Metadata and Definitions
The NDC Partnership's finance modules, including the Climate Funds Explorer, the Project Preparation Support Database, and the Climate Finance Bulletin, use many terms to describe climate finance or climate funding opportunities related to NDC development or implementation. These terms may be used to search for different entries, or to provide details about individual climate funding opportunities.
This page serves as a guide for all metadata and terminology used across the NDC Partnership's climate finance modules, including the name of the term, its definition, and where it might be found by users. Continue reading below to learn more about these terms and definitions.
Application Frequency
Definition | Modules |
|---|---|
| The frequency with which a support entity accepts new applications for support, including rolling application windows and specific calls for proposals that close after a specified time window. | Project Preparation Support Database |
Business Stage Supported
Definition | Modules |
|---|---|
| The stage of business development that incubators and accelerators support, including support for early, middle and late-stage growth. | Project Preparation Support Database |
Climate Objective
The primary objective of the climate intervention, namely adaptation to climate change impacts, mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, or cross-cutting objectives involving both adaptation and mitigation.
Terminology | Definition | Modules |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptation | Focus is on resilience, disaster reduction or buffering climate impacts. | Climate Project Climate |
| Mitigation | Focus is on emission reductions. | |
| Cross-cutting | Focus on integrated climate action or the development of climate policy or laws that touch on both adaptation and mitigation. |
Co-financing Requirements
Definition | Modules |
|---|---|
| Co-financing refers to project or program funds which are jointly provided from organizations additional to the primary support provider. If required, applicants will work with multiple providers to access this climate finance opportunity. | Climate Project Climate |
Consortium Requirement
Definition | Modules |
|---|---|
| A consortium refers to multiple entities that work together jointly to implement a climate project. If required, the applying entity may be required to form or participate in a consortium to access the climate finance opportunity. | Climate Finance Bulletin |
Country Grouping
Refers to country categorizations separate from geography and which reflect unique attributes or vulnerabilities to climate change, namely Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Terminology | Definition | Modules |
|---|---|---|
| Least Developed Countries (LDCs) | Countries characterized by historically weak development capacity, low and unequally distributed income, and scarcity of domestic financial resources, as defined by the United Nations. | Project Climate |
| Small Island Developing States (SIDS) | Low-lying coastal countries which face increased challenges related to their remote geography – including factors like small population size, high transportation costs, and vulnerability to climate change, biodiversity loss and economic shocks – as defined by the United Nations. |
Eligibility Criteria
Definition | Modules |
|---|---|
| Requirements a public entity, stakeholder, or other applicant must meet in order to access this climate finance opportunity. | Climate Project Climate |
Eligible to submit a proposal
Definition | Modules |
|---|---|
| Entities that may apply for the climate finance opportunity, including: non-state actors (such as academic institutions or non-profits), public entities, private companies, and accredited entities (organizations that support providers formally approve after meeting certain criteria to partner on project implementation). | Climate Finance Bulletin |
Funding Type
Types of funding opportunities offered by support providers, including grants, loans, in-kind support, and other instruments.
Terminology | Definition | Modules |
|---|---|---|
| Grants | Financial aid given to support projects and programs, which usually do not need to be repaid by the recipient. | Climate Project Climate |
| Loans (concessional and market-rate) | Financial aid provided to support projects and programs, under an agreement that the support provider will be repaid with interest by the recipient. Concessional loans set repayment rates below market to support climate or development objectives, while market-rate loans set repayment based on market fluctuations and other economic criteria. | |
| In-kind contributions | Non-monetary goods or services provided to support climate objectives. In-kind contributions may include physical provisions (e.g., early warning system technologies) as well as technical assistance (e.g., trainings on climate-smart agriculture practices). | |
| Other | Alternative types of funding which do not fit into the above categories, such as equity, insurance, and guarantees. |
Monitoring and Reporting Procedures
Definition | Modules |
|---|---|
| Information on criteria for project implementation set by the funding entity, including requirements for monitoring and reporting progress, which will be required from applicants. | Climate Funds Explorer |
Organizational and Decision Making Structure
Definition | Modules |
|---|---|
| Information on how the funding entity operates and makes decisions, including the process by which proposals are approved and funds are awarded. | Climate Funds Explorer |
Project Stage Supported
Definition | Modules |
|---|---|
| The stage of project development that a PPF supports ranging from capacity building, project ideation, and concept note development, to the development of pre- and full feasibility studies, financial structuring, and capital provider matchmaking. | Project Preparation Support Database |
Purpose of Support
Definition | Modules |
|---|---|
| Intended outcome of support provided, for example, strengthening capacity, preparing project proposals, implementing programs, and complying with reporting requirements. | Climate Funds Explorer |
Region
Definition | Modules |
|---|---|
| Seven geographic regions of the world, classified according to analytical grouping by the World Bank. | Climate Project Climate |
Sectors and Themes
Socioeconomic sectors and broader themes relevant to NDC planning and implementation. Sectors include agriculture, energy, forestry and land use, infrastructure and industry, transport, waste management, and water. Themes include cities, disaster risk reduction, economic recovery, education, gender, health, jobs, nature-based solutions and ecosystem services, oceans and coasts, poverty, rural development, and youth.
