JuST Institute
JuST Institute is a Paris-based, non-profit, member-based organization founded in 2022 by BNP Paribas and GEF that develops frameworks, certification, and financial instruments (including ISLF+) to channel climate, biodiversity, and inclusive finance toward smallholder farmers, microfinance institutions, and SMEs across Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What JuST Institute does
The JuST Institute is a Paris-headquartered, non-profit, member-based organization founded in November 2022 through a partnership between BNP Paribas and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Its mandate is to catalyze market development toward the integration of climate, biodiversity, and inclusive finance — specifically by channeling capital to smallholder farmers, rural communities, micro and small enterprises, and microfinance institutions that conventional green finance has historically under-served. The institute operates as a "think-and-do tank" developing proprietary frameworks, methodologies, and certification standards aligned with EU Taxonomy, TNFD, and TCFD.
Its core offerings include: (1) the Inclusive Sustainability-Linked Financing (ISLF+) instrument, co-developed and co-executed with BNP Paribas starting in 2023, which links improved financial conditions to third-party-verified achievement of environmental, social, and just transition targets and has structured over €100 million to date across Europe, Africa, and Latin America; (2) an Institutional Certification program assessing IFSPs' capacity to integrate climate and biodiversity considerations into strategy, risk management, products, and reporting; (3) Training & Capacity Building programs for IFSP field officers and management; (4) Analysis & Certification services; and (5) Strategic & Operational Advisory for financial institutions and international public agencies. The underlying technical architecture is built on a proprietary Transformative Journey Framework of KPIs and Sustainability Performance Targets tailored per investee, supported by methodologies such as UNEP Microfinance for Ecosystem-based Adaptation (MEbA).
The institute generates revenue through three streams: recurring membership fees from institutional members (commercial banks, public agencies, impact investors), professional services fees for training, certification, and advisory engagements, and co-investment contributions from partners for product development. It reaches customers across Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia through a member-based go-to-market and partner-mediated distribution (BNP Paribas for financing, GEF and IFAD for development-finance reach). With approximately 15 employees and a board drawn from member institutions, it operates as a lean standards and capacity-building organization rather than a scaled financial intermediary.
JuST Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- JuST Institute
- Legal name
- CLIMATE AND BIODIVERSITY INCLUSIVE FINANCE INSTITUTE
- Website
- https://justinstitute.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- JuST Institute is a Paris-based, non-profit, member-based organization founded in 2022 by BNP Paribas and GEF that develops frameworks, certification, and financial instruments (including ISLF+) to channel climate, biodiversity, and inclusive finance toward smallholder farmers, microfinance institutions, and SMEs across Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
JuST Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable and Inclusive Finance Services
- NAICS
- Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Agriculture & Food Security Development (BPAGABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Agriculture, Food Security & Nutrition Technical Assistance (BPADAEAG), Resilient Livelihoods & Climate-Smart Food Security (BPADAJAH), Private Sector & Blended Finance Arms (IFC-type) (BPADACAJ), Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funds (FSANAJAE), Technical Assistance, Policy Lending & Capacity Building Programs (BPADACAN)
Keywords
Where JuST Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
JuST Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: The JuST Institute operates as a member-based organization. Organizations join as members to access the institute's products, services, frameworks, and network. Members include commercial banks, public actors, and impact investors.
- Services and Products: The institute offers training, capacity building, analysis, certification, and advisory services to financial institutions and enterprises. Revenue is generated through service fees for training programs, institutional certification processes, and strategic advisory engagements.
- Co-Investment: The institute offers the opportunity to co-invest in developing and commercializing tools needed to generate members and sector impact. Partners and sponsors can co-finance the development of products and services.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
JuST Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The JuST Institute provides state-of-the-art methods, products, and services to mainstream investments and capacity building for climate, biodiversity, and inclusive finance, with a focus on smallholder farmers and rural communities. Its core offerings include the Inclusive Sustainability-Linked Financing (ISLF+) instrument, Institutional Certification for IFSPs, training and capacity-building modules, strategic and operational advisory, and technical assistance, delivered through a member-based ecosystem anchored by BNP Paribas and GEF.
Product overview
The JuST Institute offers a portfolio of financial products, certification services, and training programs designed to mainstream climate, biodiversity, and inclusive finance. The core offerings include: (1) Inclusive Sustainability-Linked Financing (ISLF+) - the primary financial product developed with BNP Paribas that enables €100 million+ in financing for IFSPs and SMEs; (2) Institutional Certification (IC) - a certification program assessing IFSPs' capacity to integrate climate and biodiversity considerations; (3) Training & Capacity Building - ongoing online training modules for IFSP field officers and management; (4) Analysis & Certifications - analysis and formal certification of climate, biodiversity, and inclusivity practices; and (5) Strategic & Operational Advisory - advisory services for financial institutions, public agencies, and corporates. Technical Assistance (TA) is provided as a core component supporting all financial products. These offerings work together to enable just sustainability transitions through actionable data standards, methodologies, and capacity building for inclusive financial service providers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Inclusive Sustainability-Linked Financing (ISLF+) A financial product that enables and rewards investees for making material and/or transformative progress toward a greener, fairer, and more climate-resilient economy. ISLF+ links better financial and/or extra-financial conditions to third-party verification of achievement of environmental, social, and just transition targets. Distributed through banking partners such as BNP Paribas to Inclusive Financial Service Providers (IFSPs) and SMEs.
