Policies & strategies
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.
Accreditation stategy
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.
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.
Search policies
Title | Theme | Date |
---|---|---|
Initial investment framework 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 framework | 21 May 2014 |
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 |
Terms of reference of the Accreditation Panel Adopted by decision B.07/02 (h). Adopts the terms of reference of the Accreditation Panel. |
Terms of reference | 21 May 2014 |
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. |
Administrative policies | 21 Feb 2014 |
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 |
Arrangements between the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change and the Green Climate Fund Adopted by decision B.05/16 (a). The purpose of these arrangements is to set out the working relationship between the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the GCF to ensure that the GCF is accountable to and functions under the guidance of the COP to support projects, programmes, policies and other activities in developing country Parties. |
10 Oct 2013 | |
Guiding principles and factors determining terms of financial instruments Adopted by decision B.05/07. Adopts principles and factors for determining terms of financial instruments. |
Financial instruments | 10 Oct 2013 |
Initial result areas of the Fund Adopted by decision B.05/03 (e). Sets out the initial areas of funding, in order to enable low‐emission and climate‐resilient development pathways. |
Results, monitoring and evaluation | 10 Oct 2013 |
Performance indicators of the initial result areas of the Fund Adopted by decision B.05/03 (f). Sets out indicators to show the physical/transformative impact of Fund activities. |
Results, monitoring and evaluation | 10 Oct 2013 |
Terms of reference of the Risk Management Committee Adopted by decision B.05/13 (b). Adopts the terms of reference of the Risk Management cCmmittee. |
Terms of reference | 10 Oct 2013 |