Project-specific Assessment Approach - Eligibility

GCF will accept proposals submitted by entities who are not already accredited to the Fund. 

Entities seeking PSAA should meet the following criteria:

1. Entities may include but are not limited to private, public, non-governmental, sub-national, national, regional, or international bodies, and entities responding to requests for proposals (RFPs) issued by GCF. 
2. Entities must have full legal capacity and independent legal personality within the relevant jurisdiction that enables it to undertake the proposed project.  
3. Entities need to demonstrate they can implement the proposed project/programme and meet all GCF accreditation requirements including financial, gender, environmental and social safeguard standards.  
4. Entities must exhibit a consistent and positive track record in the context of their own institutional mandate, as well as in areas relevant to GCF objectives, financing, results areas and management of environmental and social safeguards and gender risks.   
5. Entities must be nominated by the National Designated Authority or Focal Point (NDA/FP) (applicable to subnational, national, and regional entities based in developing countries only) and have received a no-objection letter (NOL) for the proposed project (for all entities). 

Each entity will be capped at a maximum of one approved funding proposal under PSAA. 

The PSAA is designed to assess whether the entity is capable of meeting GCF accreditation standards for proposal implementation and has a track record of strong financial management and of safeguarding funded projects and programmes against environmental and social harm. Assessment of the entity’s capability to implement the proposed project/programme is undertaken in parallel with the review of the funding proposal.

What types of projects or programmes are eligible for PSAA?

Projects/programmes of any size (micro, small, medium, and large), and financial instruments (grants, loans, equity, and guarantees) suitable for the proposed activity may be considered.  

Funding proposals submitted under the PSAA may include only those that have low to medium environmental and social risks and impacts (i.e., Categories C/I-3 and B/I-2).  

GCF priorities include sub-national, national and regional applicants based in developing countries, those responding to GCF RFPs (specifically, EDA, MFS, and MSME), and contribution to the Private Sector Strategy. Projects and programmes from developing countries without an approved GCF-funded activity are encouraged for submission.

Please note that international access entities part of a network can consider partnership with the fund via the network member that is already a GCF AE, or separately pursue institutional accreditation.

As of October 2025, public sector international access projects/programmes are encouraged to consider institutional accreditation instead of the PSAA pilot.