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A small group of people wearing high‑visibility safety vests and hard hats stand on an elevated structure outdoors, with one person in the foreground and others behind raising their arms against a bright sky.

Partnership Action Fund (PAF)

Addressing Gaps in Support

Through the Partnership Action Fund (PAF), the NDC Partnership supports developing countries in raising NDC ambition and accelerating implementation by addressing critical gaps in technical and financial support.

As a last-resort, complementary fund, PAF provides swift, flexible assistance when no other support is available — ensuring no country is left behind. With the Support Unit acting as a neutral broker, PAF leverages the NDC Partnership's network and infrastructure to connect countries with the right expertise and resources, helping ensure support is coordinated, targeted and effective.

Through its two funding windows, PAF provides support in the form of in-country facilitators, embedded advisors and technical assistance. From launch to April 2026:

67M

USD allocated through PAF

84

Countries supported

83

Facilitators hired

46

Embedded advisors hired

174

Projects implemented

27

Implementing partners

PAF's granting mechanism creates a triple win. It enables countries to advance NDC priorities, supports implementing partners to engage more meaningfully in climate action and provides funders with an effective vehicle to expand the reach and impact of their climate funding.

PAF in Action

PAF Funding Sources

Eight developed country members and one philanthropic institution have contributed a combined USD 67 million to PAF. This pooled resource is aligned with the distinct needs of developing country members, streamlining access to funding and helping them advance their climate priorities.

How PAF Works

Developing country members’ requests for support are regularly shared with all NDC Partnership members, inviting fully funded offers of support. If no member responds, priority requests identified by country governments are considered for PAF to address funding gaps and meet otherwise unmet needs.

PAF operates through two complementary funding windows:

Window 1 - Facilitators and Embedded Advisors

Window 1 supports the deployment of in-country facilitators and embedded advisors on a rolling basis to strengthen coordination and capacity for NDC development and implementation.

Window 2 - Programs and Projects

Through Window 2, the NDC Partnership provides targeted technical assistance through competitive funding opportunities, enabling implementing partners to apply their expertise and resources to advance climate action across sectors. Support is offered through periodic calls for proposals, inviting members to submit proposals aligned with countries’ requests.

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Facilitators Workshop at Climate Week 3 — April 2026, South Korea
Photo by Antoine Mutin

PAF Governance Structure

PAF governance builds on the NDC Partnership’s governance structure to ensure alignment with NDC Partnership goals and support operational efficiency.

NDC Partnership Steering Committee

The NDC Partnership Steering Committee serves as the primary governing and decision-making body for PAF.

PAF Advisory Group

The PAF Advisory Group, composed of PAF funders, provides strategic guidance and recommendations to the Steering Committee.

NDC Partnership Support Unit

The NDC Partnership Support Unit serves as the PAF secretariat, managing PAF operations and coordinating implementation across both funding windows.

PAF Grant Managers

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and World Resources Institute (WRI) oversee financial management.