GCF Water Project Design Guidelines

Part 1: Practical guidelines for designing water-climate resilient projects

The GCF Water Project Design Guidelines provide a structured and programmatic approach to developing climate-resilient water projects. For water security projects for climate resilience, GCF uses innovative financing mechanisms to cover key domains such as water conservation, efficiency and reuse, hydrological observation, early warning and risk assessment, integrated water management and SDG-6, ecosystem-based adaptation, and climate-resilient WASH.

Part 1 of the guidelines provides practical recommendations for developing impactful water sector proposals that align with GCF's investment criteria. ​ It includes structured approaches for project design, climate rationale integration, stakeholder engagement, and financing strategies. Ideal for Direct Access Entities, Accredited Entities, and organisations seeking GCF funding, the guidelines aim to foster climate resilience through innovative water management solutions. ​ These guidelines will facilitate the design of projects that address climate change challenges while delivering sustainable development benefits. ​