more than US$ 850 million
The Adaptation Fund Board accepts and considers project and program proposals three times a year. The next submission deadline can be found on the calendar, on this website.
The Adaptation Fund finances projects and programmes that help vulnerable communities in developing countries adapt to climate change. Initiatives are based on country needs, views and priorities.
Since 2010, the Adaptation Fund has committed over 1 billion for climate change adaptation and resilience projects and programmes, including 150 concrete, localized projects in the most vulnerable communities of developing countries around the world with over 38 million total beneficiaries. It also pioneered Direct Access and Enhanced Direct Access, empowering countries to access funding and develop local projects directly through accredited national implementing entities.
Adaptation Fund (contributors: Austria, Belgium, Canada, the European Commission, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United Nations Foundation)
Implementing entities are requested to report to the Adaptation Fund on the progress achieved at different stages of project implementation. More information about reporting requirements and formats here.
The Adaptation Fund is supervised and managed by the Adaptation Fund Board (AFB). The Board is composed of 16 members and 16 alternates and holds periodic meetings throughout the year.
The Adaptation Fund Board Secretariat provides research, advisory, administrative, and an array of other services to the Board.
The World Bank is the Adaptation Fund's Trustee.
To receive money directly from the Adaptation Fund, entities need to be accredited as an implementing entity. Implementing entities can be international (i.e. the World Bank), regional (i.e. the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program or SPREP) or national (i.e. a country’s environment ministry).
Only one national entity can be accredited per developing country. A list of currently accredited institutions can be found on the Adaptation Fund’s website.
Note that entities that prefer to not apply for accreditation have the option of partnering with an institution that is already accredited. For example, implementing entities often partner with smaller local organization to execute activities on the ground.
Developing country members of the Kyoto Protocol. For a full list, please see the UNFCCC list of parties here.
To receive money directly from the Adaptation Fund, entities need to be accredited as an “implementing entity.” See section “Other eligibility criteria” for more details. Only one national entity can be accredited per developing country. Entities that prefer to not apply for accreditation have the option of partnering with an institution that is already accredited. For example, implementing entities often partner with smaller local organization to execute activities on the ground. Accreditation with the Adaptation Fund is valid for five years.
National and regional implementing entities fall under the Adaptation Fund’s Direct Access modality, which enables direct access to financing and management of all aspects of projects, from design through implementation, to monitoring and evaluation. Direct Access allows developing countries to strengthen capacity to adapt to climate change and build on local expertise. National entities with institutional capacity constrains have the option of obtaining accreditation via the Streamlined Accreditation Process. If successful they can access a smaller amount of funding than the usual, while working on strengthening their capacities to meet the accreditation requirements through the usual documentation, as appropriate.
Project Formulation Grants (PFGs) are available to accredited national implementing entities (NIEs) to build the capacity of NIEs in project preparation and design. NIEs that are in the concept development stage of the Fund’s project cycle process can request a PFG up to USD 30,000 together with their submission of the project concept to the Board.
Additionally, Project Formulation Assistance (PFA) grants of up to USD 20,000 are available to help NIEs tap into external expertise in the form of short-term consultant assignments to undertake specific technical assessments such as an environmental impact assessment (EIA), vulnerability assessment (VA), risk assessment, gender study, and other environmental and social assessments. The PFA grant application form can be requested when NIEs submit their project concepts during the two-step approval process.
Organisations that wish to implement Adaptation Fund projects must submit an application for accreditation providing documentation indicating that it meets the fiduciary standards adopted by the Board.
In order to become accredited, entities are required to meet the legal and fiduciary standards adopted by the Board as detailed in the Operational Policies and Guidelines.
Eligible Kyoto Protocol Parties may submit proposals for small-grant projects, using the services of accredited national implementing entities (NIEs). Projects should accelerate innovative adaptation practices, tools, and technologies.
Check here for updates on requests for proposals and application guidelines.
Accredited entities that need support in project preparation can access Project Formulation Assistance (PFA) grants to receive support in project identification, concept development, and project structuring. Find an overview of PFA grants here.
For those implementing entities that have their project defined, find an overview of how to bring a project proposal to the Adaptation Fund, from initial submission through to Board approval here.