Independent Rapid Assessment of the GCF’s Request for Proposals Modality

The GCF's Independent Evaluation Unit (IEU) assessed four pilot RFP programmes: Enhanced Direct Access (EDA), Micro-, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSME), Mobilizing Funds at Scale (MFS), and REDD+ Results-based Payments (REDD+). The assessment concludes that while the RFPs are relevant to the GCF mandate and country needs, they have not been used effectively as a modality. Key failures include a lack of incentives for proponents, an inability to attract new accredited entities, and a project cycle that remains as complex and lengthy as the regular Proposal Appraisal Process (PAP). The REDD+ RFP was the most successful due to its tailored process and specialized expertise. The IEU recommends establishing the RFP as a formal institutional modality with standardized processes, transparent topic selection based on portfolio gap analysis, and incentives such as simplified accreditation.

• The RFP modality failed to address shortcomings in the GCF business model and did not improve accessibility for national entities or the private sector.
• RFPs did not provide incentives for proponents regarding the project cycle or accreditation, and failed to offer a fast track to accreditation for new entities.
• There is no established RFP modality or mechanism at the GCF; instead, the Fund has operated four individual, disconnected RFPs without clear overarching objectives or guidance.
• The GCF's objective to fill gaps in the climate change financing landscape was not fully achieved, as no clear link was found between the launched RFPs and the Fund's portfolio gap analysis.
• Human and financial resources for RFPs were insufficient and unevenly distributed, with small teams often working only part-time.
• The low number of approved projects—18 projects totaling USD 850 million as of May 2021—limits the potential impact and learning opportunities from the pilot programmes.
• The project cycle for RFPs is generally similar to the regular Proposal Appraisal Process (PAP) and involves additional requirements, making it longer and more complex.
• The REDD+ RBP RFP was the only pilot to be fundamentally different from the PAP, utilizing a specialized scorecard and technical experts, which resulted in a shorter approval process.
• Board approval rates for three of the four RFPs were very low, with success rates of 13% or less.
• The RFP modality failed to attract new partners to the GCF; none of the accredited entities with approved RFP projects were new to the Fund.
• Country ownership as a principle was only directly recognized in the EDA and REDD+ RBP RFPs, although it was applied as an investment criterion across all four.
• The RFP modality provided no additional value for gender approaches, as it relied on the general GCF gender policy rather than specific RFP-level requirements.
• Knowledge management and institutional learning mechanisms for RFPs are not established, with most reports being quantitative rather than focused on lessons learned.

APA

Green Climate Fund (2021). Independent Rapid Assessment of the GCF’s Request for Proposals Modality. https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/gcf-b29-08.pdf

Chicago

Green Climate Fund. Independent Rapid Assessment of the GCF’s Request for Proposals Modality. 2021. https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/gcf-b29-08.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Green Climate Fund |title=Independent Rapid Assessment of the GCF’s Request for Proposals Modality |date=15 June 2021 |url=https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/gcf-b29-08.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{greenclimatefund2021independent, author = {{Green Climate Fund}}, title = {{Independent Rapid Assessment of the GCF’s Request for Proposals Modality}}, institution = {Green Climate Fund}, year = {2021}, month = jun, url = {https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/gcf-b29-08.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }