Search
Beyond the Readiness Programmes established by the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund, a wide range of complementary capacity-building initiatives assist developing countries in strengthening their institutional frameworks and technical expertise to access and manage climate finance. These programmes aim to enhance readiness for climate investment, improve project preparation capacities, and foster knowledge exchange among stakeholders. A selection of such initiatives is briefly presented below.
For a more comprehensive overview, the NDC Partnership (NDCP) recently launched the Project Preparation Support Database—a searchable tool that compiles global project preparation facilities, incubators, and accelerators supporting the design and development of climate-aligned projects and businesses. This resource provides a practical entry point for entities seeking additional information or exploring further programmes and initiatives that facilitate access to climate finance.
Overview
IKI Small Grants is part of Germany’s International Climate Initiative and is commissioned by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN). GIZ administers the programme, while selected local organizations and participating national or regional funding institutions implement the funded activities.
Projects must address at least one of four areas:
Who can apply?
Applicants must be legally registered in an ODA-eligible country and generally operate on a nonprofit basis. Eligible private companies must pursue strictly nonprofit project objectives.
Organizations must:
Government bodies, individuals, one-person organizations, consortia and branches of organizations based in non-eligible countries cannot apply. Indigenous and community-based organizations may apply if they meet these requirements.
Funding and support
Selected organizations also receive tailored capacity development, including organizational assessment, training, technical advice and peer learning.
How to apply
IKI Small Grants normally issues annual calls through its funding page. Applicants first complete an organizational eligibility check and submit supporting documents. Eligible organizations are then invited to submit a full project proposal and budget.
The seventh call is closed; future calls will be announced on the IKI Small Grants website.
Overview
UNDP’s Climate Promise supports more than 140 countries and territories to develop, finance and implement their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Its current phase, Climate Promise: Forward, focuses on four areas:
Social inclusion, gender equality and digital innovation are integrated across this work.
Who can access support?
Core country support is provided to developing-country governments through UNDP country offices and the wider UN system. It is not a conventional grant programme with a general public call for proposals.
Priorities and delivery arrangements are agreed with government counterparts based on national needs, existing UN country programmes and available donor funding.
Support provided
Funding and delivery
Climate Promise combines technical assistance with programme and project financing. UNDP’s wider climate portfolio includes more than US$2 billion in grant financing, but Climate Promise does not offer a standard allocation or grant amount for each country.
Support is delivered through UNDP country offices, UN Country Teams, technical specialists and partnerships with governments, donors, development banks, civil society and the private sector.
How to engage
Governments can discuss support with their UNDP country office or UN Resident Coordinator. Specific Climate Promise initiatives may issue separate calls, but these are distinct from the core government-support process.
Overview
The Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) is the implementation arm of the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism. Hosted by UNEP in collaboration with UNIDO, it helps developing countries identify, adapt and deploy technologies for climate mitigation and adaptation.
Who can request support?
National and local governments, NGOs, research institutions and private-sector organizations may propose requests. However, requests must be coordinated and formally submitted by the country’s National Designated Entity (NDE).
Support must align with national priorities such as NDCs, National Adaptation Plans, long-term strategies or Technology Needs Assessments. Requests from LDCs and SIDS receive priority.
CTCN assistance may include:
Funding and delivery
The CTCN provides technical assistance, not cash grants. Assignments are generally worth up to US$250,000 and are delivered by technical organizations selected through the CTCN’s global network. Duration varies, but assistance commonly takes about one year.
How to apply
Contact the country’s CTCN National Designated Entity.
Develop the request with the NDE and relevant stakeholders.
The NDE submits the official technical-assistance request to the CTCN.
Request forms and guidance are available on the CTCN submission page.
Overview
The GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) funds community-led projects that protect the environment while strengthening livelihoods and resilience. It is funded by the Global Environment Facility, implemented by UNDP, and executed by UNOPS.
Who Can Apply
National NGOs, community-based organisations and grassroots organisations in participating SGP countries may apply. Projects must align with the country’s SGP Country Programme Strategy and address an eligible area, including biodiversity, climate mitigation or community-based adaptation, land degradation, sustainable forest management, international waters, or chemicals and waste.
