Three projects will be selected as part of the DFCD Scalable Climate Solutions Challenge, one in each of the three challenge countries: Uganda, Kenya, and Bangladesh.

However, the DFCD has resources to support more projects outside of this specific challenge. Participating companies that fit with the DFCD mandate could thus still be eligible for grant funding, technical assistance, or financial support.

The deadline to apply for the DFCD Scalable Climate Solutions Challenge is June 30th, 2021. However, the DFCD will still be interested to receive your proposals, even after the challenge / up to the end of 2022, as long as the DFCD funding remains available.

Any private sector entity with total value of assets or annual turnover of at least EUR 6 million.

We welcome applications from a consortium of different organizations. However, the challenge is specifically intended to support scalable private business models that benefit climate change. The development grant is thus intended to support commercial propositions that have potential to scale and absorb interest or dividend bearing debt or equity financing.

These aspects can be part of your project design but cannot be the primary focus of the business proposition. The DFCD is specially set up to support four priority themes: 1) Water and sanitation, 2) Protecting ecosystems, 3) Smart agriculture and 4) Forestry

All OECD-DAC countries are eligible for support from the DFCD, see complete list here.  However, you will not be able to participate in the Scalable Climate Solutions Challenge if your project is not located in one of the three aforementioned countries.

Please scroll up to see “Application Criteria” section on this page.

Yes. We assess each project based upon their impact, commercial feasibility, and scalability. Some additional elements that we might consider:

• The track record of the applicant/sponsor, specifically in the relevant industry.
• Whether there is already an available market for the product or service.
• Whether the project fits in the wider landscape, benefiting local stakeholder needs, and has a positive impact on improving ecosystem and community resilience  (according to the OECD Rio Marker 2 methodology).

Preferably local offices of one of the DFCD consortium members are onboard for providing continued support to the projects, see locations here: WWF, SNV, CFM and FMO

Project developers should be able to co-invest cash, or provide an in kind contribution, into the projects, either themselves or by making use of external resources, amounting to a minimum of 25% of the project’s development costs. Also, please note that the maximum DFCD development grant amount is set at EUR 350,000. If and when follow-on long term finance is sought from the DFCD, around 50% matching is required.

The average waiting time for the initial screening process is around two weeks. However, in peak periods the wait time might take longer.

The intake form can be found by clicking on this link here or the “apply now” button on this page.