Terminology | Definition | Modules |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture | Activities related to growing crops (irrigation, species selection, etc.) and raising animals (i.e. livestock and fisheries -- domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce labor and commodities such as meat, eggs, milk, fur, leather & wool) from a farm, ranch or their natural habitats. This sector encompasses entries pertaining to food security or the reliable access to enough quantity of affordable and nutritious food -- including climate-smart and climate-resilient agriculture and disaster relief interventions for food security. | Climate Project Climate |
| Cities | Actions targeted towards cities, sub-urban, and urban areas. | |
| Disaster Risk Reduction | Practices that build individual, community, organizational, and state ability to prepare and recover from climate disasters and extreme weather events. This includes (not limited to) early warning systems and tools, integrated water management, and issues pertaining to drought management (the promotion of better land management to reduce drought and desertification). | |
| Economic Recovery | Refers to policies, actions, etc. that focus on recovering from economic shocks (including the COVID-19 pandemic). | |
| Education | Efforts directed towards enhancing public knowledge and raising awareness about climate change, including the integration of climate change into national curricula and educational campaigns. | |
| Energy | Production, sale or distribution of energy; includes renewable energy, energy efficiency, or other low-carbon energy technologies. | |
| Forestry and Other Land Use | Activities related to planting and managing forests or the management and modification of the natural environment into built environment or settlements, such as semi-natural habitat and managed woods. | |
| Gender | Refers to the roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a given society at a given time considers appropriate for girls, women, boys, men and gender diverse people. It influences how people perceive themselves and each other, how they interact, and the distribution of power and resources in society. Also refers to gender-responsive approaches which work to address and change gender norms, roles and access to resources, to ultimately close gender gaps and achieve greater gender equality and equity. | |
| Health | Physical, mental and social well-being of individuals, as well as enhancements to medical care. | |
| Infrastructure and Industry | Activities related to physical and organizational structures and facilities or the economic activities concerned with the processing of raw materials and manufacture of goods in factories. | |
| Jobs | A paid potion of regular employment; includes creation of decent employment opportunities (i.e. greening of enterprises, workplace practices and the labor market at a whole). | |
| Nature-based Solutions and Ecosystem Services | Actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems that also provide human well-being and biodiversity benefits; ecosystem services can include food and water production, climate and disease regulation and oxygen production, among others. | |
| Oceans and Coasts | Protecting and restoring ocean and costal ecosystems; includes coastal zones where sea and land processes occur; also includes the sustainable development of oceans as an engine for economic growth (blue economy). | |
| Poverty | Activities designed to improve the medium- and long-term quality of life and economic well-being of those who lack enough resources or capabilities to meet their basic needs. | |
| Rural Development | Actions designed to improve the quality of life and economic well-being of those living in sparsely populated areas. | |
| Transport | Movement of people or goods from point A to point B, including air, land (rail and road), water, cable, pipeline and space; also relates to infrastructure, vehicle and operational processes pertaining to transport. | |
| Waste | Management of any discarded, unwanted or unusable substances, including recyclable, compostable and inorganic materials. | |
| Water | Collection, conservation, and recovery of water resources, including watershed management, efficient water use, liquid waste management and accessibility to potable water, among others. | |
| Youth | Refers to children, adolescents, young people engaging in action and advocacy to address climate change. Also refers to child- or youth-sensitive policies which work to lower child vulnerability to climate change and position children and youth populations to be more aware, educated, empowered, and resilient. |
Support Entity Type
Types of entities that provide support to climate-algined projects and/or businesses, including accelerators, incubators, and Project Preparation Facilities (PPFs).
Terminology | Definition | Modules |
|---|---|---|
| Accelerator | An organization or program that provides early- to mid-stage, climate-aligned startups and companies with mentorship, resources, and funding (often in exchange for equity), typically over a fixed-term, intensive period to rapidly grow their business. | Project Preparation Support Database |
| Incubator | An organization or program that provides early-stage, climate-aligned startups with mentorship, resources, and funding (often in exchange for equity), to help them develop and refine their ideas and business model. | |
| Project Preparation Facility (PPF) | An organization or program that assists in developing investment- or support-ready, climate-aligned projects. PPFs can support different stages of the project life cycle from capacity building, project ideation, and concept note development, to the development of pre- and full feasibility studies, financial structuring, and capital provider matchmaking. |
Type of Recipient
Definition | Modules |
|---|---|
| Entities eligible to access the climate finance opportunity include: public entities at the national, sub-national, or regional level, international organizations, non-profit or civil society organizations, private sector entities, and community-level organizations. | Climate Project |
Type of Support Provider
Entities providing financial aid or in-kind support for a climate finance opportunity, including bilateral, multilateral, or philanthropic entities, as well as other organizations and initiatives.
Terminology | Definition | Modules |
|---|---|---|
| Bilateral | Funds provided directly from a country government or development agency, such as FCDO, AFD, or GIZ. | Climate Climate |
| Multilateral | Funds sourced from multiple governmental and non-governmental organizations; often centrally managed and distributed by a coordinative entity, such as the Adaptation Fund or Inter-American Development Bank. | |
| Philanthropic | Funds provided by non-profit, non-governmental entities, charities, and other social initiatives. | |
| Other | Funds provided by alternative sources, such as from the private sector or via specific initiatives which do not fit into the above categories. |