Press Statement: The Current Model of GCF Financing is not Working for Africa

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A Bold Call for Transformation in the GCF

This Statement outlines key concerns and perspectives of the Non-State Actors, under the convenorship of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance on the state at play at GCF and about its effectiveness in addressing the priority needs of African countries. Released at a time when the Green Climate Fund (GCF) board in Kigali, Rwanda is holding its meeting (March 4 –7, 2024), it examines the current model of GCF financing and its effectiveness in Africa and its verdict is damning – It’s not working! The Non-State Actors in Africa express deep concerns regarding the current state of affairs.

Disappointed by the low levels of funding in Africa compared to the rest of the developing countries and that GCF funding has been trickling down at a snail’s pace, deepening the climate crisis and preventing the countries from embarking on low carbon and climate-resilient development.

Concerned by the GCF’s failure to provide relevant readiness support to African countries at scale, and the significant challenges faced by African countries in developing robust project proposals to meet the GCF’s stringent criteria for additionality, climate rationale, transformational impact, and alignment with national priorities.

Further noting the limited scope of the readiness fund which is available largely to governments, accredited entities and applicant entities; a scope that does not consider the leadership of Nonstate Actors in climate action and enhanced accountability through monitoring of the programme portfolio of GCF.

Alarmed by the glaring lapses in accountability of GCF in Africa and projects funded by GCF and their inability to meet expected accountability standards and the weak oversight mechanisms. Noting that GCF is working on a false assumption of partners (National Designated Authority, Access Entities, Direct Access Entities) of having the capacity to facilitate a consultative and participatory climate change programming, which is not the case

Concerned that the top-down approach of results management by GCF is not aligned with locallyled climate adaptation principles,

Deeply concerned by the fact that access to climate finance whether through direct or indirect mechanisms is not working for African countries and that bureaucratic and highly technocratic processes that add no value make the process lengthy and create complexities that deter smaller organizations and communities from accessing GCF support raising concerns about fairness and accountability among stakeholder’s, contrary to the intent of the fund.

Deeply Appalled by the fact that a substantial portion of the GCF funding is channelled through a select few large multilateral entities, perpetuating a cycle of global inequality and marginalization of locally developed solutions and that this trend not only undermines the principles of equity and inclusivity but also limits the capacity of grassroots initiatives and community-led projects to address climate challenges effectively.