GCF launches newly revised Readiness Guidebook and templates

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has published the revised Readiness Guidebook and Readiness Proposal templates as part of the Fund’s ongoing efforts to streamline and enhance the Readiness Programme.  

Reflecting the latest developments, operational improvements and lessons learned from implementation of the Readiness Programme, the Readiness Guidebook provides improved guidance in preparing Readiness proposals.  It also aims to orient Readiness support more clearly towards helping developing countries implement their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Adaptation Communications (ACs).

Compared with previous editions, the revised Guidebook goes beyond procedural guidance by providing inspirational tips for proposal conceptualisation and development; clear and transparent information on submission, appraisal, and approval processes; and advice and protocols for effective and efficient grant implementation.

A key feature is the introduction of the Readiness Results Management Framework (RRMF), which will help National Designated Authorities (NDAs) and Delivery Partners (DPs) in assessing their implementation performance, and feed lessons learned from implementation back to GCF.  The Guidebook provides more detailed instructions for NDAs and DPs to design proposals that focus on results through RRMF.  The revised proposal templates have also been updated to reflect the RRMF approach.

The Readiness Programme is a crucial element of GCF’s approach to ensuring country ownership in GCF programming and operations. Developing countries can apply for Readiness grants to help NDAs or Focal Points, DPs, Direct Access Entities (DAEs) and other developing country stakeholders engage in the planning and design of climate investments that reflect their national climate strategies and priorities. The Readiness Programme can also strengthen financial systems and facilitate broader enabling environments for countries to translate their climate ambitions into projects for consideration by GCF.

To ensure that NDAs and DPs can uptake the Guidebook and new templates, GCF will be offering webinars in the coming months to support them in the transition to the new templates. GCF will also give a one-month transition period for NDAs and DPs to adjust. The use of the new templates will become obligatory as of (5 May 2023) but it is highly recommended partners start using them as soon as possible.

The Readiness Guidebook is available here and the Readiness templates can be found here and here.