According to the Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme - annual report on implementation 2023, the GCF Secretariate has cumulatively approved 798 Readiness requests in 142 countries, for a total value of USD 631 million.
The previous annual application deadline for readiness proposals no longer applies. Requests can now be
submitted at any time during 2024-2027, with the final approval date of 31 March 2028.
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness Programme provides resources to National Designated Authorities (NDAs) and/or focal points and Direct Access Entities (DAEs) to strengthen their institutional capacities, governance mechanisms, and planning and programming frameworks towards a transformational long-term climate action agenda.
The Readiness Programme consists of both a country window and DAE window. As part of the country window, countries can access a total envelope of up to USD 7 million per country over 4 years for the integrated planning and implementation of adaptation and mitigation measures. Within the DAE modality, funding is provided to assist accredited DAEs as well as candidate DAEs in the advanced stages of the GCF accreditation process. Further, under the GCF Expert Placement Scheme, NDAs and focal points have the option of requesting the placement of a local expert within their offices or another relevant agency.
The Readiness Program is a component of the larger GCF, which was set up in 2010 and aims to promote the paradigm shift towards low-emission and climate-resilient development pathways by providing support to developing countries to limit or reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the impacts of climate change, taking into account the needs of those developing countries particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. The GCF is an operating entity of the Financial Mechanism of the UNFCCC and of the Financial Mechanism of the Paris Agreement.
GCF
The Readiness Result Management Framework (RRMF) is the primary reporting tool the GCF Secretariat uses to track and measure the success of the Readiness Programme. The RRMF is revised to align with the Readiness Strategy 2024-2027, with the aim of simplifying and streamlining results management and reporting in line with the three objectives.
Please see the RRMF Handbook for additional information.
The Green Climate Fund is an operating entity of the Financial Mechanism of the UNFCCC Convention and the Paris Agreement. It is accountable to and functions under the guidance of the COP. In order to ensure accountability to the COP, pursuant to Article 11, paragraph 3, the Board will: (a) Receive guidance from the COP, including on matters related to policies, programme priorities and eligibility criteria, and matters related thereto;(b) Take appropriate action in response to the guidance received; (c) Submit annual reports to the COP for its consideration and receive further guidance.
The Green Climate Fund is governed by a Board of 24 members representing developed and developing countries equally. Each Board member has an alternate member.
Representation from developing countries includes:
- three members and three alternate members from the Asia-Pacific States;
- three members and three alternate members from the African States;
- three members and three alternate members from the Latin American and the Caribbean States;
- one member and one alternate member from the small island developing States (SIDS);
- one member and one alternate member from the least developed country Parties (LDCs);
- one member from the developing country Parties not included in the regional groups and constituencies above; and
- one alternate member to rotate between developing country Parties included in the groups and constituencies listed above.
The members and alternate members of the Board are selected by their respective constituency, or regional group within a constituency, to serve a three-year term. The Board usually meets three times a year, and decisions are made by consensus. The GCF has a gender and social inclusion policy within their operational framework.
Accreditation Panel: it provides independent advice to the GCF Board about individual applications for accreditation, as well as on development and operationalization of the guiding framework of the Fund’s accreditation process. It is made up of six senior experts, evenly balanced by representation from developed and developing countries, and is supported by a pool of external technical experts. Members of the Accreditation Panel serve for three years. Accreditation Panel members provide specialized knowledge on a range of issues feeding into accreditation decisions, including good practice in fiduciary principles and standards, environmental and social safeguards, gender-related issues, and recognized good practice in accreditation procedures.
Independent Technical Advisory Panel (ITAP): it assesses the funding proposals against the six GCF investment criteria. ITAP is an independent technical advisory body made up of six international experts: three from developing countries and three from developed countries.
The Secretariat: is responsible for executing the day-to-day operations of the Fund. It services and is accountable to the Board. The GCF Secretariat is headquartered in Songdo, Republic of Korea.
National Designated Authorities (NDAs) or Focal Points (FP): are the core interface between a country and the Fund. It seeks to ensure that activities supported by the Fund align with strategic national objectives and priorities, and help advance ambitious action on adaptation and mitigation in line with national needs. Find the list here.
Accredited Entities: The Fund will channel its resources through a network of public, private and non-governmental institutions operating at sub-national, national, regional and international levels that meet the Fund’s standards. These institutions need to be aligned with the Fund’s objectives and meet its fiduciary standards and environmental and social safeguards through a process of accreditation. A key role of NDAs/FPs is to identify suitable entities to be accredited to the Fund in order to support the country climate-related projects portfolio. NDAs/FPs provide letters of nomination to direct access entities. (more information in the section “Steps to access”).
Trustee: The Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) invited the World Bank to serve as interim trustee of the Green Climate Fund for a multi-year, renewable period of time. Its functions in this capacity include the receipt, holding and investment of financial contributions from contributors, transfer of financial resources pursuant to instruction by GCF, and preparation of summary financial reports. The GCF’s permanent trustee will be chosen through an open bidding process.
Please see the Guide for Accessing Readiness Support - Country Window for details on eligible country window readiness activities.
Please see the Guide for Accessing Readiness Support - DAE Window for details on eligible DAE window readiness activities.
All developing country Parties to the UNFCCC can access the Readiness Programme.