Program Overview and Concept
The 2025 Annual Thematic Dialogue, under the theme “Catalyzing AFoCO’s Potential through Private Investment and Multi-Partner Collaboration,” aims to position AFoCO as a regional enabler of innovative finance and transformative partnerships in the forest and climate space. With global momentum accelerating around nature-based solutions (NbS) and public-private partnerships (PPPs), member countries are increasingly seeking development models that move beyond traditional donor-based mechanisms. In particular, the demand for blended finance—the strategic combination of public and private capital—has grown as countries look to scale up climate ambition and attract long-term investment.
In this evolving landscape, AFoCO has seen a surge in requests from its Parties for technical support in accessing carbon markets, preparing investment-ready projects, and engaging with private sector. Responding to these needs, AFoCO is evolving from a project implementer to a platform builder and regional connector for structured solutions between nature and livelihoods—facilitating cross-sector collaboration and structuring financial pipelines. Central to this evolution is the development of the Friends of Asia and Asian Forests (FAAF), a flagship initiative designed to align blended finance, technical innovation, and resource mobilization with the goals of the Climate Action Plan 2025–2034.
This Dialogue also serves to reinforce and expand engagement across five strategic financing domains:
- Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) co-financing, through collaboration with institutions such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to support large-scale forest and climate programs via concessional lending, guarantees, and risk-sharing instruments;
- Impact investment, through partnerships with Artha Networks and Merry Year Social Company (MYSC) to mobilize mission-aligned capital for scalable, socially inclusive forest initiatives;
- Carbon finance, via engagement with Rabobank, Climate Asset Management, and other market actors to develop and aggregate forest carbon projects across compliance and voluntary markets;
- Global corporation engagement and emerging blended finance platforms, including FAAF, CAMP, and the global platform with support from Economics of Mutuality (EOM), designed to channel catalytic network, influence, and capital into early-stage enterprises and community-driven forest solutions;
- Private sector technology and innovation, through collaboration with actors like NOKIA Bell Labs to integrate digital infrastructure, AI-based monitoring, and sensor networks into forest resilience and early-warning systems.
Anchored by the participation of Artha Networks, EOM, the ADB, NOKIA Bell Labs, and AFoCO member countries, this Dialogue will explore how these financing approaches and multi-actor partnerships can be adapted, structured, and scaled to diverse national contexts. It represents a pivotal step in defining AFoCO’s emerging role as a trusted regional platform for catalyzing investment, enhancing resilience, and accelerating climate-smart forest action.
| Time | Agenda Item | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 08:30 – 09:00 | Registration | |
| 09:00 – 09:04 | Introduction | MC (Task Force Team) |
| 09:04 – 09:08 | Opening remarks | Executive Director, AFoCO |
| 09:08 – 09:12 | Welcome remarks | Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Mongolia |
| 09:12 – 09:16 | Congratulatory remarks I | Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Mongolia |
| 09:16 – 09:20 | Congratulatory remarks II | Env. and Green Dev. Policy Advisor to the President of Mongolia |
| 09:20 – 09:25 | Group Photo | — |
| 09:25 – 09:35 | AFoCO’s strategic report on blended finance for Climate Action Plan | AFoCO Secretariat (Task Force Team) |
| 09:35 – 09:55 | Keynote speech: Framing Synergies for Impact: A Strategic Agenda for AFoCO’s Blended Finance Partnerships “How can we strategically integrate capital, capability, and innovation across sectors to maximize AFoCO’s impact?” |
Kwang W. Kim, Economics of Mutuality Alliance |
| 09:55 – 10:00 | Q&A and transition | MC (Task Force Team) |
| 10:00 – 10:30 | Break | — |
| 10:30 – 10:54 (8 min/country) |
Champion Stories – Member Country Leadership in PPPs and Blended Finance |
MC (Task Force Team) Indonesia, Mongolia, Singapore |
| 10:54 – 11:30 (12 min) (12 min) (12 min) |
Integrated Partner Panel: – Innovating Resilience: Technology-Driven Forest Solutions “How can advanced technology contribute to resilience and innovation in forest landscapes?” – Catalyzing Global SDG Capital through Family Offices “How can family offices accelerate the delivery of the SDGs through impact-aligned capital?” – Leveraging Multilateral Climate Finance for Forest-Based Action in Asia “What role can multilateral development banks play in enabling blended finance for forest-based solutions in Asia?” |
