Canada’s climate finance for developing countries

Table of contents

• Climate change in developing countries
• Our global efforts to reduce the effects of climate change
• Canada’s feminist approach to environment and climate action
• Nature-positive climate finance
• Partnerships to combat climate change in developing countries
• 2021-2026 climate finance funding mechanisms
• How to access funding
• Eligibility criteria
• Submitting a proposal
• Annex 1: Canada’s $5.3 billion International Climate Finance Program Logic Model
• Related links
• Mandatory Annex for Concept Notes

For more information on Canada’s international climate finance, please visit Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) Canada’s international climate finance page.

Climate change in developing countries

Climate change and biodiversity loss do not respect borders. They represent existential threats in their own right and are catalysts for instability, conflict, starvation, and pandemics.

According to the World Health Organization, climate change is affecting human lives and health in multiple ways. Climate change threatens the essential ingredients of good health. These include clean air, safe drinking water, nutritious food supply, and safe shelter. It has the potential to undermine decades of progress in global health. Climate change, including extreme events and incremental changes, affects every country and can have devastating effects on communities and individuals. Climate change impacts, such as unpredictable rainfall or increases in temperatures, are expected to cause more deaths. Between 2030 and 2050, some 250,000 more deaths per year are expected from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea and heat stress. Developing countries are the most affected by climate change and the least able to afford its consequences.

Our global efforts to reduce the effects of climate change

In 2021, the global community called for increased climate ambition. Canada stepped up and announced a doubling of its international climate finance, from $2.65 billion (2015−2021) to $5.3 billion (2021−2026). To further strengthen its ability to help developing countries transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient, nature-positive, and inclusive sustainable development, Canada also announced that it will:

• increase the proportion of grant funding to 40%, up from 30%
• allocate at least 40% of funding to climate adaptation projects
• allocate at least 20% of funding to projects that leverage nature-based climate solutions and projects that contribute biodiversity co-benefits
• continue to support women’s leadership and decision-making in climate action; make sure that at least 80% of climate projects integrate gender equality, in line with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy.

This new framework of climate finance was informed by a comprehensive set of consultations held with 530 people representing over 300 organizations across 20 countries. Based on the input from these consultations, Canada’s climate finance will target four thematic areas of focus:

• Clean Energy Transition and Coal Phase Out
• Nature-based Solutions and Biodiversity
• Climate-smart Agriculture and Food Systems
• Climate Governance

In the lead-up to the COP26, Canada, alongside Germany, co-led the delivery plan for meeting an important collective goal. This goal is to mobilize at least US$100 billion per year through 2025 to support climate action in developing countries. Canada also joined 21 other countries in signing the Statement on International Public Support for the Clean Energy Transition. They will prioritize support for clean technology. They will also end new direct public support for the international unabated fossil fuel sector by the end of 2022, except in limited and clearly defined circumstances consistent with the 1.5 degree Celsius warming limit and the goals of the Paris Agreement. Canada will continue to work with its domestic and international partners to address climate change, while ensuring sustainable, resilient, and inclusive global economic development.

For more information on Canada’s engagement at COP26, please consult ECCC’s Announcements page and the Climate Finance Delivery Plan: Meeting the US$100 Billion Goal.

Canada’s 2021-2026 commitment to climate finance builds on its long-time support for climate action in developing countries.

Canada initially provided $1.2 billion in Canada’s Fast-Start Financing (2010-2013) to help over 50 developing countries mitigate the causes and adapt to the adverse effects of climate change. Funding targeted clean energy, adaptation support, forests and agriculture and other cross-cutting programming. This commitment supported the goal established at the 15th United Nations’ Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP15) in 2009. The goal was to jointly mobilize US$100 billion in climate finance annually by 2020, from both private and public sources. More specifically, Fast-Start Financing:

• helped mobilize private investments in low and lower-middle income countries and small island developing states
• strengthened food security and promoted sustainable growth in eight African countries
• supported adaptation projects in six least developed countries
• supported the reduction of emissions of short-lived climate pollutants 
• advanced weather systems to help build climate resilience in developing countries

In 2015, on the margins of COP21, the Canadian government recommitted to global climate action through Canada’s $2.65 Billion International Climate Finance Commitment to help developing countries tackle climate change. The programs and projects supported under this commitment are expected to reduce or prevent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by over 200 megatonnes. This is the equivalent of removing about 57 million cars from the roads for one year. They are also expected to help more than 6 million people adapt to the effects of climate change. Canada’s investments have also mobilized important climate finance contributions from the private sector as continued support for the joint goal to mobilize US$100 billion in climate finance annually. This commitment has supported the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its accompanying 17 Goals, as well as The Paris Agreement.

