Washington, D.C. (July 13, 2016) — The Adaptation Fund has launched calls for several small grants under the Climate Finance Readiness Programme. The announcement was made during the Fund’s third annual Global Climate Finance Readiness Seminar held July 13-15 at the World Bank in Washington, D.C.

The Readiness grants are available for the Fund’s accredited national implementing entities (NIEs) to strengthen their overall capacity, particularly in the area of environmental, social and gender risk management and to provide peer support to countries seeking accreditation with the Fund. “The grants are an integral feature of the Fund’s Readiness Programme for Climate Finance, which aims to help strengthen the capacity of national implementing entities to receive and manage climate financing through the direct access modality”, said Farayi Madziwa, Readiness Coordinator for the Adaptation Fund. “The grants will go a long way in realizing the goal of the readiness programme to increase the number of accredited NIEs and to enhance the quality of projects and programmes submitted by NIEs to the Board.”

This year’s call includes a total of four Readiness grants that are available.  NIEs can apply for any one of two Technical Assistance Grants, which are aimed at strengthening the capacity of NIEs in the areas of environmental, social and gender risk management as they design, develop and implement concrete adaptation projects and programmes. They can also apply for a Project Formulation Assistance Grantwhich is meant to help NIEs undertake specific technical assessments such as environmental impact assessments and vulnerability assessments at the project preparation stage by tapping into external (international or national) expertise in the form of short-term consultant assignments. Last but not least, countries that need support during the accreditation process can apply for a South-South Cooperation Grant, through an accredited Adaptation Fund implementing entity that will provide peer support to the country seeking accreditation with the Fund.

“Through these Readiness Grants, the Fund is strengthening the support for our NIEs and facilitating access to the Direct Access modality”, said Adaptation Fund Board Chair Naresh Sharma. “Providing developing countries the opportunity to strengthen their local capacity through direct financing is groundbreaking and very much needed as countries are moving towards the implementation of the Paris Agreement.”

The deadline for the grant applications is August 31, 2016. Further details on eligibility and criteria are provided on the Adaptation Fund website.

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