Readiness and preparatory support

Overview of the Readiness Programme

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The Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme (the Readiness Programme) supports country-driven initiatives to strengthen their institutional capacities, governance mechanisms, and planning and programming frameworks towards a transformational long-term climate action agenda.

Readiness support is provided to countries through National Designated Authorities (NDAs) and/or focal points (FPs). Readiness funding can also be deployed to strengthen Direct Access Entities.

All developing country Parties to the UNFCCC can access the Readiness Programme.

Number of readiness requests approved

Number of countries covered

Total resources approved for readiness (USD)

Data on this page as of 14 August 2024

Readiness: A new approach

Managing the world’s largest climate action capacity building program has taught us many lessons. GCF has welcomed and valued your feedback, and we are now beginning the rollout of a new approach to Readiness. We’ve communicated that it’s coming previously: the new 2024-2027 Readiness Strategy was adopted at B.37 (our Board meeting in October 2023), and we have held consultations with countries and partners over the past year. The new strategy and its operational modalities build on the successes and lessons from implementation in the past years, representing a transition to a programmatic approach to readiness.

We know that countries and partners have sometimes implemented new guidance from GCF that has then changed again. This has required a lot of effort and re-learning on your part. We want to assure you that the new Readiness approach, whilst in its infancy, is long-term.

It responds to your concerns, and observations about what is working and what wasn’t. In developing it, we’ve held the following principles close:

GCF must become simpler and easier to access. We want to reduce transaction costs and time to access readiness support. That’s why we are moving from a yearly grant cycle to a 4-year programming cycle. This improves funding predictability with 4-year budget allocations. It promotes systems thinking in addressing capacity gaps and encourages a structured progression path to 'being ready'.
GCF exists to support countries in tackling climate challenges and meeting global climate objectives under the Climate Convention and the Paris Agreement and, to originate and manage your own climate action priorities. Readiness will now more intentionally support national coordination when designing, requesting, and implementing readiness support. Countries will be able to design specific terms of reference and then competitively appoint the most qualified and best suited delivery partners (DPs) from a list of pre-qualified specialist service providers. We will put the latter in place (Q4 2024) to cut procurement timelines and provide fast access to the world’s top-tier expertise and fit-for-purpose experience, including from local service providers, leaving the ultimate choice to countries and entities.
Ensuring that we add value and utilise readiness resources efficiently and impactfully. Readiness is a programming tool. The new modalities are intentional about supporting the development and impact of country programmes. That’s why 60% of the Readiness funding will be dedicated to building a country-originated investment pipeline to unlock finance from GCF .
Growing local capacity and expertise. We know that local capacity is important to effective ideation, programming and implementation. That’s why GCF will provide an option to request placement of a GCF expect directly within a country agency.
Growing in our understanding. GCF has a critical role to play in sharing what is working and not in climate action capacity building. That’s why a portion of readiness funding will be provided to countries and DAEs to share their own knowledge and experience, to contribute towards better outcomes for all.

Scope of readiness support

Readiness is now more firmly focused on delivering measurable, tangible outcomes that align country priorities and the GCF Strategic Plan 2024-2027.

The table below provides examples of support areas grouped around each objective and outcome. If you require more detailed guidance, please refer to the Guides on Strategic Planning of Readiness Support under the Country and the DAE windows.

Objective 1
The readiness portfolio target is set at 30% to ensure fit-for-purpose support with building the foundations, such as strategic frameworks, coordination mechanisms for climate action, and direct access entities’ support.
Outcomes	Broad areas of support for illustrative purposes
Outcome 1.1 Developing countries, through NDAs or focal points, have enhanced capacity to fulfil their roles, responsibilities and policy requirements, including coordination mechanisms to engage relevant stakeholders to develop, advance, and implement NDCs, NAPs, LTS.	Enhance processes and systems and address capacity gaps related to project implementation and oversight, enabling DAEs, NDAs and the relevant stakeholders to quality assure results, and measure and report climate impacts. Bridge capacity gaps to facilitate effective coordination of climate investment planning and execution at various levels and with relevant stakeholders¹. Continue to build and enhance institutional capacity (i.e., technical, managerial, and administrative capabilities) of NDAs and focal points, focusing on developing countries with no previous access to GCF resources.
Outcome 1.2 Developing countries design and implement strategic frameworks (including NDC/NAP/LTS), policies and instruments, including climate investment plans, to create enabling environments for integrated climate investments.	Support the development and enhancement and update of NDCs, NAPs, and LTSs, including through integrated climate investment planning, leveraging diverse climate finance sources. Foster policy and regulatory reform, creating environments conducive to large-scale climate investments, including private sector-led initiatives.
Outcome 1.3 Direct access applicants and accredited entities (DAEs) have met and maintained the accreditation standards of the GCF and strengthened their programming capacities, as evidenced by the development of GCF-funded activities.	Provide support for pre-accreditation and accreditation upgrades to candidate/DAEs upon request from NDAs (Country support modality). Support full spectrum of capacity building initiatives to enable accredited DAEs to programme with GCF (DAE support modality).
¹ Relevant country stakeholders may include ministries of finance/economy/strategic planning, central banks, executing entities, the private sector, and civil society organizations, including Indigenous Peoples, academia, women’s organizations, and other entities engaged in line with GCF best practice for country coordination and multi-stakeholder engagement.

Objective 2
The readiness portfolio target is set at 60% to be clear about GCF’s renewed focus on developing a results-driven investment pipeline and commitment to developing programming and implementation capacities and direct access.
Outcomes	Broad areas of support for illustrative purposes
Outcome 2.1 Developing countries have developed or updated their country programmes to guide GCF investment.	Support the development or update of GCF country programmes with a project pipeline aligning national strategies (NDCs, NAPs, LTS) and USP-2 targeted results to serve as the point of origination for GCF investment action, ensuring country ownership in line with GCF Board decisions.
Outcome 2.2 Developing countries have developed high-quality concept notes linked to approved GCF proposals for adaptation and mitigation that are aligned with the USP-2 results, including through DAEs, that build on readiness support and country programmes.	Support in generating project ideas, concept notes, and funding proposals from GCF country programmes, ensuring a seamless transition from project idea to concept to proposal for GCF funding, by leveraging and/or complementing the Project Preparation Facility (PPF), as necessary. Prioritise equity and gender dimensions in project design, recognising differentiated socioeconomic impacts, and striving for gender responsiveness and social inclusion.
Outcome 2.3 NDAs and DAEs have enhanced processes and systems to effectively oversee the implementation, financial management, monitoring and reporting of climate programmes and projects.	Enhance processes and systems and address capacity gaps related to project implementation and oversight, enabling DAEs, NDAs and the relevant stakeholders to quality assure results, and measure and report climate impacts.

Objective 3
The readiness portfolio target is set at 10% to provide laser-sharp focus on impactful and carefully crafted activities that maximise knowledge sharing and learning.
Outcomes	Broad areas of support for illustrative purposes
Outcome 3.1 Developing countries, through NDAs or focal points, have made use of knowledge products to address policy gaps and integrated climate investment programming and implementation.	Assist in generating and disseminating knowledge necessary for crafting national climate strategies, bridging policy gaps to drive transformative climate investments. Foster sharing of best practices and lessons learned in the development and execution of climate finance projects and programs.
Outcome 3.2 Enhanced collaboration among developing countries on climate change issues, evidenced by transboundary and regional cooperations/South-South cooperation.	Foster technical cooperation aimed at strengthening and institutionalising partnerships, both within and beyond national borders, including transboundary coalitions and regional initiatives addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation challenges.