In partnership with the Global Environment Facility, the Green Climate Fund, and the Adaptation Fund, UNEP helps countries all over the world to access finance for adaptation. In 2022, the total value of the adaptation project portfolio managed by UNEP's Climate Change Adaptation Unit rose to $550 million.
Global EbA Fund
The Global EbA Fund is providing grants to innovative approaches to ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA). Since the first Call for Proposals on 25 March 2021, over 1,100 applications have been received. Crucially, the Fund aims to encourage ‘catalytic’ initiatives to help overcome identified barriers for upscaling EbA. By supporting catalytic interventions, the Fund engages in strategic policy mainstreaming, and incentivises innovative finance mechanisms and private sector investments. The Fund will be collecting knowledge, evidence and stories about ecosystem-based adaptation initiatives, along with lessons for upscaling the practice.
Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA)
The Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) is offering USD 10 million of small grants and technical assistance to foster adaptation innovation in developing countries. The Fund targets a broad range of potential finance recipients, including governments, non-governmental organisations, young innovators, and other groups. Through the Fund, UNEP and the Climate Technology Centre & Network (CTCN) are providing USD 5 million worth of technical assistance (up to USD 250,000 for each successful proposal). The selected applications will be further developed to design a customised solution tailored to the need of developing country, and the solution will be implemented by a technology provider selected by the CTCN.
Green Climate Fund Climate Readiness Programme
UNEP and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) are supporting governments to access adaptation finance through projects in ‘Climate Readiness’, which is defined as the capacities of countries to plan for, access, deliver, and report on climate finance. The GCF Readiness Programme supports country-driven initiatives by helping countries to strengthen their institutional capacities, governance mechanisms, and planning and programming frameworks towards a transformational long-term climate action agenda. The Readiness Programme provides grants and technical assistance to National Designated Authorities (NDAs) and/or focal points (FPs).
Strengthening Endogenous Capacities of Least Developed Countries to Access Finance for Climate Change Adaptation (UNI-LEAD)
The objective of this project is to strengthen capacities of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to achieve scaled up and effective climate change adaptation by fostering sustained endogenous technical services for project development, policy mainstreaming and the creation of an enabling environment for adaptation to climate change. The project will work primarily with the members of the Least Developed Countries Universities Consortium on Climate Change (LUCCC), who, along with the Least Developed Countries Group, will help to steer and implement the project.
Other Adaptation Funding Opportunities
UNEP supports and manages several other major funds, which although not focused solely on adaptation, still nevertheless provide finance for adaptation initiatives. These include:
