Search Climate Insights Directory

The proposal seeks USD 662,065 over 18 months to address five key barriers to climate finance in Saint Lucia: limited NDA capacity, lack of a long-term readiness vision, insufficient accreditation capacity for the Saint Lucia Development Bank (SLDB), the absence of a climate finance monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) system, and limited knowledge sharing. Key planned activities include the digitalization of the 'No-objection' procedure, the creation of a national climate change website, and the development of a comprehensive MRV system to track public and private climate finance flows. The project will be implemented by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) under the guidance of the National Designated Authority (NDA).

The World Resources Institute outlines four critical areas for the Green Climate Fund's 2020-2023 Strategic Plan: aligning mitigation ambition with the 1.5°C goal through transformational metrics, clarifying adaptation and loss and damage approaches, balancing the speed of private finance mobilization with portfolio quality, and improving the accessibility of direct access funding for developing country institutions.

The GCF Secretariat's 2020 work programme aims to transition the fund into the 'main global fund for climate change finance' by strengthening country-driven planning, enhancing the capacity of Direct Access Entities (DAEs), and filling policy gaps. Key initiatives include the operationalization of a new Readiness Programme framework, the implementation of a Project Specific Assessment Approach (PSAA) for accreditation, and the development of a new private sector strategy to increase capital mobilization. The Secretariat proposes an administrative budget of USD 76,745,652 for 2020, representing a 5.8% increase over 2019, primarily to support increased staffing (averaging 240 staff) and the management of a growing project portfolio. The document also details specific programming goals for 2020, including targets for funding proposals and disbursements across public and private sectors, and outlines the roles and budgets of various internal divisions.

The report examines how different climate funds can be combined to achieve results that exceed the capacity of any single mechanism. It identifies several types of synergies, including the scaling up of pilots, continuity of action, and the blending of qualitatively different financial instruments (e.g., grants and loans). The analysis highlights that while convergence of funding is common, synergies are often hindered by administrative misalignments, such as diverging approval processes and time gaps between project phases. Key drivers for success include strong national coordination, the use of country investment plans, and the role of 'local champions' and Direct Access Entities. The report recommends strengthening country-driven investment planning, harmonizing fund procedures, and improving cross-fund information sharing to maximize the effectiveness of climate finance.

The proposal requests USD 414,232 over 18 months to strengthen Côte d’Ivoire's capacity to access the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The project, implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), focuses on the accreditation of the Banque Nationale d'Investissement (BNI) as a direct access entity, the creation of a national climate finance strategy to mobilize private sector investment for mitigation, and the development of three project concept notes for GCF submission.

The proposal seeks USD 998,258 over 18 months to address gaps in Indonesia's climate finance mobilization. Key objectives include establishing a formal coordination mechanism between climate finance focal points, supporting the accreditation of 2-3 new Direct Access Entities (DAEs), and developing a national climate finance strategy to support the Environmental Fund Management Agency (BPDLH). The project, implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), also focuses on improving the quality of project concept notes and increasing private sector engagement.

The proposal seeks funding for a 24-month project to enhance Uzbekistan's institutional capacity to manage climate finance. Key objectives include revising the coordination mechanism following the transfer of the NDA role to the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade, developing a comprehensive Country Programme, and supporting the accreditation of at least one national entity as a Direct Access Entity (DAE). The project also aims to establish a monitoring and evaluation system for climate finance flows and develop at least two new project concept notes for GCF submission.

The proposal outlines a 12-month program to expand Peru's access to Green Climate Fund (GCF) financing by supporting the accreditation of the state-owned development bank COFIDE and enhancing the fiduciary functions of the existing accredited entity, Profonanpe. Key activities include addressing COFIDE's gaps in environmental and social safeguards (ESS) and gender mainstreaming, and preparing Profonanpe for new on-lending and blending functions. The total requested budget is USD 832,058, with Profonanpe serving as the implementing institution and delivery partner.

The document details the progress of the GCF accreditation process, reporting that 88 entities have been decided for accreditation, with 52 having fully completed the process via effective Accreditation Master Agreements (AMAs). It outlines the pipeline of 112 submitted applications and the support provided to direct access entities, including USD 11.68 million committed through 61 grants. The report specifically recommends the accreditation of seven new applicants (APL090 to APL096) with varying fiduciary and environmental and social (E&S) risk categories, most of whom are subject to specific conditions to close institutional gaps. Additionally, it tracks the status of existing accredited entities in addressing their accreditation conditions and proposes extending the prioritization of entities to the end of the twenty-fifth Board meeting.

The proposal outlines an 18-month project to enhance Colombia's climate finance management. Key objectives include updating the Country Programme to better reflect national priorities, establishing a regular participatory review process, and refining the 'no-objection' procedure for funding proposals. The project also aims to develop a Gender Action Plan for climate finance, align Direct Access Entities with the Country Programme, and update the National Climate Finance Strategy. Implementation will be led by Fondo Acción, with a steering committee comprising the National Planning Department, Ministry of Finance and Public Credit, and Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development.

