ELD - Economics of Land Degradation Initiative

What ELD - Economics of Land Degradation Initiative does

ELD (Economics of Land Degradation Initiative) is a global initiative established in 2011 by a founding partnership between the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the European Commission, and hosted operationally by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in Bonn, Germany. The initiative's purpose is to make the economic values of land and its ecosystem services visible in decision-making, producing economic evidence on the costs of land degradation and the benefits of sustainable land management (SLM) for use by national governments, UN agencies, researchers, and development practitioners.

ELD's product portfolio centers on the proprietary 6+1 Step Approach methodology for cost-benefit analysis of land management decisions, the ECON-WOCAT dataset covering 500+ SLM technologies, the Ecosystem Services Valuation Database (ESVD) with 9,400+ value records from 950+ studies, and the ELD Campus online learning platform offering 8 modules in English, French, and Russian, complemented by two MOOCs and a Case Study Dashboard aggregating 40+ studies across 30+ countries. These products are all freely and openly accessible.

ELD does not operate as a commercial enterprise: it does not charge for its services, generates no disclosed revenue, and is funded through institutional grants from BMZ and the European Commission channeled via GIZ. Its go-to-market is partnership-driven, combining sales-led engagement with governments and multilateral institutions and community-led capacity building through training programs, workshops, and dissemination at international events such as the UNCCD, CBD, and UNFCCC COPs.

Name

ELD - Economics of Land Degradation Initiative

Legal name

ELD - Economics of Land Degradation Initiative

Website

https://eld-initiative.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ELD is a global initiative, hosted by GIZ and founded by UNCCD, BMZ, and the European Commission, that produces economic evidence on land degradation and sustainable land management for governments, researchers, and development practitioners across 30+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Policy Research

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEUAHAJAA

ESG Strategy & Materiality Assessment

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Compliance, Monitoring & Consulting/Sustainability, ESG & Corporate Environmental Reporting

SECONDARYFSAAALAJ

ESG Data, Ratings & Research (Providers, Methodologies, Analytics)

Financial & Insurance/Asset & Wealth Management/Asset Management — ESG/Sustainable & Impact Investing

Keywords

• Sustainable land management
• Ecosystem services valuation
• Land degradation economics
• Environmental policy research
• Cost-benefit analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Bonn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Research and Policy Support Services: ELD provides economic evidence and support for land decisions through research, case studies, and policy engagement. The initiative operates as a hosted entity under GIZ with funding from institutional partners.
2. Institutional Funding: Funded by German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), European Commission, and hosted by GIZ. Also receives project funding from EU and other institutional donors for specific initiatives like Regreening Africa.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ELD provides economic evidence and tools to make the values of land and its ecosystem services count in policy and investment decisions. Its core offerings include the proprietary 6+1 Step Approach methodology for cost-benefit analysis, the ECON-WOCAT and ESVD global databases on sustainable land management, the ELD Campus e-learning platform, MOOCs, case study dashboards, and direct country-level research and capacity building with governments.

Product overview

The ELD Initiative is a global initiative that provides economic evidence and tools to inform land decisions. The core product portfolio includes the ELD Campus (comprehensive e-learning platform with 8 modules), two MOOCs, the ECON-WOCAT dataset and dashboard for SLM technology costs and benefits, the ESVD ecosystem valuation database, the Case Study Dashboard with 40+ country case studies, and the 6+1 Step Approach methodology. These products work together to provide a complete toolkit for economic valuation of land and ecosystem services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ECON-WOCAT Dataset: Global dataset on costs and benefits of sustainable land management technologies developed in partnership with WOCAT, UNCCD Global Mechanism, and University of Bonn
• ELD Campus
• ESVD (Ecosystem Services Valuation Database)
• State of Finance for Nature Report Series

Products and services

• ELD Campus A free, high-quality learning and teaching toolkit for the valuation of ecosystem services, available to policymakers, researchers, students, and practitioners. Provides 8 modules covering environmental economics, ecosystem valuation, cost-benefit analysis, stakeholder engagement, and ELD methodology, available in English, French, and Russian.
• ELD MOOC 1 - Assessing the socio-economic benefits of land ecosystems A web-based intensive course with flexible participation, video lectures, and offline reading material on performing cost-benefit analyses to promote sustainable land management. Introduces methods of economic analysis and valuation of land ecosystems.
• ELD MOOC 2 - Options and pathways for action: Stakeholder Engagement A web-based course on stakeholder engagement for sustainable land management implementation. Covers approaches to identify options and pathways for action, stakeholder analysis methods, and communication strategies.
• ECON-WOCAT Dataset and Dashboard A globally unique source of consistent and comparable information on costs of sustainable land management technologies covering most regions and terrestrial ecosystems. Contains detailed information on costs and benefits of more than 500 SLM technologies from the WOCAT database, accessible via Power BI dashboard.
• ESVD - Ecosystem Services Valuation Database The largest publicly available database with standardized monetary values for all ecosystem services and all biomes. Contains 9,400 value records from over 950 studies distributed across all biomes, ecosystem services, and geographic regions.
• ELD Case Study Dashboard A centralized user-friendly entry point to ELD knowledge products containing detailed information from more than 40 case studies across 30 countries. Highlights economic, social, and environmental benefits of sustainable land management and land restoration.
• ELD 6+1 Step Approach An analysis method guiding users through scientifically sound cost-benefit analyses to inform decision-making. Six steps to establish cost-benefit analysis of land management actions plus one step to take action. Integrates tools like TESSA, ARIES, ESR, InVEST, and MIMES.

Quantifiable outcome

• Benefits of action against land degradation outweigh costs by 7x
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional, founding and minor.

• International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Project leadership for Economics of Rio Synergies project. IRRI contributes expertise on integrated approaches to land use and sustainable agriculture.
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Participating organization in Economics of Rio Synergies project, providing technical expertise on sustainable land management and ecosystem restoration.
• Green Gold - Mongolian Rangeland Research CenterregionalImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2026Local implementing partner in Mongolia for the Economics of Rio Synergies project, providing expertise on rangeland management.
• GIZ TunisiaregionalImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024Implementing partner for ELD case study on drought resilience in Tunisia on costs and benefits of agroecological practices in olive production.
• ProSoil Project (GIZ)regionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Soil Protection and Rehabilitation of Degraded Soil for Food Security project cooperates with ELD on Tunisia case study implementation.
• WOCATcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership with World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies to develop the ECON-WOCAT dataset containing cost and benefit data for 500+ sustainable land management technologies.
• UNCCD Global MechanismcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Collaborated with UNCCD Global Mechanism on the ECON-WOCAT dataset development to support Land Degradation Neutrality action frameworks.
• University of BonncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnered with University of Bonn on ECON-WOCAT dataset development. University researchers lead key studies including Economics of Rio Synergies project.
• UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)foundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011UNCCD is a founding partner of the ELD Initiative established in 2011. ELD works closely with UNCCD on global reports including the Global Report on the Economics of Drought Resilience and contributes to COP events and policy processes.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbHfoundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011GIZ hosts the ELD Secretariat and provides operational support. ELD is registered as a GIZ initiative with publishers located at GIZ offices in Bonn.
• University of RwandacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead academic partner for Rwanda study on harmonizing land restoration activities under the three Rio Conventions.
• Government of MongoliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost country for Economics of Rio Synergies inception workshop and pilot country for integrated Rio Convention implementation approach.
• Government of Rwanda - Ministry of AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for Rwanda Rio Synergies study, providing policy guidance through Strategy and Policy Council under Office of the President.
• World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint implementing partner for Regreening Africa project, providing expertise on agroforestry and sustainable land management practices.
• World VisionregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner in Regreening Africa project contributing to ecosystem restoration across sub-Saharan Africa.
• UN Environment Programme (UNEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-author of State of Finance for Nature report series, tracking global investment flows into nature-based solutions.
• World Economic Forum (WEF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on State of Finance for Nature report, providing analysis on financing gaps and investment needs for nature-based solutions.
• University of BonncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner leading Rwanda case study on economics of harmonizing land restoration across Rio Conventions, presenting findings at COP events.
• 4p1000 InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with 4p1000 Initiative to organize study launch event at UNCCD COP15.
• Vivid EconomicsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated on State of Finance for Nature report providing economic analysis and modeling of investment scenarios.
• Unique Land UseminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerResearch partner contributing to Rwanda case study on economics of Rio Convention synergies.
• Biovision FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized side event at Bonn Climate Conference on agroecology and restoration contributions to Rio Convention targets.
• WWF InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Rio Convention synergies work, participated in side events and contributed to discussions on integrated implementation.
• Agroecology CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized side event on agroecology contributions to climate, biodiversity, and land targets at Bonn Climate Conference.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Stockholm Environment Institute: Independent research organization working at the science-policy-practice interface on environment and development issues, producing economic and policy analysis on land, water, and climate—directly comparable to ELD's research and policy engagement model.
• International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD): Policy research institute focused on sustainable development, with active work on natural capital, ecosystem services valuation, and nature-based solutions financing—closely aligned with ELD's mandate and methodology.
• World Resources Institute (WRI): Global research organization that produces data, tools, and analysis on environment and sustainability, including economic valuation of natural resources. WRI's Ross Center and Climate Program are highly comparable to ELD's evidence-driven policy work.
• World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF): CGIAR research center focused on agroforestry, land restoration, and sustainable land management. ICRAF is an ELD partner in Regreening Africa and operates a similar global research mandate intersecting land economics and SLM practice.
• Vivid Economics: Environmental and climate economics consultancy that collaborates with ELD on the State of Finance for Nature reports. Its focus on natural capital, nature-based solutions, and policy economics is directly comparable to ELD's methodology and analytic depth.

Broad incumbents

• Conservation International: Global environmental organization working on biodiversity, land conservation, and nature-based solutions. Comparable to ELD on land economics and ESG-flavored valuation work, with an established global brand and broader scope.
• UN Environment Programme (UNEP): United Nations system entity coordinating global environmental policy. UNEP co-author's ELD's State of Finance for Nature series and operates large-scale environmental assessment work that competes for the same institutional donor pool.
• CGIAR System Organization: Global agricultural research partnership operating across multiple centers, with significant work on land restoration, food security, and climate—comparable to ELD's agricultural and land-related research though much broader in scope.
• The Nature Conservancy: Large environmental NGO with global land conservation, restoration, and nature-based solutions investment programs. Overlaps with ELD's land restoration and ecosystem services focus, though with a much larger operational footprint and budget.

Emerging players

• SystemIQ: Systems change company focused on circular economy, land use, and climate finance. Produces economic and policy analysis on land restoration and nature-based solutions finance, comparable to ELD's evidence-generation work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ELD_Initiative
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ELDInitiative
• Facebookfacebook.com/ELDinitiative
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eld-initiative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ELD - Economics of Land Degradation Initiative