Green Climate Fund

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is the largest climate fund and supports developing countries in their transition to low-emission and climate-resilient development. It provides funding for transport projects (average funding volume of 59 million USD per project as of September 2021; see Transport | Green Climate Fund).

It is fully operational since 2015 and acts as operating entity of the Financial Mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Its own secretariat is based at the World Bank (the GCF’s trustee). The GCF counts 24 board members equally representing developed and developing countries. 

What types of financing instruments can be acquired?

Grants, concessional debt, loans, guarantees, equity instruments, results-based payment (33% private, 67% public)

What kind of projects are funded?

8 strategic result areas:

• Energy generation and access
• Transport
• Buildings cities, industries and appliances
• Forests and land use
• Health, food and security
• Livelihoods of people and communities
• Ecosystems and ecosystem services
• Infrastructure and built environment

What types of countries are eligible?

Developing countries, in particular Least Developing countries (LDCs) and the African continent

Who can apply for funding?

• Only accredited entities can request funding from GCF
• Find a list of accredited entities here: Accredited Entities | Green Climate Fund

Find more information on how to get accredited here: Accreditation process | Green Climate Fund

Investment criteria

Find more information on investment criteria and related indicators here: Investment framework | Green Climate Fund

Application process and project preparation

Project lifecycle | Green Climate Fund

Examples for approved transport projects (including approved funding proposals etc.)

• Light Rail Transit for the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM) in Costa Rica https://www.greenclimate.fund/project/fp166
• Green BRT Karachi FP085: Green BRT Karachi | Green Climate Fund
• Climate-resilient port Nauru https://www.greenclimate.fund/project/fp052
• Green Growth equity fund FP164: Green Growth Equity Fund | Green Climate Fund
• ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility: Green Recovery program https://www.greenclimate.fund/project/fp164

Guiding documents

• SAP Technical Guidelines: Transport | Green Climate Fund
• GCF Handbook: GCF Handbook – Decisions, policies and frameworks as agreed by the Board of the Green Climate Fund from B.01 to B.28
• Accreditation self-assessment: Accreditation self-assessment | Green Climate Fund

Templates

• Concept Note template | Green Climate Fund
• Funding Proposal template | Green Climate Fund

Sources

• GCF at a glance – project portfolio: gcf-project-portfolio-en_1.pdf (greenclimate.fund)
• Transport | Green Climate Fund
• Financing climate action: financing-climate-action-jul2021.pdf (greenclimate.fund)
• The Green Climate Fund (2020) – Climate Funds Update