The Gender-Responsive Climate Finance Window will award early-stage grant funding for the design and launch of innovative blended finance vehicles focused on the intersection of climate change and gender equality in emerging markets globally. This Window is funded by the Government of Canada.
Key Objectives
There has been a growing awareness of the climate-gender nexus over the past decade, but the field remains nascent. This Window aims to build the field by supporting a pipeline of climate-gender blended finance vehicles to reach bankability. Blended finance vehicles supported by the Window will be anchored by three key objectives:
The mobilization of private sector capital at scale to finance gender-responsive climate change mitigation and/or adaptation in emerging markets;
The integration of gender equality into the design, implementation, and operations of vehicles, rather than as a “bolt-on feature” or “nice-to-have”;
Strong alignment with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) at the minimum.
Types of Applications
Applicants can apply for feasibility study or proof-of-concept funding.
Feasibility study
Grants range between USD 40,000 to USD 190,000.
Funding to explore the feasibility of the vehicle. For example, a combination of the following activities would be eligible:
Assessing the investability/bankability of the transaction
Conducting market scoping
Conducting a gender analysis and stakeholder consultations
Designing the vehicle structure
Promising feasibility studies funded through this window may be considered for follow-on proof-of-concept funding.
Feasibility study proposals must at the minimum
Include an initial vehicle structure and investment thesis, and
Demonstrate early engagement with potential investors and relevant stakeholders.
Applicants must use Convergence’s feasibility study template, which is available in English and French.
Proof-of-concept
Grants range between USD 190,000 to USD 500,000.
If a feasibility study (or equivalent) has been completed, then funding would be provided to complete all design and structuring activities to launch the vehicle. For example, a combination of the following activities would be eligible:
Finalizing the capital structure and financial model
Fundraising and marketing activities with prospective investors
Final selection of implementing partners
Finalizing the legal structure and producing key documents needed to launch the vehicle
Development of a gender action plan (or equivalent) based on the gender analysis from prior feasibility work
Proof-of-concept proposals must
Detail interest and ideally commitment to participate in the vehicle, from investors and relevant stakeholders, and
Include a financial model.
Applicants must use Convergence’s proof-of-concept template, which is available in English and French.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for consideration, proposals must meet the following criteria:
Theme
The proposal must be for the design and launch of a blended finance vehicle.
Vehicles MUST target either climate change mitigation and/or adaptation, AND integrate a strong gender equality focus.
Geography: Any emerging market(s), eligible to receive official development assistance (ODA) according to the OECD-DAC List of ODA Recipients.
Sector: Any sector(s) and sub-sector(s) aligned with climate change mitigation, adaptation and gender equality. For example, potential sectors and sub-sectors could include the following:
Climate Change Mitigation:
Low-carbon transportation
Renewable energy generation (on-grid and off-grid)
Energy efficiency
Agriculture, forestry and land use
Natural resource management
Energy transmission, storage, and distribution
Climate Change Adaptation:
Sustainable/climate smart agriculture or aquaculture
Climate-related insurance and disaster resilience
Nature-based infrastructure
Ecosystem-based adaptation
Waste and wastewater management
Proposals are only accepted from organizations or consortiums of organizations.
For example, eligible organizations could include asset owners, asset managers, advisory firms, foundations, not-for-profit organizations, and corporations.
The lead organization must be able to provide
Proof of incorporation, and
Financial statements for the previous fiscal year.
Applicants are awarded funding in disbursements based on milestones, and are expected to meet reporting requirements, such as reporting on key challenges, learnings, and results on a regular basis. Learnings from the design stage will be synthesized into a public case study or learning brief and published to support market-wide learning.
