Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator – 2022

The Adaptation Fund has launched a new USD 10 million pilot small grants program (Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator, AFCIA) to foster innovation in adaptation in developing countries at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP25) in Madrid. Two of the Adaptation Funds accredited Multilateral Implementing Entities (MIEs), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), have been selected as implementing entities of the AFCIA. The Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) works in conjunction with UNEP, receiving USD 5 million to administrate and aggregate 25 micro-grants projects (up to USD 250,000 each).
The primary objective of the AFCIA administered by UNEP-CTCN is to support developing countries to test, evaluate, roll out and scale up innovative adaptation practices, products and technologies. Based on technical assistance services, 25 micro-grant projects will be implemented for 5 years to enhance climate resilience and adapt to climate change in the countries. Moreover, the AFCIA will facilitate knowledge sharing and the exchange of best practices, strengthening opportunities for South-South and triangular cooperation on innovation in adaptation among the countries.

Adaptation innovation and associated sectors

The following three elements will be considered in identifying and assessing innovation in adaptation technologies.

Soft technology: capacity and processes involved in the use of technology, knowledge, skills, etc. Innovation in adaptation technology – 3 elements. Example of adaptation sectors in the AFCIA includes:

Eligibility

The AFCIA will provide small grants to developing countries to support innovation for effective, long-term adaptation to climate change and is part of the Adaptation Fund’s Innovation Facility (please click here for more information). UNEP-CTCN will conduct technical assistance, implementing micro-grants projects in developing countries on a competitive basis.

Submission of the application

There will be three-time opportunities to apply (the technology concept) to UNEP-CTCN. The first, second, and third calls for application submission are planned to be open in November 2020, February 2021, and February 2022, respectively.

An applicant (e.g. government, non-governmental organization, community group, young innovator, and other groups) should fill in a Technology Concept Submission Form (English, Spanish or French version). The applicant is required to develop an application in close consultation with its national focal points to the Adaptation Fund (Designated Authority) and the CTCN (National Designated Entity, NDE). It is also acceptable to develop an application in which multiple countries engage.

The application should be endorsed by the Designated Authority and the NDE of the country before official submission. The Designated Authority of the country needs to confirm the following statement included in the application template by checking a box next to the statement.

“The Designated Authority of the country has been engaged in the design of the technology concept and will be involved in the further process leading to the implementation of the micro-grants project.”

The NDE of the country needs to sign the application before online submission to UNEP-CTCN. Please note that if the application does not have endorsement from the national focal points, it will not be evaluated in the selection stage.

The NDE should apply to this webpage. It is requested to provide basic information online (e.g. name of the country, title of the technology concept, adaptation sector, etc.) when applying.

Management of the AFCIA

The same operation and management process of the CTCN technical assistance will be adopted in the AFCIA. Overview of the innovation micro-grants mechanism for 5 years includes:

• Submission of technology concepts (technical assistance requests in the CTCN technical assistance process) from developing countries.
• Selection of 30 technology concepts and development of associated project concept notes (technical assistance response plans in the CTCN technical assistance process).
• Selection of 25 project concept notes for the implementation of micro-grants projects (technical assistance in the CTCN technical assistance process).
• Selection of Network Members of the CTCN to implement 25 micro-grants projects in collaboration with stakeholders of developing countries.

Useful links

Download template for the technology concept (application) English version

Download template for the technology concept (application) Spanish version

Download template for the technology concept (application) French version