The Kingdom of Tonga is seeking USD 500,000 from the Green Climate Fund to enhance its institutional capacity to manage climate finance. The proposal focuses on strengthening the National Designated Authority (NDA), prioritizing project pipelines under the Tonga Country Programme, and improving direct access to finance through the accreditation of the Ministry of Finance and National Planning (MoFNP). Key activities include developing a climate finance tracking mechanism, mainstreaming gender and vulnerable group needs into programming, and increasing private sector engagement to develop bankable project concepts.

The GCF Secretariat report for the period ending 31 August 2019 details progress toward its 2019 goals. Key achievements include the approval of 66 additional funding proposals (public and private) and the signing of 81 Funded Activity Agreements (FAAs), meeting the annual KPI for legal agreements. The Secretariat advanced the first formal replenishment process, with pledges reaching USD 5.9 billion by August 2019. Efforts to strengthen country ownership included technical support for 32 countries' programming and the approval of 61 readiness grants. The report also highlights the development of the 2020–2023 Strategic Plan and the operationalization of a complementarity and coherence framework with other climate funds like the GEF and Adaptation Fund. Challenges remain in the slow disbursement of readiness funds due to delivery partner capacity and the need for further expertise to implement the SEAH Policy.

The GCF Board's 23rd meeting focused on operationalizing the fund's first formal replenishment (GCF-1) and improving governance. Key outcomes include the adoption of a new voting procedure to resolve deadlocks when consensus fails, the approval of a Policy on Ethics and Conflicts of Interest for Active Observers, and the adoption of a Policy on the Prevention and Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse, and Sexual Harassment (SEAH). The Board also approved several funding proposals, including a high-leverage seawater pumped storage project in Chile and agricultural resilience projects in Bhutan, Pakistan, and Kenya. A Forward-Looking Performance Review (FPR) highlighted that while GCF has committed over USD 5.3 billion, it faces challenges with long disbursement times and a need for greater direct access for developing countries.

The GCF Secretariat report for early 2019 details progress across six strategic goals. Key achievements include the launch of the first formal replenishment process, the development of a Theory of Change to drive paradigm shifts, and the expansion of the Readiness Programme. While the number of projects under implementation rose to 51 by 30 April 2019, the Secretariat noted bottlenecks in signing agreements due to the immediate effectiveness of new Board policies. The report also highlights the operationalization of a 'community of practice' with 28 expert organizations and the refinement of second-level due diligence processes.

The proposal outlines a USD 499,654 project implemented by the FAO over 18 months to support Azerbaijan's climate goals. It focuses on three main areas: analyzing current policies and initiatives in the agriculture and LULUCF sectors, developing a gender-responsive investment plan and feasibility studies for climate technologies, and supporting the accreditation of a national entity for direct access to GCF funding. The project aims to address gaps in institutional and financial capacity, low private sector engagement, and the need for specific technology solutions to meet NDC targets, including a 35% overall GHG emission reduction by 2030.

The report details the GCF's accreditation pipeline, the status of existing accredited entities, and specific assessments for 17 applicants seeking accreditation or upgrades. It highlights the implementation of a prioritization approach to increase the diversity and coverage of direct access entities.

As of 30 April 2018, the GCF pipeline consists of 65 funding proposals requesting USD 3.9 billion and 183 concept notes requesting USD 10.9 billion. The report details the sectoral, regional, and thematic distribution of these requests, noting a strong presence of cross-cutting projects. It also assesses the status of the Project Preparation Facility, the Simplified Approval Process (SAP) pilot, and specific requests for proposals including Enhanced Direct Access (EDA), MSME support, and REDD-plus. The GCF is implementing knowledge management improvements, such as NDA/AE portals, to increase transparency and processing speed.

As of 31 January 2018, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) had accredited 59 entities, with a pipeline of 198 entities having created accounts on the Online Accreditation System. The report highlights a strategic shift toward prioritizing direct access entities, which now constitute a larger share of those completing the accreditation process. It also details the ongoing support provided to direct access entities through readiness programs and gap assessments, and tracks the progress of accredited entities in fulfilling specific fiduciary, environmental, social, and gender conditions. Additionally, the document notes a temporary lack of quorum in the Accreditation Panel (AP), which delayed new accreditation recommendations for the nineteenth Board meeting.

The review finds that while the GCF Readiness Programme addresses critical capacity-building needs for country-owned climate action, it suffers from a lack of a clear Theory of Change, inefficient application processes, and a heavy reliance on international consultants. Key recommendations include developing a formal Theory of Change, increasing Secretariat and regional advisor capacity, streamlining application timelines, and providing guidance in multiple languages to reduce barriers for non-Anglophone countries.

The GCF report evaluates its initial Strategic Plan's progress through 2017, noting that while it has successfully scaled up investments, it must now shift focus toward project quality, country-driven programming, and results management. By the end of 2017, the GCF had a portfolio of 53 projects committing USD 2.64 billion. Key challenges include a partial uptake of country programming and the need for better alignment between project ideas and accredited entity work programmes. The report recommends elevating the focus on impact and delivery, strengthening strategic partnerships, and refining investment policies to better address market gaps and ensure a balance between mitigation and adaptation.