MC (Task Force Team) NOKIA Bell Labs Artha Networks Inc. Asian Development Bank |
| 11:30 – 12:10 | Panel Discussion: Innovative Solutions in Blended Finance and Other Public-Private Partnerships in AFoCO Member Countries “What role can member countries play in enabling blended finance and public-private partnerships in the forest sector?” |
Moderator: Kwang W. Kim All partner speakers and the Task Force Team of the Secretariat |
| 12:10 – 12:15 | Way forward, including follow-up steps for FAAF, and closing | AFoCO Secretariat (Vice Executive Director) |
Welcome Remark
Odontuya Saldan
Member of Parliament
Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Mongolia
H.E. Ms. Saldan Odontuya is the Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Mongolia and a Member of the State Great Hural (Parliament). With a background in international economics and extensive experience in public service, she has held various leadership roles including Governor of Bayangol District, Advisor to the Minister for Health, and Head of the “Citizen is Wealth” Foundation. As a multi-term parliamentarian and national policy leader, she now leads Mongolia’s efforts in environmental protection, climate change, and forest governance, positioning the country as an emerging leader in green development across the region.
Congratulatory Remark
Jiwon Choi
Ambassador
Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Mongolia
H.E. Mr. Jinwon Choi has served as the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Mongolia since April 2024. Ambassador Choi has held various senior positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Director for Budget and Planning, Deputy Director at the Korean Embassy in Mongolia, Minister-Counselor at the Embassy in Washington D.C., and Director-General for Bilateral Economic Affairs. Before his current post, he served as Director for International Administrative Cooperation at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. His appointment reflects Korea’s strong commitment to deepening bilateral and regional partnerships in Asia.
BATKHUU Nyam-Osor
Policy Advisor
Department of Environment and Forest Engineering
Dr. Batkhuu serves as the Advisor to the President of Mongolia on Environment and Green Development Policy. A professor and forest scientist by training, he brings over 25 years of academic and policy experience in forest genetics, environmental science, and afforestation strategies in arid and semi-arid landscapes. With a PhD in Forest Environmental Science from Seoul National University, Dr. Batkhuu has led national and international research on climate-resilient forestry and has contributed extensively to the development of Mongolia’s green policy agenda. He currently supports the Office of the President in advancing sustainable land use, forest restoration, and science-based policy integration.
Oyunsanaa Byambasuren
Director General
National Forest Agency
Ministry of Environment and Climate Change
Oyunsanaa Byambasuren, a seasoned forestry expert in forest fire management, forest policy, and sustainable landscape restoration, serves as the Head of the Forest Department at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Mongolia. As the lead agency for forest governance, the Department is responsible for developing national forestry policies, implementing climate adaptation strategies, and coordinating international cooperation in the sector. In this session, Dr. Oyunsanaa will present Mongolia’s recent efforts to mobilize blended finance for large-scale forest restoration, with a particular focus on the One Billion Trees Campaign—a presidential initiative launched in 2021 that has positioned forestry as a key pillar of national development. He will also highlight emerging public-private partnerships, such as the collaboration with AFoCO, T’way Air, and Yuhan-Kimberly in Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, which exemplify how countries with evolving investment ecosystems can operationalize climate action through scalable and inclusive financing models.
AFoCO
Park Chongho
Executive Director of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization
Dr. Park has more than 30 years of experience in the forest sector and international affairs. He served as the Minister of the Korea Forest Service (2019-2021), overseeing international and domestic forest policy formulation related to sustainable forest management (SFM), forest industries, disaster management, and forest welfare, among others.
He also served as President of the Korea Forest Land Restoration Technology Institute (2021-2022) and Vice Executive Director of the ASEAN-Korea Forest Cooperation Secretariat (2012-2015). Previously, he was a forestry attaché in the diplomatic mission of the Republic of Korea to Indonesia. He has had diverse experiences leading the development of long-term international programs such as the AFoCO Landmark Program, the Changwon Initiative to combat desertification, and the Greenbelt project in Mongolia.
Jin Sunpil
Vice Executive Director of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization
Having led overseas projects by the Korea Forest Service in AFoCO Party countries, Mr. Jin brings close to 25 years of extensive experience and leadership in both international and domestic forestry policy development as well as project planning and implementation. Prior to joining AFoCO, he served as the Director General of the Forest Aviation Headquarters of the Korea Forest Service and was in various senior management positions.
Keynote Speaker
Kwang W.Kim
Senior Advisor on Private Sector Engagement, AFoCO
Chairman of the Board, Human Flourishing Foundation of Economics of Mutuality Alliance (EOM)
Kwang W. Kim serves as the Senior Advisor on Private Sector Engagement at AFoCO and is also the Chairman of the Board of the Human Flourishing Foundation under the Economics of Mutuality (EOM) Alliance. Since 2023, he has played a central role in conceptualizing and shaping AFoCO’s transition toward blended finance and impact investment. As a key advisor behind the development of the Friends of Asia and Asian Forests (FAAF) platform, and as a strategic bridge to partners such as Artha Networks, MYSC, and MVL, Mr. Kim has helped define how AFoCO connects capital, capability, and innovation. In his keynote address, Mr. Kim will propose practical directions for engaging multinational companies, investors, and other private sector partners in AFoCO’s evolving private sector ecosystem, framing blended finance not as a financial tool alone, but as a vehicle for cross-sectoral transformation.
Partner Speakers
Oyunsanaa Byambasuren
Director General
National Forest Agency
Ministry of Environment and Climate Change
Oyunsanaa Byambasuren, a seasoned forestry expert in forest fire management, forest policy, and sustainable landscape restoration, serves as the Head of the Forest Department at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Mongolia. As the lead agency for forest governance, the Department is responsible for developing national forestry policies, implementing climate adaptation strategies, and coordinating international cooperation in the sector. In this session, Dr. Oyunsanaa will present Mongolia’s recent efforts to mobilize blended finance for large-scale forest restoration, with a particular focus on the One Billion Trees Campaign—a presidential initiative launched in 2021 that has positioned forestry as a key pillar of national development. He will also highlight emerging public-private partnerships, such as the collaboration with AFoCO, T’way Air, and Yuhan-Kimberly in Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, which exemplify how countries with evolving investment ecosystems can operationalize climate action through scalable and inclusive financing models.
Deden Nurochman
Head of sub directorate of Forest Product Processing Planning
Directorate Forest Product Processing & Marketing
Ministry of Forestry, Indonesia
Deden Nurochman is the Deputy Director of Forest Product at Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry, where he leads initiatives related to sustainable forest product development, community-industry partnerships, and market innovation. With a PhD in Forest Management and extensive experience in national and international forestry policy, he has contributed to shaping Indonesia’s strategy on forest-based economic transformation. Representing one of the region’s most dynamic forestry administrations, the Ministry of Forestry of Indonesia is advancing public-private collaboration, investment readiness, and digital innovation through platforms like SIHUTANKU.ID, an official forest product marketplace. In this session, Dr. Nurochman will share how Indonesia is promoting blended finance and forest-based investment by strengthening sustainable supply chains, empowering community forest groups, and enhancing product traceability through initiatives like the Prima Wana Mitra award program and SVLK+ geolocation systems.
