Quick Guide to Climate Change Adaptation Funds

The USAID Adapt Asia-Pacific Quick Guide to Climate Change Adaptation Funds is an easy to follow collection of 10 multilateral and bilateral climate funds and initiatives currently available for financing adaptation activities in developing countries.

Unlike other guides that provide lengthier descriptions, we have presented here only the need-to-know, essential bits of information. This Quick Guide provides key facts about individual funds, such as eligibility criteria, target areas, and, importantly, the mechanisms that will ultimately help you gain access and approval.

Developed by the USAID Adapt Asia-Pacific team of climate finance experts, the Quick Guide includes “Tips by USAID Adapt Asia-Pacific” with bite-size, handy information on how to get your projects funded. These tips are based on our on-ground experience working with country officials, implementing agencies and fund managers.

An outline of the guide is provided below. Download the full Quick Guide from the right-hand column. This is the second publication in the USAID Adapt Asia-Pacific Adaptation Finance Knowledge Series. For related resources see the Further Resources section below.

This Quick Guide features the following 10 funds that, combined, have provided the largest volume of adaptation financing to date. These include five multilateral funds and five bilateral funds, with two allowing for direct access: 

• Adaptation Fund
• Global Climate Change Alliance
• Green Climate Fund
• International Climate Fund
• International Climate Initiative
• Least Developed Countries Fund
• Nordic Climate Facility [2021 update: no longer providing funding for adaptation]
• Nordic Development Fund 
• Pilot Program for Climate Resilience
• Special Climate Change Fund

To date, money from these funds has been spent on a variety of sectors in Asia-Pacific, including disaster prevention, agriculture, coastal zones, water and sanitation, and infrastructure. International funds, however, provide only a piece of the adaptation financing puzzle.

The current funding available does not meet the projected needs for adaptation in developing countries. Countries also need to mobilize the additional domestic and, especially, private sector funds. But while more financial resources are still needed, existing funds are an important resource, and this Quick Guide helps potential applicants understand the different funds available.