Canada has proven to be a trusted partner that supports ambitious climate action. This includes reducing global GHG emissions and helping developing countries transition to low-carbon economies. It also helps the poorest and most vulnerable communities build resilience to the effects of climate change. Canada has shown that prioritizing climate action and gender equality efforts produces a ripple effect. It supports the most urgent Sustainable Development Goals and the commitments made in the Paris Agreement. Programming under Canada’s $5.3 billion commitment to climate finance will build on the successes from Canada’s extensive experience of past programming.

Please consult Canada’s international climate finance page for results from Canada’s past programming.

Canada’s feminist approach to environment and climate action

Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy puts gender equality and empowering women and girls at the heart of our international assistance efforts. This policy views women and girls as powerful agents of change to advance action on climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, pollution and other environmental concerns. This is reflected by the Action Area Policy: Environment and Climate Action. This policy recognizes that environment and climate action will be most effective when women and girls play an active role in designing and developing strategic responses to climate change and environmental issues.

Canada’s feminist approach to environment and climate action focuses on:

• supporting women’s leadership and decision-making in all aspects of climate change mitigation and sustainable natural resource management
• ensuring climate-related planning, policymaking and financing address the particular needs and challenges of women and girls
• supporting employment and business opportunities for women in the renewable energy sector

An objective of the $5.3 billion climate finance commitment is to Advance feminist climate action that supports the poorest and most vulnerable. Canada recognizes that marginalized and vulnerable people, including women, girls and others, are disproportionately affected by climate change and biodiversity loss. However, they have an essential role to play in mitigation and adaptation.

Through its climate finance programming, Canada will seek to apply a rights-based, gender-responsive and intersectional approach. This approach will leverage the experience and knowledge of all stakeholders, including marginalized and vulnerable groups. This includes, but is not limited to, Indigenous Peoples, local grassroots organizations, women’s rights organizations, and local communities. Canada will seek to amplify marginalized voices and promote opportunities for increased leadership and decision-making.

Nature-positive climate finance

Under the June 2021 G7 2030 Nature Compact, Canada joined other G7 countries in committing to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss in an integrated way. These countries committed to contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. They also committed to supporting a green, inclusive, and resilient recovery from the global COVID-19 pandemic.

All Canadian international assistance is reviewed through an environmental integration process. This process identifies risks and opportunities related to the environment, climate change, and the management of natural resources. Its purpose is to make sure that international assistance does not harm the environment or erode development gains. Canada’s $5.3 billion climate finance commitment will also apply a nature-positive screen to all project proposals. This will support programming that will deliver a positive contribution to environmental outcomes. These include climate, biodiversity, pollution control, and the circular economy. Canada will also aim to achieve biodiversity co-benefits across all of its climate finance program’s thematic areas.

See Canada’s Climate Finance Eligibility Criteria below for more information.

Partnerships to combat climate change in developing countries

Canada continues to collaborate with a range of bilateral and multilateral partners, including:

• developing country governments
• non-governmental organizations in Canada and around the world
• multilateral organizations
• dedicated climate funds and financial mechanisms, such as the Green Climate Fund and the Global Environment Facility.

Canada has also established funds at multilateral development banks that are mobilizing private sector investment for climate change.

As part of Canada’s $5.3 billion climate finance commitment and its objective to leverage the climate action expertise and commitment of organizations in Canada, $315 million has been allocated for Partnering for Climate. This initiative will fund projects from civil society, Indigenous Peoples, and other organizations in Canada. It will support climate change adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the world.

A total of $300 million will support projects that use nature-based solutions to help countries, communities, and people in Sub-Saharan Africa. This will help this particularly climate-vulnerable region become more resilient to the impacts of climate change. This funding includes at least $20 million to help advance women’s rights and climate change adaptation.

