Policies and strategies

As part of its mandate, the GCF Board approves specific operational policies and guidelines, including for programming, project cycle, administration, and financial management. The Board also approves strategies, which guide the overall direction of Fund operations. Together, these strategies and policies establish the framework for implementation of the GCF’s Governing Instrument.

Governing Instrument

The Governing Instrument for the Green Climate Fund was approved by the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at its seventeenth session on 11 December 2011 in Durban, South Africa.

Strategic plan

The Board has adopted the GCF Strategic Plan, which sets out its long-term vision for the Fund, as well as its objectives, strategic priorities and operational priorities for the current programming period. The initial Strategic Plan was adopted in 2016 for the Initial Resource Mobilization period (2015-2019). The Strategic Plan was then updated in 2020 for the GCF first replenishment period (2020-2023).

Private sector strategy

The Board adopted at B.32 the Private Sector Strategy, which sets out the four pillars through which the GCF aims to catalyze private climate finance in a country-driven manner to meet developing countries’ needs and the objectives of the Updated Strategic Plan.

Guidance on adaptation

The Board welcomed at B.33 the Guidance on adaptation which speaks to the GCF’s vision, strategic approach, and scope for supporting adaptation programming, and how the GCF aims to deliver this through its range of modalities that support adaptation activities.

Policy map

GCF policy frameworks generally include a mix of top-level policies adopted by the Board to govern a specific subject matter, the related Board decisions which adopt the policies and may contain additional policy provisions, and other policy instruments (such as standards or guidelines) which further elaborate how policies should be operationalized. The main GCF policy frameworks, aligned with the Governing Instrument, are shown in the boxes below.

Clicking on the boxes will take you to the policies in each framework. Alternately, you can search across the entire suite of policies through the search function below.

Accreditation framework

12 policies

Administrative policies

14 policies

Business model and allocation framework

1 policy

Complementarity and coherence

1 policy

Country ownership

5 policies

Financial instruments

2 policies

Integrity policies

6 policies

Investment framework

6 policies

Observers

2 policies

Operations of the Board

6 policies

Project approval process

5 policies

Resource mobilisation

2 policies

Results, monitoring and evaluation

7 policies

Risk management framework

10 policies

Sustainability policies

6 policies

Terms of reference

15 policies

Search policies

Title	Theme	Date
Principles for demonstrating the impact potential of GCF-supported activities Adopted by decision B.33/12. Establishes principles for demonstrating the impact potential for mitigation and adaptation GCF- funded activities, to be used by the Secretariat and iTAP in the review process.	Investment framework	20 Jul 2022
Guidance on the GCF’s vision, approach and scope for providing support to enhance climate adaptation The Board welcomed at B.33 the Guidance on adaptation which speaks to the GCF’s vision, strategic approach, and scope for supporting adaptation programming, and how the GCF aims to deliver this through its range of modalities that support adaptation activities.		20 Jul 2022
Procedures for adopting decisions in the event that all efforts at reaching consensus have been exhausted Adopted by decision B.23/03 and updated by decision B.32/10. Sets out procedures for adopting decisions in the event that all efforts at reaching consensus have been exhausted adopted. Previous procedures adopted at B.23 were applicable between B.23 and B.32	Operations of the Board	19 May 2022
Updated simplified approval process and activity cycle Adopted by decision B.32/05; applicable from B.32 onwards. Updates the Simplified Approval Process including the size and risk categories eligible under this funding window.	Project approval process	19 May 2022
Private Sector Strategy The Board adopted at B.32 the Private Sector Strategy, which sets out the four pillars through which the GCF aims to catalyze private climate finance in a country-driven manner to meet developing countries’ needs and the objectives of the Updated Strategic Plan.		19 May 2022
General guidelines for the operation of Board committees Adopted by decision B.32/09. Sets out the general guidelines for the operation of Board committees covering membership, chairing arrangements, accountability mechanisms, terms of reference and the scope of Secretariat support to committees.	Operations of the Board	19 May 2022
Guidelines to determine in which cases decisions without a Board meeting may be requested Adopted by decision B.32/11. Sets out the circumstances and conditions for when a decision without a Board meeting may be requested.	Operations of the Board	19 May 2022
Guidance in respect of the implementation of paragraph 43 of the Rules of Procedure of the Board and other related matters Adopted by decision B.32/11. Elaborates guidance for management of objections pertaining to decisions without a Board meeting.	Operations of the Board	19 May 2022
Accreditation framework of the GCF Adopted by decision B.31/06. Updates the initial accreditation framework of the GCF and adopted a new project specific assessment approach. To be effective from 1 April 2023.	Accreditation framework	28 Mar 2022
Revised environmental and social policy Adopted by decision B.BM-2021/18; applicable to all projects from B.32 onwards. Revises the environmental and social policy to reaffirm the Fund's commitment to addressing Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse, and Sexual Harassment in addition to environmental and social considerations in its funded activities.	Sustainability policies	13 Sep 2021

Policies & strategies