Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) 2

The Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) is a technical assistance programme that provides capacity building support primarily to innovative low-carbon sustainable infrastructure projects seeking USD$5m-50m climate finance investment in emerging markets.

The CFA brings together climate financiers, policymakers, and entrepreneurial and innovative project proponents to identify and overcome barriers to investment. The programme provides tailored capability building support to projects, and support to climate financiers and policymakers to de-risk sustainable investments and build curated investment pipelines for investors.

The CFA is funded by UK Government's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), under the International Climate Finance (ICF) portfolio, as part of the UK Government's £11.6 billion commitment to support ODA-eligible countries to respond to the challenges and opportunities of climate change.

To support delivery of these goals, the CFA will continue to grow in scope and delivery over the course of this contract, annual programme budget is expected to increase from £3.7m (23/24 forecast) to up to be £10m (27/28 forecast), with a budget of up to £40m over a five-year period. This will allow the programme to scale the now proven and successful methodology within existing countries and sectors, and to new countries and sectors, and to draw on learnings from ongoing independent evaluation and learning activities.

The main outcomes and outputs of CFA - Phase 2 could include:

> Developing a robust pipeline of investable sustainable projects, and curating this pipeline for climate financiers.

> Providing tailored support to project proponents to enhance their likelihood of securing climate investment.

> Developing and maintaining a database of climate financiers, and supporting the development of their green finance skillsets.

> Delivering a high-profile and impactful external engagement offer.

> Working with partners (national governments, DFIs, philanthropies, commercial entities) to sustainably embed the CFA process in partner countries.

> Deliver the programme in conscious complementary alignment with the wider DESNZ/UK government portfolio of ICF programmes.

DELIVERY TIMELINE

The existing Services are being delivered via a contract running to November 2024. This procurement will see Services commencing in Summer 2024 for delivery of new programme activity ahead of the end of the existing contract and to allow for a handover period. The new Services are expected to continue until June 2029.

PROCUREMENT TIMELINE

The Authority anticipates initial market engagement in October 2023, ahead of launching a procurement in early 2024. Further notices will be issued with details of how to participate in market engagement and with further details on procurement timelines as this information becomes available.

Additional information: Services to be delivered include but are not limited to:

PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT

> Develop and maintain a robust delivery plan, including accurate budgeting, risk management, stakeholder and country engagement strategies, and communications plan.

> Procure and work with in-country delivery partners, and technical experts as required.

> Create and disseminate knowledge products.

> Manage the CFA website.

> Act as an entrepreneurial and innovative partner, actively identifying and suggesting opportunities to the Authority for how to enhance programme impact.

> Develop and deliver an exit strategy.

COUNTRY DELIVERY

> Conduct country scoping, capacity assessments and in-country market engagement.

> Design tailored technical assistance offers for selected countries, including delivering project identification, selection, capacity building, and follow-up support.

> Deliver in-country workshops involving projects, climate financiers, policymakers, and other relevant stakeholders.

> Conduct bespoke capacity building for financiers and policymakers, where required.

> Support curation of investible pipelines to support engagement with investors.

> Deliver an alumni network for projects that have received capacity building through the programme.

> Support completion of the CFA process in 'legacy CFA' countries.

> Support the process of sustainably embedding the CFA and its activities in-country.

> Work alongside other UK and other donor programmes in-country to promote better alignment of objectives.

STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT

> Foster relationships between projects, financiers, and policymakers in target countries.

> Work alongside a varied group of stakeholders to discuss partnerships and synergies, including philanthropies, other donor governments, IFI's and others.

> Develop and maintain a database of international and in-country climate financiers.

> Support development of regional hubs.

> Work closely with DESNZ programme team and HMG in-country staff.

> Promote the programme and its work in external events as appropriate.