- Institutional Certification (IC) Certification that assesses the capacity of an Inclusive Financial Service Provider (IFSP) to integrate climate change and biodiversity loss considerations into its strategy, risk management, products and services, monitoring and reporting, concerning its financial and non-financial activities to smallholder farmers and rural clients. Uses the Climate & Biodiversity Positive Initiative for Smallholder Finance standard in a four-step process: Training, Analysis, Verification, and Certification.
- Training & Capacity Building Programs Ongoing online training programs for field officers and management of Inclusive Financial Service Providers to identify, manage, and find solutions for climate and biodiversity risks and opportunities, building on the experience of UNEP MEbA Biodiversity. First cycle covered smallholder agriculture and livestock risks and opportunities.
- Analysis & Certifications Services Analysis of climate, biodiversity, and inclusivity practices, risk management processes, and portfolio content for Inclusive Financial Services Providers (IFSPs). Provides formal certification of results and reveals the actual volume and quality of green technologies financed.
- Strategic & Operational Advisory Advisory services accompanying financial actors, public agencies, and corporates to enhance strategies and develop products that finance climate, biodiversity, and inclusive technologies. Supports accurate pricing of climate and biodiversity risks and integration of climate adaptation and biodiversity into projects while fostering private sector engagement.
- Technical Assistance (TA) Ongoing Technical Assistance (OTA) for semi-annual reviews and Specific Technical Assistance (STA) including training sessions, advisory services, and certification for institutions participating in ISLF+ and other programs.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over €100 million structured through ISLF+ financing to date
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use JuST Institute
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
JuST Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
JuST Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Gojo & Company, Inc.coreGojo works with communities increasingly exposed to climate change realities. By collaborating with the JuST Institute and its members, Gojo aims to equip group companies for the long run and strengthen clients' livelihoods and communities against climate impacts. Arnaud Ventura, Managing Partner at Gojo, is engaged with the institute.
- Naturalis Biodiversity CentercoreNaturalis Biodiversity Center joined the JuST Institute recognizing that natural capital health is the foundation for human well-being and climate resilience. The collaboration will translate critical biodiversity science into robust operational strategies for inclusive finance, helping guarantee that climate adaptation investments protect both vulnerable communities and vital natural systems. Maaike van de Kamp-Romijn, Deputy Director General, leads the engagement.
- VisionFund InternationalcoreVisionFund is part of the JuST Institute, working with clients facing extreme climatic events. Their priority products and services build and protect household resiliency. VisionFund is committed to bold, innovative financial inclusion of the most vulnerable. Edgar Martinez, President and CEO of VisionFund International, highlights that JuST Institute is helping develop the right strategy, policies, practices, products, and funding.
- ADA (Appui au Développement Autonome)coreADA has helped inclusive finance professionals develop green financial products for sustainable agricultural practices and clean energy for many years. ADA's membership enables benefit from other members' experience and sharing of knowledge. Together, they aim to make vulnerable communities more resilient to climate change effects and protect biodiversity. Laura Foschi, Executive Director of ADA, is engaged with the institute.
- Grameen Credit Agricole FoundationcoreThe Grameen Credit Agricole Foundation joined as a member of the JuST Institute. The Foundation is committed to promoting entrepreneurship, especially among women, and supporting smallholder farmers to meet challenges of digital transformation and climate change adaptation through inclusive finance. Véronique Fajour, Managing Director, leads the Foundation's engagement. Philippe Guichandut, Secretary General, has also highlighted the partnership.
- FS Impact FinancecoreFS Impact Finance joined the JuST Institute to strengthen positive impact on biodiversity and contribute to sustainable transition through inclusive finance. Martin Cremer, Managing Director and Board Member of the JuST Institute Initiative, leads the engagement. FS Impact Finance aims to develop new business ideas with existing and future JuST members and wants to cooperate on strengthening biodiversity and climate adaptation knowledge.
- International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)coreIFAD is a member of the JuST Institute and has collaborated on projects focused on climate adaptation through inclusive finance. The organization presented projects to be implemented with the JuST Institute, BNP Paribas, Grameen Credit Agricole Foundation, and YAPU Solutions. IFAD and the JuST Institute are piloting a certification scheme with microfinance institutions to understand which share of finance actually goes to nature-based solutions for smallholder farmers.