Lorraine Tan
Senior Manager, International Biodiversity Conservation
National Parks Board (NParks), Ministry of National Development, Singapore
Lorraine Tan is a Senior Manager at the National Biodiversity Centre of NParks, a statutory board under the Ministry of National Development, Singapore. As part of the International Biodiversity Conservation branch, she represents Singapore in the areas of forest and climate change at international and regional fora, including UNFCCC meetings, ASEAN, and AFoCO. Representing one of the greenest cities in the world, NParks brings expertise in integrating nature into dense urban environments to create the best living environment through excellence in nature conservation, greenery and recreation, and veterinary care, in partnership with the community. In this session, Ms. Tan will share how Singapore is leveraging NbS to enhance urban resilience, and how it engages the private sector through collaboration in green infrastructure, corporate biodiversity action, and long-term ecosystem stewardship.
Sanath Ranawana
Director
Natural Capital and Climate, and East Asia Team
Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office (SG-AFNR)
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Sanath Ranawana is Director of the Natural Capital and Climate, and East Asia Team under ADB’s Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office. He provides strategic oversight and technical leadership on initiatives related to sustainable land use, natural capital, and climate-smart agriculture. His team supports the integration of climate resilience and biodiversity considerations into agriculture and rural development operations, while also advancing nature-based solutions (NbS) across East Asia. Under his leadership, ADB has worked to enhance investment readiness and regional knowledge on forest landscape restoration, carbon finance, and blended financing strategies. In this session, Mr. Ranawana will share ADB’s evolving role in forest-sector climate finance and highlight how collaboration with AFoCO—combining AFoCO’s regional forestry expertise with ADB’s financial instruments—can leverage blended finance to support large-scale, climate-resilient forest programs across Asia.
Le N. Lan
Environmental Economist
SG-AFNR
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Lan Le is an Environmental Economist at the ADB, specializing in agriculture, environment, and natural resources management across East Asia. With a PhD in Agricultural and Environmental Economics from the University of Western Australia, she brings a cross-disciplinary approach to designing climate-smart investment solutions. Before joining ADB, she worked with Biodiversity International–CIAT and led research on groundwater, biodiversity, and climate resilience in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Kenneth Hynes
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Artha Networks Inc.
Ken Hynes is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Artha Networks Inc., a global impact investment consultancy that connects family offices and mission-aligned investors with high-impact sustainable development solutions. Since its introduction to AFoCO at the 11th Session of the Assembly, Artha Networks has become a key strategic partner in advancing AFoCO’s exploration of impact-aligned capital for nature-based solutions. In this session, Mr. Hynes will explore how family offices can serve as agile, purpose-driven capital providers for SDG-aligned forestry and climate solutions, and how platforms like FAAF and CAMP can help translate localized forest projects into scalable, investable opportunities across AFoCO member countries. His experience in unlocking catalytic capital for community-based ventures offers practical insights into how blended finance can be structured to meet the needs of both investors and local actors. Drawing from real-world examples, Mr. Hynes will also highlight how impact investment ecosystems are evolving across Asia to support sustainable forestry initiatives.
Craig Joseph
Department Head, Emerging Technologies and Prototyping
Bell Labs Solutions Research
NOKIA Bell Labs | Murray Hill, NJ, USA
Craig Joseph is the Department Head of Bell Labs Solutions Research at NOKIA, based in Murray Hill, New Jersey, USA. With a strong background in systems innovation and next-generation technology applications, Mr. Joseph leads research and development efforts aimed at solving complex, real-world challenges through advanced digital solutions. AFoCO’s collaboration with NOKIA began through early brainstorming sessions with Bell Labs, where forest-related natural disasters—particularly wildfires—were identified as a critical area for technological innovation. From artificial intelligence (AI) and sensor networks to predictive monitoring systems, this partnership has explored how frontier technologies can enhance forest resilience. In this session, Mr. Joseph will present how public-private collaboration in forest technology can unlock new dimensions of operational intelligence and ecosystem monitoring, potentially opening a groundbreaking chapter in environmental technology partnerships.
Task Force Team for Private Sector Engagement & Blended Fiance
Ryang Soozin
Team Leader, Capacity-Building and Evaluation Team
Emily Marie Lim
Program Officer, Project Team 1 (ODA projects)
Donghwan Kim
Program Officer, Project Team 2 (carbon projects)