A further $15 million in funding will support Indigenous Peoples Partnering for Climate.

2021-2026 climate finance funding mechanisms

Canada’s international climate finance is delivered through a mix of funding mechanisms that respond to the unique needs of different development contexts. The $5.3 billion climate finance commitment consists of 40% grants and contributions, and 60% Unconditionally Repayable Contributions (URCs), an innovative finance instrument akin to Concessional Loans.

URCs are contributions that must be repaid according to the specific repayment terms negotiated with the partner. They are used to incentivize much-needed private sector investments in low-carbon activities, primarily in middle-income and lower-middle-income countries. URCs have proven to be an effective means of aligning programming with the OECD DAC Blended Finance Principles and Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy. They have a measurable impact on reducing poverty reduction and advancing climate action.

Please consult A Canadian Approach to Innovative Financing for Sustainable Development for more information.

How to access funding

Eligibility criteria

All projects that receive support from Canada’s international climate finance program must demonstrate that they meet the following eligibility criteria:

1. The project must demonstrate climate change (adaptation and/or mitigation) as the project’s principal objective (CC2 policy marker coding).
2. The project must respect Official Development Assistance (ODA) country eligibility.
3. The project must integrate gender equality considerations.
4. In order to promote alignment with both Canadian values and developing country needs, the project must demonstrate that it contributes to a minimum of 2 of 5 climate finance policy objectives.
5. The project results must align with the Climate Finance Program Results Framework.
6. If requesting URC funding, projects should demonstrate alignment with the OECD DAC blended finance principles.

1. The project must demonstrate climate change (adaptation and/or mitigation) as the project’s principal objective (CC2 policy marker coding).

Note: Canada has committed at least 20% of its funding to support nature-based climate solutions and projects that contribute biodiversity co-benefits. In addition to meeting the CC2 policy marker requirement, projects contributing to this target will also achieve a biodiversity significant policy marker coding (minimum BD1), as per the Rio Convention policy markers.

Climate change adaptation coding requirements

Definition: Adaptation projects intend to reduce climate change vulnerability. Climate vulnerability is generally related to three primary variables:

• Biophysical exposure = exposure to the climate related biophysical world. This includes rapid extreme events (for example, typhoons, rapid floods/ droughts) as well as slow onset changes (for example, sea level rise, gradual temperature increase).
• Socio-economic sensitivity = level of physical and social capital. Physical capital refers to both built infrastructure (for example, roads, bridges) and nature based assets (for example, fisheries, forests). Social capital refers to human communities, including social networks and trust systems (for example, wealthier families/communities can buy risk insurance, move, buy back assets, or rely on other community members for assistance).
• Adaptive capacity = the potential, capability, or ability of a system to adapt to climate change (for example, climate information systems, concessional rate micro-credit post-disaster recovery access, diversified agricultural production, climate sensitive land use planning processes, relevant local/national/regional institutions).

Eligibility criteria

• The activity meets the above definition.
• Climate change adaptation is the initiative’s principal purpose. It is fundamental in the design and impact of the initiative, and is an explicit objective of its design (that is, the initiative would not have been undertaken had climate change not been an objective); and
• The project’s logic model, theory of change and performance measurement framework, as well as documentation and budget, must include specific measures. These measures must adhere to the definition of climate change adaptation. Two expected intermediate outcomes (and corresponding indicators) should be climate-focused.

For more information on the eligibility criteria, please refer to the OECD DAC Rio Convention Policy Markers for Climate and GAC’s Project Coding – Policy Markers.

Note: It is possible to have projects that can have a principal objective that meets the eligibility criteria for both climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Climate change mitigation coding requirements

Definition: Mitigation projects intend to reduce or avoid the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere. They also include initiatives that intend to remove GHGs from the atmosphere.

Eligibility criteria

• The activity meets the above definition;
• Climate change mitigation is the initiative’s principal purpose. It is fundamental in the design and impact of the initiative, and is an explicit objective of its design (for example, the initiative would not have been undertaken had climate change not been an objective); and
• The project’s logic model, theory of change and performance measurement framework, as well as documentation and budget, must include specific measures. These measures must adhere to the definition of climate change mitigation. Two expected intermediate outcomes (and corresponding indicators) should be climate-focused.

