At a glance
FAO supports Direct Access Entities (DAEs) across the full cycle of engagement with the Green Climate Fund (GCF), from accreditation readiness and institutional strengthening to investment development and project implementation. By strengthening country ownership, FAO helps countries access and manage climate finance while building long-term institutional capacity.
Why Direct Access Entities matter
Direct Access Entities are national or regional institutions accredited by the GCF to access climate finance directly. By strengthening these institutions, FAO helps countries integrate climate action into national systems, align investments with national priorities and build lasting institutional capacity.
1. Building institutional capacity for accreditation
FAO supports potential DAE candidates through institutional assessments, climate finance systems strengthening and early-stage analysis of capacity gaps. This helps create the foundations for stronger country engagement with the GCF and expands the pool of national institutions able to access climate finance.
Tajikistan
Through a readiness project, FAO supported the Government of Tajikistan in identifying the Center for Implementation of Investment Projects (CIIP) within the Committee for Environmental Protection as a potential Direct Access Entity and helped build capacity related to GCF accreditation.
Once potential DAEs are identified, FAO helps institutions meet GCF accreditation requirements. This includes strengthening fiduciary systems, safeguards, governance arrangements and policy frameworks so institutions are better equipped to access and manage climate finance directly.
Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
FAO supported Banco de Desarrollo Productivo’s GCF accreditation through a readiness initiative by aligning the institution with key standards, including fiduciary, environmental and social, gender and Indigenous Peoples standards, and by developing the policies and procedures required for accreditation.
2. Strengthening investment pipelines
FAO helps DAEs move beyond accreditation-related readiness by strengthening their ability to develop bankable climate investments. Support can include concept notes, funding proposals, project pipelines aligned with national priorities, and stronger reporting and results systems.
Eswatini
In Eswatini, an FAO readiness project advanced the Eswatini Bank’s progress towards GCF accreditation. The initiative focused on building the Bank’s capacity to meet accreditation standards and develop bankable climate investment pipelines.
3. Delivering climate action through national entities
FAO supports country ownership throughout the GCF cycle, from DAE accreditation to project implementation. National institutions play a critical role in ensuring the success and long-term sustainability of these initiatives.
Armenia, Jamaica and the Philippines
Armenia
FAO is partnering with the Environmental Project Implementation Unit (EPIU) under the Ministry of Environment on the Forest resilience of Armenia, enhancing adaptation and rural green growth via mitigation project.
Jamaica
For the ADAPT Jamaica project, FAO is partnering with two DAEs acting as co-financiers and executing partners: the Jamaica Social Investment Fund and the Development Bank of Jamaica.
Philippines
FAO is partnering with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) to advance climate-resilient agriculture through the APA project, while supporting synergies with the proposed PILAR initiative, which is being developed with LandBank as a DAE.
4. Bringing FAO’s technical expertise to Direct Access Entity-led projects
FAO also partners with Direct Access Entities during project implementation, providing technical expertise and implementation support that helps translate climate finance into tangible results. This enables national and regional institutions to lead investments while benefiting from FAO’s experience in climate-resilient agriculture, forestry, fisheries and natural resource management.
