News & stories
Activities
Activities are quick takes on GCF's activities and engagement with our stakeholders.
GCF leader says climate finance needs to consider risk and opportunity
10 Dec 2018 / Speaking at the Ministerial dialogue on climate finance, GCF Executive Director a.i. Javier Manzanares said that effective climate finance requires close collaboration with developing countries to identify climate risks and opportunities. He stressed that GCF can help developing countries translate their Nationally Determined Contributions into investment plans and bankable projects, and that the GCF Readiness programme helps build the capacity of developing countries to come up with climate projects that best match national conditions.
Norway announces doubling of support as GCF outlines contribution to global stocktake
10 Dec 2018 / Norway announced today that will double its contribution to GCF as part of the Fund’s replenishment. At the same Ministerial session on global stocktaking, GCF Executive Director a.i. Javier Manzanares outlined the GCF's contribution to global efforts on climate change over the past five years, noting that at the time of the last COP meeting in Poland (COP19) GCF had been just "an aspiration," but that it was now delivering results on the ground. Grenada emphasised that ongoing GCF support is critical to the country and other SIDS, and commended Germany and Norway for showing leadership in supporting the early stages of GCF’s current replenishment drive.
The role of the banking sector in the fight against climate change
07 Dec 2018 / GCF hosted an event on green banking and the overall role that the banking sector can play in addressing climate change at the sidelines of COP24 in Katowice. Speakers from EBRD, IFC, UNFCCC, RMI and the Green Investment Group agreed that the sector has potential for substantial impact in driving decarbonisation of the economy, but the fit for purpose regulatory environment should be in place. Alzbeta Klein, Director of Climate Business Department at IFC, recognised recent positive developments of including climate change as an important element of banking supervision.
GCF 101 series provides introduction to the Fund
06 Dec 2018 / The GCF 101 briefing series, aimed at introducing the core elements of GCF programmes and activities is gaining popularity at COP24. This, as more people express eagerness in gaining a better understanding of how the Fund operates and how to engage with it. Today, GCF colleagues hosted three 101 sessions, focusing on Readiness, Privileges & Immunities and overall GCF operations. The schedule of next 101 sessions are listed in the COP24 section.
Evaluation of the GCF Result Management Framework
06 Dec 2018 / A discussion on the evaluation of GCF's Result Management Framework (RMF) was held today in the sidelines of COP24. Jo Puri, Head of GCF's Independent Evaluation Unit (IEU), provided a review of mechanisms and tools to measure the impacts of GCF's climate activities, focusing on how the Fund can learn and strengthen its frameworks. GCF Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist Rajib Ghosal discussed how GCF has been conducting a comparative analysis of other measurement tools and criteria to update the performance measurement framework. External perspectives were provided by EBRD, UNDP, the UK's BEIS, as well as CCAP - who conducted its own analysis of the RMF.
IEU holds event on performance review of GCF
05 Dec 2018 / The Independent Evaluation Unit of GCF today hosted a panel discussion on its review of GCF. Jo Puri, Head of the IEU, provided an overview of the key elements and processes of the upcoming review, which was mandated by the GCF Board last October. GCF Board Member Karma Tshering provided his perspectives on the opportunities of the review in helping GCF become more efficient.
First GCF side event at COP24
05 Dec 2018 / In GCF's first COP24 side event "GCF Operations update and lessons emerging from ongoing evaluations" today, GCF Director of Country Programming Pa Ousman Jarju provided an update of GCF operations and presented the revamped GCF Readiness programme, known as Readiness 2.0. The new programme was strongly welcomed by AEs, NDAs and readiness partners speaking at the event. Margaret Kim of GGGI said Readiness 2.0 is a great step forward and emphasised that GCF should continue its work promoting direct access and involving private sector.
Introduction to GCF Accreditation
04 Dec 2018 / Getting accredited is the first step for an organisation to access GCF funding. Responding to great interest from various entities about the accreditation process, GCF held a briefing session on "Accreditation 101" in its COP24 pavilion today. Anupa Rimal Lamichhane, GCF Entity Relations Specialist, introduced the participants to each of the steps of the accreditation process, required standards and safeguards.
Independent Integrity Unit hosts 2018 Integrity Forum
04 Dec 2018 / The Independent Integrity Unit (IIU) of GCF spearheaded the inaugural Integrity Forum in celebration of International Anti-Corruption Day. Panel members from both IIU and the GCF Secretariat, specifically from Human Resources and the Ombudsperson, shared their respective roles and mandates in upholding GCF integrity standards and reaffirmed GCF's commitment to the lawful utilisation of its resources and promotion of a respectful workplace. GCF joins the international community in its efforts to combat corruption while maximising climate action.
GCF to cooperate with UNIDO
03 Dec 2018 / GCF and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) signed today a Readiness Framework Agreement to enable developing countries to partner with UNIDO on activities enhancing their access to GCF. As a GCF Readiness delivery partner, UNIDO will engage through national stakeholders to develop GCF Readiness Projects in a number of sustainable energy and climate change areas.