For more information on the eligibility criteria, please refer to the OECD DAC Rio Convention Policy Markers for Climate and GAC’s Project Coding – Policy Markers.

Note: It is possible to have a cross-cutting project. This means a project can have a principal objective that meets the eligibility criteria for both climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Biodiversity coding requirements

Definition: Biodiversity projects promote at least one of the three objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity:

• the conservation of biodiversity
• sustainable use of its components (ecosystems, species or genetic resources)
• fair and equitable sharing of the benefits of the utilization of genetic resources

Eligibility criteria

For a project to be eligible for the 20% of funding allocated to projects that leverage nature-based climate solutions and projects that contribute biodiversity co-benefits, the project must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Biodiversity is explicitly promoted in project approach and is documented with evidence (avoidance of negative impact is not sufficient evidence); and
• The project’s logic model, theory of change and performance measurement framework, as well as documentation and budget must include specific measures targeting biodiversity; and
• The project meets one or more of the following eligibility criteria:
• Protection or enhancing ecosystems, species or genetic resources through conservation, or remedying existing environmental damage; or
• Integration of biodiversity and ecosystem services concerns within recipient countries’ development objectives and economic decision-making, through institution building, capacity development, strengthening the regulatory and policy framework, or research; or
• Developing countries’ efforts to meet their obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity.
• The initiative achieves at least Level 1 (BD1) policy marker coding.

Ranking criteria

• Level 2 (Principal): Biodiversity is fundamental in the design and impact of the investment and is an explicit objective of the investment. The investment would have not been undertaken had biodiversity not been an objective. Most (at least 2 out of 3) of the expected intermediate outcomes (and corresponding indicators) should be biodiversity focused.
• Level 1 (Significant): Biodiversity is important, but not one of the fundamental drivers for undertaking the investment. At least one intermediate outcome (and corresponding indicators) should be biodiversity focused.

For more information on the eligibility criteria, please refer to the OECD DAC Rio Convention Policy Markers for Climate and GAC’s Project Coding – Policy Markers.

Note: All biodiversity projects must also have climate change as a principal objective (CC2).

2. The project must respect Official Development Assistance (ODA) country eligibility.

The project respects the Official Development Assistance eligibility criteria, as well as the Official Development Assistance Accountability Act.

Official Development Assistance Eligibility Criteria:

1. Support country(ies) on the OECD’s DAC List of ODA Recipients
2. Contribute to poverty reduction
3. Be consistent with international human rights standards.

With limited exceptions, the project adheres to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) country eligibility requirements. This ensures that the project can be reported as climate finance to the UNFCCC. For more information, please visit UNFCCC Process – Parties page.

3. The project must integrate gender equality considerations.

Gender equality coding requirements

Per Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy and the Government’s commitment to making sure that 80% of all climate finance programming is gender integrated, projects under the $5.3 billion climate finance commitment must get at least a GE-1 code (that is, partially integrated). This means that there is at least one gender equality result at the immediate outcome level in the logic model and that this result will achieve a measurable change in skills, awareness, or knowledge that will contribute to gender equality. These outcomes must be reflected in the project’s theory of change and Performance Measurement Framework. However, to better reflect Canada’s commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, preference may be given to projects that go beyond a GE-1 code and strive for a GE-2 code. GE-2 coded projects must have outcomes that show observable changes in behaviour, practice, access or performance at the intermediate outcome level. These results will contribute to stronger gender equality outcomes and deeper gender equality integration. It is important to remember that for a project to be coded GE-2 at least one intermediate outcome must be a gender equality outcome. Additionally, all of these results need to be reflected in the associated result chains, theory of change and the Performance Measurement Framework.

Please refer to Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Gender Equality Toolkit for Projects for more information.

4. To promote alignment with both Canadian values and developing country needs, the project must demonstrate that it contributes to at least 2 of 5 climate finance policy objectives.

