This call has now closed
The Asia Climate Solutions (ACS) Design Grant provides grant funding and acceleration support to catalyze innovative blended finance solutions that mobilize private capital for climate resilience across developing Asia. The ACS Design Grant is one of Convergence's regional blended finance accelerators.
Supported by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), this funding cycle will support innovative blended finance solutions that mobilize capital for climate-resilient agriculture and nature-based solutions across Southeast Asia.
Purpose:
- Proposals must articulate a clear need for grant support for the design and/or launch of an innovative blended finance vehicle.
- Solutions must target climate mitigation and/or adaptation in the eligible sectors identified below.
- The proposed solution should be a financial instrument with a blended finance structure. It can be in the form of a fund, project finance vehicle, private company, bond, results-based financing, facility, or any other type of financial instrument.
- Vehicle must demonstrate potential to drive private investment at scale for development impact in Southeast Asia.
Applicant types: Proposals will only be accepted from organizations or consortium of organizations.
For example, eligible organizations could include asset owners, asset managers, advisory firms, foundations, not-for-profit organizations, and private enterprises. The lead organization must be able to provide
1) proof of incorporation, and
2) financial statements for the previous fiscal year.
Focus geography: Proposals must target one or more of the following Southeast Asian countries:
- Cambodia
- Indonesia
- Lao PDR
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Philippines
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Vietnam
Solutions may focus on a single country or multiple countries. Applicants do not need to be domiciled in these markets but end beneficiaries and target activities must.
Focus sectors: The thematic focus for this funding cycle is on blended finance solutions targeting the following sectors and sub-sectors:
- Climate-resilient Agriculture & Food Security
- Climate-smart, regenerative agriculture, and sustainable aquaculture
- Agricultural value chains, processing and market access
- Farmer, cooperative, and agri-SME finance
- Agricultural insurance and climate risk management
- Agri-tech, biotechnology, and smart farming
- Other Nature-Based Solutions Sectors
- Sustainable forestry, landscape restoration, and ecosystem management
- Carbon markets and natural capital finance (including biodiversity finance and blue carbon)
- Biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration
- Coastal protection, watershed management, and ecosystem resilience