What is Readiness?
It is crucial that developing countries are able to effectively access and deploy resources from the Green Climate Fund. That is why the Fund provides early support for readiness and preparatory activities to enhance country ownership and access. This "country readiness" funding is a dedicated and cross-cutting programme that maximizes the effectiveness of the Fund by empowering developing countries.
Readiness and preparatory support activities are not one-off measures, but part of an ongoing process to strengthen a country’s engagement with the Fund. GCF focuses its readiness support on particularly vulnerable countries, including Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and African States – a minimum of 50% of country readiness funding is targeted at supporting these countries.
The Fund has a total of USD 16 million available to immediately provide such support to countries, and may seek the release of further resources depending on the needs of countries. Support for these activities in individual developing countries is capped at USD 1 million per calendar year. This support may be delivered to countries directly through National Designated Authorities (NDAs) or Focal Points through a wide range of delivery partners with relevant expertise and experience.
WHO ARE NDA'S?
The Green Climate Fund recognizes the need to ensure that developing country partners exercise ownership of climate change funding and integrate it within their own national action plans. GCF's Governing Instrument makes clear that the Fund will adopt a country-driven approach and strengthen program coherence and stakeholder coordination at the national level. That’s why in every developing country there are National Designated Authorities (NDAs), who are the interface between each country and the Fund. These Focal Points communicate the country’s strategic priorities for financing low-emission and climate-resilient development across its economy.
Over 130 countries have selected NDAs to play this role. They are chosen by governments to act as the core interface between a developing country and the Fund. NDAs provide broad strategic oversight of GCF’s activities in a country and serve as the point of communication with the Fund. Funding proposals are submitted through these NDAs, ensuring that investments are aligned with local needs and existing climate change planning.
Climate Change Cook Islands based at the Office of the Prime Minister is the Cook Islands National Designated Authority.