- Global Environment Facility (GEF)coreGEF is a founding partner of the JuST Institute alongside BNP Paribas, launching the institute in November 2022. GEF sees great potential in the partnership to promote financial inclusivity for climate and biodiversity impact. Through an expanding network of microfinance partners, they help smallholder farmers strengthen resilience to climate impacts through nature-based solutions. Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, CEO and Chairperson at GEF, is a board member of the JuST Institute. GEF supports deployment of inclusive sustainability-linked financing through the GEF Challenge Program for Adaptation Innovation.
- BNP ParibascoreBNP Paribas is a founding partner of the JuST Institute alongside GEF. The bank has integrated inclusion, climate, and biodiversity dimensions into its mandate. BNP Paribas co-executes the ISLF+ instrument starting from 2023 and has provided over €100 million in ISLF+ financing. Antoine Sire, Head of Company Engagement and Executive Committee member, is actively involved. The bank has financed microfinance institutions in France, Italy, and Brazil through ISLF+.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
JuST Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- International Finance Corporation (IFC): World Bank Group member focused on private-sector development in emerging markets. Comparable blended-finance work and engagement with MFIs/IFSPs globally, but at vastly greater scale and as a capital provider rather than a niche certification/advisory institute.
- GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): German federal development agency implementing climate adaptation, biodiversity, and financial inclusion programs globally. Comparable in delivering capacity building and technical assistance to IFSPs, but as a much larger state-backed agency rather than a member-based think-and-do tank.
- UNEP Finance Initiative: UN-convened partnership of banks, insurers, and investors for sustainable finance. Comparable in mobilizing financial institutions around climate and biodiversity standards; operates at broader scale and as a UN body rather than a small member institute.
Direct peers
- Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD): Global framework for nature/biodiversity-related corporate disclosure. JuST's framework explicitly aligns with TNFD, and both serve to mainstream biodiversity considerations into financial decision-making — comparable in role and ambition though TNFD focuses on disclosure while JuST adds certification and product structuring.
- BlueOrchard Finance: Leading impact investment manager focused on financial inclusion and climate solutions. Comparable to JuST as both work with MFIs/IFSPs globally and structure capital for underserved communities, though BlueOrchard is also a capital provider while JuST is primarily a framework/certification body.
- Incofin Investment Management: Impact investment manager focused on financial inclusion and smallholder finance. Direct comparable in target market (MFIs, cooperatives, smallholder-facing institutions) and in structuring blended finance for inclusive outcomes.
- Climate Bonds Initiative: International standards and certification body for green and sustainable finance. Highly comparable as JuST's certification work and ISLF+ methodology operate in the same standards-and-frameworks space for sustainability-linked financial instruments.
- GISD (Global Investors for Sustainable Development): UN-convened alliance of institutional investors and development finance institutions working to scale sustainable development investment. Comparable convening/standards-setting role for sustainable finance that JuST plays for the climate-biodiversity-inclusion niche.
- responsAbility Investments: Swiss impact asset manager investing in inclusive finance, climate, and food systems. Operates in the same IFSP/microfinance ecosystem that JuST serves, providing financial products where JuST provides frameworks and certification.
- Symbiotics Group: Advisory, research, and investment platform specialized in inclusive finance and impact investing. Direct comparable: similar focus on advising MFIs/IFSPs and providing ratings/assessments to financial institutions serving underserved markets.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
JuST Institute social profiles
Digital presenceJuST Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
JuST Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
JuST Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
JuST Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about JuST Institute
What does JuST Institute do?
The JuST Institute provides state-of-the-art methods, products, and services to mainstream investments and capacity building for climate, biodiversity, and inclusive finance, with a focus on smallholder farmers and rural communities. Its core offerings include the Inclusive Sustainability-Linked Financing (ISLF+) instrument, Institutional Certification for IFSPs, training and capacity-building modules, strategic and operational advisory, and technical assistance, delivered through a member-based ecosystem anchored by BNP Paribas and GEF.
Is JuST Institute a public or private company?
JuST Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was JuST Institute founded?
JuST Institute was founded in 2022. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is JuST Institute based?
JuST Institute is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does JuST Institute make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are services and Products and co-Investment.
Who are JuST Institute's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are International Finance Corporation (IFC), GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) and UNEP Finance Initiative. Direct peers are Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), BlueOrchard Finance, Incofin Investment Management, Climate Bonds Initiative, GISD (Global Investors for Sustainable Development), responsAbility Investments and Symbiotics Group.
Does JuST Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for JuST Institute.
What industry is JuST Institute in?
JuST Institute's product category is Sustainable and Inclusive Finance Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGABAB, Agriculture & Food Security Development, with a secondary code of BPADAEAG, Agriculture, Food Security & Nutrition Technical Assistance. Its NAICS code is 54169 and its SIC code is 8700.