Policy objectives

• Advance feminist climate action that supports the poorest and most vulnerable - Canada will support the poorest and most vulnerable by adopting an inclusive, feminist approach to delivering climate finance.
• Position Canada as a leader in global climate action - Canada will build on its ongoing leadership in this area. It will promote inclusive and transparent climate action through its partnerships with multilateral and global institutions, governments, and civil society partners.
• Mobilize private sector finance to contribute to international climate finance goals - Canada recognizes that the private sector is a critical partner. It is critical for reducing GHG emissions and building global resilience to climate impacts. It also provides the additional funds needed to support the transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient economies. Canada will continue to support, explore and deploy innovative approaches that aim to catalyze private sector investments in climate action.
• Leverage Canada’s own expertise and innovative solutions on climate change to better address the needs of developing countries - The needs and priorities of developing countries are outlined in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and other related strategies. In addressing these needs, Canada will leverage its established expertise and knowledge on climate change and biodiversity^*. Canada will explore a wide range of partnerships, including with Indigenous Peoples, local communities, the private sector, civil society organizations, and academia.
• Tap into climate and environment (biodiversity) co-benefits to take advantage of synergies across priorities, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the G7 2030 Nature Compact - Canada will aim to achieve co-benefits as it invests in climate action to deliver more effective results. It recognizes that interactions across sectors and issues are complex. It also recognizes that many climate change initiatives can achieve progress towards both mitigation and adaptation objectives, as well as biodiversity loss (as outlined in the G7 2030 Nature Compact) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Agenda 2030.

^* Canada maintains its commitment to fully untied aid

5. The project results must align with the Climate Finance Program Results Framework.

The project’s ultimate outcome must align with the climate finance program’s ultimate outcome: “Improved low-carbon, climate resilient economies in developing countries”, and with at least one of the four thematic areas of focus listed below. The project must include intermediate outcomes that contribute to the respective program-level intermediate outcomes according to climate finance program’s Logic Model.

1. Clean Energy Transition and Coal Phase-Out - Canada will support developing countries’ transition to clean energy. It will do so by phasing out coal-powered emissions and promoting equitable access to reliable and cost-effective clean energy solutions and energy efficient technologies. 

Note: This priority complements Canada’s leadership through the Powering Past Coal Alliance

2. Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems - Canada will work with developing countries to support smallholder farmers and food value-chain actors, especially women. It will help them to better adapt to climate change. It will also help them reduce their greenhouse gas emissions through improved access to and adoption of climate-smart agriculture and food system practices and agricultural nature-based climate solutions.
3. Nature-Based Solutions and Biodiversity - Canada will support actions that protect, sustainably manage and/or restore natural or modified ecosystems to address climate change, while also generating biodiversity co-benefits.
4. Climate Governance - Canada will support projects that strengthen the enabling environments for effective climate governance at the global, national and subnational levels. This will foster greener, more sustainable and equitable communities.

To make sure there is alignment between project performance measurement frameworks and the climate finance program’s results framework, please refer to GAC’s Results-based Management page (refer also to the pages linked on the website).

Note: To meet the multiple policy marker coding requirements, and in the context of the climate finance program only, intermediate outcomes that express more than one change are accepted as long as each change expressed in the outcome has an associated indicator and there are appropriate references to those changes in immediate outcomes/indicators, as well as in the project documentation and budget lines

6. If requesting URC funding, projects should demonstrate alignment with the OECD DAC blended finance principles.

The $5.3 billion climate finance program will make its URC funding decisions in line with The Paris Agreement and Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, as well as the OECD DAC Blended Finance Principles. The program will use URCs as an innovative finance tool for initiatives that prioritize and demonstrate the following:

• Anchor blended finance to a development rational
• Design blended finance to increase the mobilization of commercial finance
• Tailor blended finance to the local context
• Focus on effective partnering on blended finance
• Monitor blended finance for transparency and results

To be considered eligible for funding under the climate finance program, all eligibility criteria must be met.

How to submit a proposal

For information on how to submit a proposal, please visit Apply for funding through an unsolicited proposal.

When submitting your proposal through the portal, please make sure:

• it includes the information required in a standard concept note (see Guidance for Concept Notes)
• The annex is no more than 1,000 words and explains how your proposal meets the Eligibility Criteria.

Global Affairs Canada will consider project proposals on a rolling basis. Decisions about project funding will be made in accordance with departmental processes, and will be subject to funding availability.