SGP provides:
Grants for community-led environmental projects
Support with project design, implementation and reporting
Capacity-building, knowledge exchange and opportunities to replicate successful approaches
Funding Available
Regular grants: usually US$25,000–50,000, up to US$75,000
Strategic projects: up to US$150,000
How to Apply
Applications are managed nationally rather than through a single global call. Applicants should review their country’s programme strategy and respond to a national call for concepts or proposals. The National Coordinator screens applications, and the National Steering Committee makes the final grant decision.
See the application process and requirements, eligibility guidance, and participating-country directory.
Overview
Established at COP25 in 2019, the Santiago Network supports developing countries particularly vulnerable to climate change access technical assistance for averting, minimising and addressing loss and damage.
Its Secretariat is co-hosted by UNDRR and UNOPS in Geneva and operates under the guidance of an Advisory Board. The network connects requesting countries and communities with member organisations, bodies, networks and experts able to provide the required assistance.
Who Can Apply
Requests may be prepared and submitted by:
Requests must follow the process established by the relevant country and align with its loss-and-damage priorities. Applicants should therefore consult the country’s Santiago Network liaison or UNFCCC focal point where appropriate.
Support and Assistance
Technical assistance may cover:
Funding Available
The Santiago Network provides technical assistance, not unrestricted grants or direct financing. The Secretariat may fund or facilitate assistance delivered by network members, but there is no standard public funding ceiling for individual requests.
How to Apply
Requests are accepted on a rolling basis. Applicants should:
Review the technical-assistance guidelines and checklist.
Confirm the request follows the applicable country-driven process.
Complete the request template.
Submit it through the online portal or email it to secretariat@santiago-network.org.
The Secretariat reviews the request and works with the applicant to refine it before selecting one or more network members to provide the assistance.
Templates in English, French and Spanish, checklists and guidelines are available on the technical-assistance page. Requests can be submitted through the Santiago Network portal.
Overview
The Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT) helps developing countries meet the Paris Agreement’s Enhanced Transparency Framework requirements. Established at COP21 and operationalised by the GEF in 2016, it strengthens:
CBIT funds institutions, technical systems, tools and training. As of 30 June 2025, it supported 104 projects covering 98 countries, with US$188 million in total support, including project preparation grants and Agency fees.
Funding for Biennial Transparency Reports and National Communications is provided separately through GEF enabling activities, although CBIT can strengthen the systems used to prepare them.
Who Can Apply
Developing country Parties that have ratified the Paris Agreement may access CBIT support. Countries with the greatest capacity needs, particularly LDCs and SIDS, are prioritised.
Eligible Activities
Funding Available
CBIT provides grants through the GEF project cycle. GEF‑8 allocated US$75 million to CBIT outside countries’ regular STAR allocations. GEF‑9 began in July 2026 and continues support for climate-transparency capacity-building.
National projects may be medium- or full-sized. Funding is based on justified country needs; there is no standard award amount for every country.
How to Apply
For a national CBIT project:
Contact the country’s GEF Operational Focal Point.
Select and work with a GEF Agency.
Prepare and submit the proposal through the GEF project cycle.
For training, technical advice and peer learning, countries can request support through the CBIT Global Support Programme and regional networks on the Climate Transparency Platform.
Overview
The Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) supports locally led innovation in climate adaptation. Announced at COP25 and launched in November 2020, it began as a US$10 million pilot under the Adaptation Fund’s Innovation Facility.
AFCIA initially operated through:
The programme has since expanded to include initiatives administered by WFP and UNIDO. It supports the testing and scaling of adaptation practices, products, technologies and business models while promoting knowledge-sharing and investment readiness.
Who can apply?
Eligibility varies by delivery partner and call:
Some calls are limited to particular regions, countries, LDCs or SIDS. Applicants should always check the current call documentation.
What support is provided?
Depending on the delivery track, AFCIA may provide:
Under UNEP–CTCN, the applicant does not receive a cash grant. The technical-assistance budget is awarded to a CTCN Network member selected to deliver the required expertise and services.
What funding is available?
There is no single funding ceiling across all AFCIA calls.
How to apply
AFCIA uses periodic, time-limited calls rather than one continuously open application window.
For UNEP–CTCN applications, endorsement by the country’s CTCN National Designated Entity and Adaptation Fund Designated Authority is required before a request becomes eligible. Some calls allow applicants to obtain these endorsements after initial submission.
Relevant links
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from Vimeo. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationYou are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationYou need to load content from reCAPTCHA to submit the form. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationYou need to load content from reCAPTCHA to submit the form. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationYou are currently viewing a placeholder content from Google Maps. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More Information