International climate finance is channeled through a range of sources, instruments, and mechanisms. Multilateral climate funds play a key role in supporting countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to climate change, and build resilient, sustainable economies. However, accessing these funds can be complex, as each has its own mandate, governance structure, funding windows, and access requirements.

This section provides a structured overview of the main multilateral climate funds. For each fund, it outlines key aspects such as thematic focus, funding windows and amounts, access modalities, eligibility criteria, financial instruments, application processes, and available support measures. It also brings together relevant guidance materials, templates, and additional resources to facilitate navigation of the different funding options.

Climate change is already affecting lives and livelihoods worldwide through floods, droughts, extreme heat, and storms. Addressing these impacts requires increased investment in adaptation, particularly in vulnerable countries.

However, accessing and managing adaptation finance remains challenging due to a range of barriers, including complex requirements, limited institutional capacity, and fragmented information.

This section provides a structured overview of climate adaptation finance, covering key concepts, barriers, policy frameworks, financing sources, and practical approaches to identifying priorities and mobilizing finance. It also explores how different financial instruments and actors contribute to scaling adaptation efforts.

Private sector engagement is vital for climate projects. It brings the investment capital, technical expertise, innovation capacity, and operational scale needed to accelerate emissions reductions and climate resilience.

However, engaging the private sector is often met by challenges, including uncertain or fragmented policy environments, high upfront costs for low-carbon technologies, difficulties in measuring and verifying climate impacts, and (perceived) risks that climate projects may not deliver predictable financial returns. Additionally, limited incentives, complex regulatory requirements, and insufficient collaboration between governments, communities, and businesses can slow or deter meaningful private sector participation.

This section outlines the role of the private sector in climate projects, including barriers to finance, engagement approaches, financial instruments, project bankability, and the role of public policy.

To access and effectively use climate finance, countries and institutions require strong capacities, including project development, financial management, and institutional coordination. Some climate funds therefore offer dedicated programmes to support developing countries in building their capacities to access and implement climate finance. Public as well as private institutions receive support to strengthen institutional capacities, governance mechanisms, and planning and programming frameworks, contributing to long-term climate action.

Capacity-building support may include assistance with accreditation processes, strengthening fiduciary standards, enhancing environmental and social safeguards, integrating gender considerations, and developing project pipelines.

This section presents key capacity-building programmes, including the GCF Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme, the Adaptation Fund Readiness Programme, and other relevant initiatives, outlining the support available to become ready for climate finance.