Annex 1: Canada’s $5.3 billion International Climate Finance Program Logic Model

• Ultimate outcome
  • 1000 - Improved low carbon, climate resilient economies in developing countries^{Footnote 1}
    • Sample Performance Indicators^{Footnote 9}
      • 1000a GHG reductions resulting from international initiatives funded by Canada^{Footnote 10}
      • 1000b Cumulative number of people in developing countries who benefitted from Canada’s adaptation
      • 1000c Cumulative amount of private finance mobilized through Canada's public sector investments
• Intermediate outcomes
  • Climate Governance^{Footnote 2}
  • 1100 - Improved gender-responsive governance for nature-positive climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries
    • Sample Performance Indicators
      • 1100a # of national, regional and local governments that improved or implemented their NDCs or NAPS with support from Canadian climate finance
      • 1100b # of climate related laws, regulations, policies or programs enhanced or implemented with support from Canadian climate finance (including laws, regulations, policies and programs that support the convention on biological diversity and that address gender issues)
      • 1100c # of women in leadership and/or decision-making position as a result of Canada’s climate finance
  • Climate Smart Agriculture and Food Systems^{Footnote 3}
  • 1200 - Enhanced adoption of gender-responsive^{Footnote 5} climate-smart agriculture and food systems solutions for nature-positive climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries
    • Sample performance indicators
      • 1200a Area (hectares) of farmland, rangeland, and other managed agricultural landscapes under climate-smart agriculture management as a result of Canada’s Climate Finance 
      • 1200b # of direct beneficiaries (m/f) that implemented a minimum set^{Footnote 11} of climate-smart agriculture or food systems strategies, technologies or practices that support low carbon pathways and reduce climate vulnerability as a result of Canada’s Climate Finance
      • 1200c # of individuals (m/f) newly practicing sustainable utilization of agricultural biodiversity resources (plant, soil and animal genetic resources), as a result of Canada’s Climate Finance
  • Clean Energy Transition and Coal Phase Out
  • 1300 - Enhanced adoption of gender-responsive clean energy and energy-efficient solutions for nature-positive climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries
    • Sample performance indicators
      • 1300a # of beneficiaries (m/f) with enhanced access to clean energy
      • 1300b Megawatts of new clean energy capacity installed, financed by Canadian Climate Finance resources
      • 1300c # of beneficiaries (m/f) with new employment in the renewable energy sector
  • Nature-based Solutions^{Footnote 4} and Biodiversity
  • 1400 - Enhanced adoption of gender-responsive nature-based solutions, with biodiversity co-benefits, for climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries.
    • Sample performance indicators
      • 1400a Area (hectares) under rehabilitation using gender responsive nature-based solutions for climate mitigation and adaptation with biodiversity benefits, disaggregated by terrestrial, aquatic and coastal ecosystem
      • 1400b Area (hectares) brought under long-term, gender responsive protection, conservation and sustainable management to achieve mitigation, adaptation and biodiversity benefits, disaggregated by terrestrial, aquatic and coastal ecosystem
      • 1400c # of direct beneficiaries (m/f) that implemented a minimum set of nature-based solutions (strategies, technologies or practices) that significantly reduce climate vulnerability with support from Canadian Climate Finance
• Immediate outcomes
  • Climate Governance^{Footnote 2}
  • Capacity: 1110 - Increased awareness and capacity of targeted individuals/groups^{Footnote 7} to develop, implement and/or participate in climate change governance mechanisms^{Footnote 8} and solutions
    • Sample performance indicator
      • 1110a %/total of trained individuals (m/f) with improved knowledge and increased capacities to develop, implement and participate in gender-responsive climate change governance mechanisms and solutions
  • Solutions^{Footnote 6}: 1120 - Increased equitable access by targeted individuals/groups to solutions, including technologies, enabling environments, and/or finance for climate governance
    • Sample performance indicator
      • 1120a # of developing country governments (national, regional and local) that accessed Canadian climate finance for climate governance
  • Climate Smart Agriculture and Food Systems^{Footnote 3}
  • Capacity: 1210 - Enhanced awareness and capacity of targeted individuals/groups to develop and implement climate-smart agriculture and food system solutions
    • Sample performance indicators
      • 1210a %/total of trained individuals (m/f) with improved knowledge and increased capacities to develop and implement solutions in climate-smart agriculture and food systems
      • 1210b %/total of trained individuals (specifically farmer, producer or those representing collective organisations, including cooperatives, associations, or platforms) (m/f) with improved knowledge and/or increased capacities to strengthen governance, advisory services or marketing services for its members
  • Solutions: 1220 - Increased equitable access of targeted individuals/groups to solutions, including technologies, enabling environments, and/or finance for climate-smart agriculture and food systems
    • Sample performance indicator
      • 1220a # of entrepreneurs (m/f) in the agri-food sector accessing gender-responsive products and services funded by Canadian Climate Finance
  • Clean Energy Transition and Coal Phase Out
  • Capacity: 1310 - Enhanced awareness and capacity of targeted individuals/groups to develop and implement energy-efficient solutions for clean energy transition and coal phase-out
    • Sample performance indicator
      • 1310a %/total of trained individuals (m/f) with improved knowledge and increased capacities to develop and implement solutions for clean energy transition and coal phase-out
  • Solutions: 1320 - Increased equitable access of targeted individuals/groups to energy-efficient solutions, including technologies, enabling environments, and/or finance for clean energy transition and coal phase-out
    • Sample performance indicator
      • 1320a # of organizations that accessed Canadian Climate Finance for clean energy transition and coal phase-out
  • Nature-based Solutions^{Footnote 4}and Biodiversity
  • Capacity: 1410 - Enhanced awareness and capacity of targeted partners to develop and implement nature-based climate solutions with biodiversity co-benefits
    • Sample performance indicator
      • 1410a %/total of trained individuals (m/f) with improved knowledge and increased capacities to develop and implement nature-based climate solutions that also benefit biodiversity
  • Solutions: 1420 - Increased equitable access of targeted partners to solutions, including technologies, enabling environments, and/or finance for nature-based climate solutions with biodiversity co-benefits
    • Sample performance indicators
      • 1420a # of individuals (m/f) with access to new or improved sources of gender-responsive finance for implementing nature-based climate solutions with biodiversity co-benefits
      • 1420b # of individuals (m/f) with new access to gender-responsive technologies for the implementation of nature-based climate solutions with biodiversity co-benefits

