NCF’s third call for proposals related to climate change to be announced in October

Nordic Climate Facility (NCF) is the group dedicated towards combating climate change and reducing poverty in low-income countries. NCF gets financial support from Nordic Development Fund (NDF) and is helped by Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO) in implementation of its projects in developing countries.

Mission

NCF encourages and promotes technological innovation in areas susceptible to climate change such as: energy, transport, water and sanitation, health, agriculture, forestry as well as other areas related to natural resource management. Once every year, NCF calls for innovative proposals comprising specific themes related to climate change. The best proposals may receive grant financing amounting to between 250,000 and 500,000 euro, or, in exceptional circumstances, between 150,000 and 250,000 euro. The projects should have an implementation period of less than 24 months.

Main Themes

Usually, the calls for proposals are based on two main themes: adaptation to and mitigation of climate change. Climate change adaptation proposals may be related to issues such as, rising sea levels, threats to water and agricultural resources as well as to overall human welfare. Climate mitigation proposals can comprise efforts to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by utilizing energy efficiency technologies, substituting fossil fuels for environmentally-sound renewable sources, and carbon sequestration. The climate change themes vary each year.

The first call for proposals, launched in October 2009, had two specific themes: water resources and energy efficiency. A total of 138 proposals were received, of which 14 proposals were selected for implementation. The second call for proposals, launched in October 2010, also focused on two themes: urban adaptation and renewable energy. A total of 176 proposals were received, of which 12 have been selected for contract negotiations. The two first calls had allocations of EUR 6 million each. The third call for proposals has a similar allocation, thus bringing the total NCF financing to EUR 18 million.

The third call has a single designated theme focusing on “Innovative low-cost climate solutions with focus on local business development”. The theme encourages business development and business opportunities which provide goods and services that will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and facilitate climate change adaptation. A strong positive development impact, in addition to expected climate change benefits, is expected from successful applicants.

Third Call for Proposals

The third call for proposals under the Nordic Climate Facility (NCF) will be launched in late October 2011. The NCF provides grants to development projects that have the potential to combat climate change and reduce poverty in low-income countries.

Key Requirements

The applicant must be an active institution, organisation, company or authority holding a registered place of operations in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway or Sweden with relevant experience. The applicant may have one or more partner(s).

The applicant’s average annual audited turnover for the past two years must exceed the NCF funding applied for. In case the applicant alone cannot fulfil this requirement, the applicant is allowed to be supported, on a joint and several basis by another Nordic institution, organisation, or company. The applicant shall have an eligible local partner in an eligible country where the project is proposed to be implemented.

Detailed instructions relating to the third call for proposals will be published on NDF’s and NEFCO’s web sites by the end of October 2011.

For more information and details, you can visit this link.