Readiness and Preparatory Support

• Number of Readiness requests approved 891

• Number of countries covered 142

• Number of Direct Access Entities supported 11

• Total resources approved for Readiness in USD $ 761 M million

• 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 from a list of pre-qualified specialist service providers. This will 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 liaison officer 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.

Outcome 1.1

• Broad areas of support for illustrative purposes

  • Enhance processes and systems and address capacity gaps related to project implementation and oversight, enabling 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.

  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.

Outcome 1.2

• Broad areas of support for illustrative purposes

  • 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

• Broad areas of support for illustrative purposes

  • 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).

Outcome 2.1

• Broad areas of support for illustrative purposes

  • Support the development or update of country programmes with a project pipeline aligning with national strategies (NDCs, NAPs, LTS).

Outcome 2.2

• Broad areas of support for illustrative purposes

  • Support in generating project ideas, concept notes, and funding proposals from 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

• Broad areas of support for illustrative purposes

  • Enhance processes and systems and address capacity gaps related to project design, implementation and oversight, enabling DAEs, NDAs and the relevant stakeholders to quality assure results, and measure and report climate impacts.

Outcome 3.1

• Broad areas of support for illustrative purposes

  • 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

• Broad areas of support for illustrative purposes

  • 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.