The African Development Bank Group has launched a new funding call under the Climate Action Window (CAW) Technical Assistance Facility at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The initiative will transform the development of climate projects across 37 low-income African countries. With an initial allocation of $56 million, the CAW will support the preparation, financing, and implementation of adaptation and mitigation projects aligned with the Paris Agreement, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).
The call, established under the African Development Bank’s 16th replenishment cycle, focuses on mobilising resources for adaptation (75%), mitigation (15%), and technical assistance (10%) to enhance the capacity of low-income African countries to attract climate finance. It is backed by significant funding commitments from partners including the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland. The new facility will be accepting proposals from governments, regional organisations, NGOs, and UN agencies in African countries via its online portal through February 5, 2025. Awards will range from $260,000 to $1.3 million per project.
The launch was celebrated by key African leaders, including Assahoré Konan Jacques, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Cote d’Ivoire, who shared: “I would like to thank the African Development Bank and its partners, as these funds will finance the resilience of our people. Specific activities have been identified and targeted, and I call on the African Development Bank to learn from the challenges other funds have faced, ensuring that CAW succeeds where others have struggled.”
Max Andonirina Fontaine, Madagascar’s Minister of Environment, shared: “The CAW enables African nations to pilot initiatives that truly address our needs. With its flexible approach, we can, for example, fund ecotourism projects in Madagascar that both protect forests and create jobs—support that Africa urgently needs.”
Dr. Kevin Kariuki, Vice President of Power, Energy, and Climate Change at the Bank added: "The CAW provides a veritable channel for countries to meet their global climate commitments. This facility will ensure that projects in Africa’s most climate-vulnerable regions are well positioned to attract significant funding, creating a win-win scenario where countries can achieve climate targets, while advancing sustainable development."
The launch of the facility will enable the African Development Bank to increase the reach of the CAW's efforts. As the largest pipeline of adaptation projects in Africa, CAW has already identified 80 projects worth $800 million, with 41 of these projects successfully funded. Despite its relatively short period of operation, CAW has secured additional co-financing and established partnerships with major climate funds, including the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and the Adaptation Fund.
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