partnerships, positively impacting the environment and their local communities.

This year, 100 companies in AFR100 initiative countries will join the Land Accelerator Africa and an additional 260 companies in Kenya’s Greater Rift Valley; the Lake Kivu & Rusizi River Basin of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda; and the Ghana Cocoa Belt will join the Land Accelerator Landscapes program. All companies will join a 12-week virtual training program, with further in-person training opportunities for selected cohort members.

The Land Accelerator Africa is conducted in partnership by the World Resources Institute, AUDA-NEPAD, Fledge, Barka, and landscapes training partners in support of AFR100, the pan-African initiative aiming to begin restoring 100 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.

Learn more and apply to all Land Accelerator offerings by March 20, 2024. The deadline to complete started applications in March 27. 

Our Mission 

The Land Accelerator envisions a world where land restoration businesses can scale to regenerate more hectares of land and impact the livelihoods of more rural dwellers. We support this vision by identifying, building capacity, and promoting successful land restoration entrepreneurs as ambassadors of land restoration business models that are financially sustainable and ecology-promoting investments. We invite both debt and equity investors to join us on this journey and meet top land restoration entrepreneurs from around the globe.

What is forest and landscape restoration?

Forest and landscape restoration (FLR) refers to the process of regaining ecological functionality in deforested or degraded landscapes while improving the well-being of people who live in these places. FLR is not just about planting trees but rather encompasses a variety of approaches aimed at achieving the ecological, social, and economic goals of those who live in a landscape. These approaches are based on science and best practices, rooted in the local context, and anchored by traditional and indigenous knowledge. Common approaches to FLR include, but are not limited to, agroforestry (planting trees on cropland), reforestation, low-carbon agriculture, and silvopastures (trees on grazelands).  Done right, restoration practices can improve crop yields, increase water retention and biodiversity, and create jobs and other economic benefits for local communities. 

How does the Land Accelerator support global restoration goals? 

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 65 percent of land in Africa is impacted by degradation every year. This degradation can encumber economic growth and exacerbate the impacts of climate change. However, African nations have pledged to take action to reverse the tide of deforestation and land degradation. Through global initiatives such as the Bonn Challenge and regional partnerships like the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100), countries across Africa have pledged to restore millions of hectares of land. 

To help countries achieve this ambitious goal, the World Resources Institute (WRI) launched the Land Accelerator, the world’s first accelerator program targeted specifically towards businesses that restore degraded forests and farmland. First launched in Africa in 2018, the Land Accelerator provides entrepreneurs with mentorship and networking opportunities, technical training, and workshops to build skills in storytelling, investor pitching, and business management. Participants will leave the program more empowered to connect with potential investors so they can take their business to the next stage of growth.