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Call for Proposals for 2nd Round of $10M Challenge Program for Adaptation Innovation

Deadline: 22-Aug-21

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is seeking project concepts for a second round of the Challenge Program for Adaptation Innovation, with a total value of US$10 million. Concept notes should request no more than US$2 million, inclusive of Agency Fees and Project Preparation Grant (PPG).

The GEF supports climate adaptation efforts mainly through the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF). Since their inception in 2001, the GEF has provided almost US$2.0 billion in grant financing and mobilized more than US$13 billion from other sources for 386 adaptation projects in 130 countries, including all least developed countries (LDCs) and 33 small island developing states (SIDS).
The Challenge Program for Adaptation Innovation was launched in 2019, in alignment with the GEF Programming Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change for the LDCF and SCCF. The objective of this Challenge Program is to catalyze innovation to harness the power of private sector actors for achieving adaptation results. This program aims to test, validate and highlight scalable investment approaches, business models, partnerships, and technologies. The program also seeks potential for replication and upscaling in cooperation with investors and other sources of climate adaptation finance.
All climate change adaptation sectors and themes are eligible under the Challenge Program for Adaptation Innovation. Based on the guidance of the LDCF/SCCF Council; insight from the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP), recommendations from evaluations of the Independent Evaluation Office of the GEF, and learning gained through the first round of this Challenge Program and other GEF programming; strong potential exists to catalyze innovation and private sector investment in adaptation through a range of strategies, including:
  • Commercialization and scaling up of Nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation and resilience, including through local community action.
  • Testing and modeling innovations in climate adaptation financial products and services, including blue and green bonds for climate adaptation; investment funds; financing facilities, payments for ecosystem services; and insurance.
  • Developing lines of credit, lending products and methodologies to produce inclusive finance products with microfinance partners for localized climate adaptation action by micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
  • Commercializing and scaling up use of first-of-a-kind and disruptive technologies for climate adaptation and resilience.
  • Strengthening climate risk disclosure and management policies, regulations, and practice to motivate investment in climate adaptation action.
  • Enhancing ownership and active participation of female stakeholders in climate change adaptation business development.
  • Private sector (including MSMEs) engagement for climate change adaptation with local livelihood benefits in conflict sensitive contexts and with youth.
  • Incorporation of private sector engagement for climate adaptation and resilience in recovery strategies from the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Policy interventions to enable innovation and localized climate change adaptation action.
Eligibility Criteria
Submission of project concepts can be made by any proponent and is not limited to GEF Agencies. All developing countries are eligible to benefit from SCCF funding under the Challenge Program. Concepts that take place in, and or address the needs of, the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are eligible for Challenge Program resources that are drawn from the LDCF. Resources come from the global/regional set aside under the LDCF and the SCCF. Given the flexibility of resources from the SCCF to support a range of financing instruments, concept notes can seek grant finance, investment in the form of non-grant instruments, or a combination. Concepts that seek resources from the LDCF are to be grant-based.
Pre-Selection Criteria
  • The pre-selection process will identify and prioritize projects and programs for invitation to be submitted through the GEF formal project cycle. The number and dollar value of the concept notes invited to be submitted through the formal cycle will match the funds that are available through this Call for Proposals. The following criteria will be used for pre-selection:
    • Potential for addressing climate hazards and their impacts;
    • Potential to address key barriers including the reduction of risk for motivating private sector investment in climate change adaptation and resilience;
    • Degree of innovation, including potential to contribute to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic; and
    • Potential to catalyze private sector investment in climate change adaptation at scale.
  • Concepts will be rated based on these criteria and pre-selected to ensure a diversity and balanced distribution among eligible countries and regions, as well as a range of innovation strategies, as well as. Emphasis will be placed on concepts that promote innovation and risk taking for climate adaptation impact, including through system transformation and non-traditional partnership for the GEF.

For more information, visit https://www.thegef.org/documents/call-proposals-challenge-program-adaptation-innovation-second-round

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