Related links

• Canada’s International Climate Finance
• Announcements
• Climate Finance Delivery Plan: Meeting the US$100 Billion Goal
• A Canadian Approach to Innovative Financing for Sustainable Development
• Partnering for Climate
• What We Heard on Canada’s Future Climate Finance Strategy for Developing Countries
• Report: A Journey of Purpose – Learning to Scale Gender Change in Canadian Climate Finance in Developing Economies (PDF, 3.6 MB, 54 pages)
• Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in Asia
• Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in Asia II
• Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in the Americas
• Canada-African Development Bank Climate Fund
• Green Climate Fund
• Climate Investment Funds

Mandatory annex for concept notes

When submitting your proposal through the portal, please make sure it includes the information required in a standard concept note (see Guidance for Concept Notes). Please also make sure the annex is no more than 1,000 words and explains how your proposal meets the Eligibility Criteria.

You will need to explain how the project:

• Supports either climate change adaptation or mitigation (or both) as the principal objective (see: Project Coding - Policy Markers). If appropriate, include biodiversity as a significant objective (see: Project Coding - Policy Markers).
• Meets country eligibility criteria (that it is in an ODA-eligible country and with limited exceptions is in a UNFCC Non-Annex I country).
• Integrates gender equality (that it includes at least 1 gender equality outcome that achieves a change in skills, awareness, or knowledge that contributes to gender equality)
• Contributes to at least 2 of 5 climate finance policy objectives (see eligibility criteria number 3)
• Aligns with Canada’s $5.3 billion International Climate Finance Program Logic Model outcomes. You may include your project’s preliminary logic model using the optional, maximum 1-page/500 word annex mentioned in Unsolicited Proposals: Guidance for Concept Notes (international.gc.ca). Note: You may refine these intermediate and immediate outcome statements to make sure they are grounded in the reality of your project design. You may make them more specific in terms of your project’s who, what and where factors.