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.
The main GCF policy frameworks, aligned with the Governing Instrument and strategies, are shown in the diagram below.
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 & other strategies
In advance of the second Replenishment period the Board updated its Strategic Plan for 2024-2027 at B.36, setting out the major programming directions and operational and institutional priorities for GCF-2. GCF’s initial Strategic Plan was adopted in 2016 for the Initial Resource Mobilization period (2015-2019) and 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.
Accreditation strategy
The Board adopted at B.34 the Accreditation Strategy, which clarifies the GCF operating model and guides the evolution of the GCF network of AEs in order to deliver on the GCF’s mandate, objectives and programming directions.
Readiness strategy 2024-2027
The Board adopted at B.37 the Readiness Strategy 2024-2027, which presents the revised strategy for the Readiness Programme that continues to serve as a critical instrument in fulfilling the GCF’s strategic vision and ambition.
Policies
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.
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.
Search policies & strategies
| Title | Theme | Date |
|---|---|---|
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Administrative guidelines on human resources This document captures the policy as adopted by the Board in decision B.08/17, paragraph (a), and subsequently amended by decisions B.34/20, B.34/21, and B.37/08. The policy was sent to the Board for consideration at B.08 in document GCF/B.08/26 titled “Administrative Guidelines on Human Resources". |
Administration | 17 Oct 2014 |
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Fast-track accreditation programme Adopted by decision B.08/03. Establishes the fast-track accreditation process to expedite the accreditation of certain institutions accredited by other relevant funds and defines the related assessment process, including gap analysis. |
Accreditation | 17 Oct 2014 |
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Contents of the application documents for submissions of applications for accreditation to the GCF Adopted by decision B.08/06. Defines the information an applicant entity is required to complete. |
Accreditation | 17 Oct 2014 |
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Interim environmental and social safeguards of the Fund (Performance standards of the International Finance Corporation) Adopted by decision B.07/02 (c). Adopts the interim environmental and social safeguards to identify, measure, and mitigate environmental and social risks based on IFC standards; will remain in effect until the Fund develops its own standards. |
Sustainability | 21 May 2014 |
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Initial fiduciary principles and standards of the Fund Adopted by decision B.07/02. Sets out the initial basic fiduciary standards for administrative and financial capacities. |
Accreditation, Administration | 21 May 2014 |
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Initial guiding framework for the Fund’s accreditation process Adopted by decision B.07/02. Sets out the initial framework of the accreditation process as well as initial fiduciary principles and standards, interim performance standards, and establishes the Accrediation Panel and Accreditation Committee. |
Accreditation | 21 May 2014 |
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Investment framework for IRM Adopted by decision B.07/06 (a); applicable for the entire duration of IRM and up to B.27. Establishes the Fund's investment framework, including investment policies, investment strategy and portfolio targets and investment guidelines/investment criteria. |
Investment | 21 May 2014 |
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Terms of reference of the Accreditation Committee Adopted by decision B.07/02 (h). Adopts the terms of reference of the Accreditation Committee. |
Terms of reference | 21 May 2014 |
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Administrative policies of the Fund Adopted by decision B.06/03 (a). Covers various administrative matters including administrative guidelines on HR, admin budget, procurement and asset management, ICT, and audit and internal controls. |
Administration | 21 Feb 2014 |
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Terms of reference of the Independent Integrity Unit Adopted by decision B.06/09 (b). Adopts the terms of reference of the Independent Integrity Unit. |
Terms of reference | 21 Feb 2014 |