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ENFRVI

Academy · Course 3

Green Climate Fund Project Preparation

Explore the roles of accredited entities and country authorities, then practise organising project information around the GCF investment criteria.

Read the sample lessons Register interest

Course 3

Intermediate to advanced · 18 learning hours

Sample lessons available · Course delivery planned · No enrolment or payment

Level
Intermediate to advanced
Estimated time
18 learning hours
Audience
Teams working with an accredited entity or preparing to discuss a GCF route.
Prerequisite
A defined project concept and a confirmed or prospective institutional access path.
Material status
Open sample lessons; full course planned
Completion record
Planned only; sample lessons do not earn a certificate.

Learning outcomes

  • Explain accredited-entity and country roles.
  • Map evidence to the six investment criteria.
  • Select a preparation route using current official material.
  • Build a proposal and annex work plan.

Sample lessons

Modules

Four modules, open to read.

Sample lessons

Each sample lesson introduces a concept, explains its role in project preparation and sets an applied exercise. Use the knowledge check to test the reasoning, then record how the concept applies to a real or hypothetical project.

Module 1

Access and country ownership

Clarify the applicant or accredited entity’s role, the country coordination arrangements and the responsibilities of executing partners. Confirm the applicable access process before developing a submission plan. Institutional roles, project ownership and authority to commit resources should be documented rather than assumed.

Exercise

Create a role and approval map for the case project.

Knowledge check

Can this course confirm GCF eligibility?

Show the answer

No. The course provides preparation guidance. Eligibility and access must be confirmed through the applicable GCF process.

Module 2

Investment criteria

The investment criteria provide a framework for explaining the project’s expected contribution and justification. Build a matrix that connects each criterion to project information, evidence and unresolved questions. Repeating the criterion name is insufficient: the proposal needs to show how the project addresses it.

Exercise

Map twelve pieces of evidence to criteria and note overlaps.

Knowledge check

Which criterion tests consistency with national priorities?

Show the answer

Country ownership. The proposal should explain alignment with national priorities and the relevant country arrangements.

Module 3

Climate rationale and paradigm shift

A climate rationale connects the project’s activities to its mitigation or adaptation objective. The case for wider change explains how the intervention could influence practices, institutions or investment beyond its immediate outputs. State the mechanism, assumptions and supporting evidence; scale alone does not establish that change.

Exercise

Write a two-page rationale outline and one credible scaling pathway.

Knowledge check

A large budget proves paradigm-shift potential. True or false?

Show the answer

False. The size of the budget does not establish a wider change. Explain how the project can influence practices, systems or investment beyond its immediate activities.

Module 4

Proposal and annex plan

Use the applicable proposal materials to organise the work. Assign an owner to each section, study and annex; record dependencies and review dates. Check that the climate rationale, results, budget and implementation arrangements use consistent assumptions and that unresolved matters are visible.

Exercise

Build an annex responsibility matrix with owner and due date.

Knowledge check

Where should a current template version be checked?

Show the answer

Use the official GCF proposal resources and confirm the applicable version and submission requirements with the responsible entity.

Tools and assessment

Practice materials and planned assessment.

Downloads

Download the course workbook. Each worksheet includes an example row and marked cells for your own project.

  • GCF role map
  • Investment-criteria matrix
  • Rationale outline
  • Annex tracker
Download the workbook (XLSX, 15 KB) All learning resources

Assessment and certificate

A practical project task and a source-based knowledge check are planned. Assessment criteria, marking, feedback and any reassessment will be explained before enrolment. No assessment or tutor feedback is provided through these sample pages.

A completion record would document the course and assessment completed. It would not confer professional accreditation, endorsement by a fund or permission to submit a funding application.

Sources

Reference list · See the source-specific review notes
  1. S01Initial investment framework: activity-specific sub-criteria and indicative assessment factorsGreen Climate FundHistorical framework
  2. S02Access fundingGreen Climate FundCurrent page
  3. S03Simplified Approval ProcessGreen Climate FundCurrent page
  4. S04Project Preparation FacilityGreen Climate FundCurrent page
Where this page and an official document differ, the official document governs. Report an error to alex.germouty@climate-readiness.com.

Course interest

No account, no payment at this stage.

Register interest

Register your interest to receive details of the planned pilot or discuss training for your team. Dates, fees, format, accessibility arrangements and terms will be shared before enrolment. You can discuss access needs later; no health information is needed now.

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Preparation

Check the access process before using the workbook

GCF also has a Project-specific Assessment Approach (PSAA) pilot for eligible non-accredited entities. The standard accredited-entity case in these lessons is not the only pathway. Check the GCF guide and its dated access update before applying the role map to a live project.

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