May 2014: The Frankfurt School (FS)-UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Collaborating Centre for Climate and Sustainable Energy Finance has released a ‘Case study of the National Environment Fund Benin (FNE).’ The report describes the transformation of an existing entity, FNE, an institution originally designed to mobilize international and national funding sources for national environmental projects, into a national climate finance institution (NCFI), the National Fund for the Environment and Climate (FNEC), which addresses climate change adaptation and mitigation as well as environment and development efforts.

The case study describes how the Government of Benin adapted the FNE’s mandate to address climate change by creating the FNEC. The paper highlights key points for transforming the FNE into a NCFI, including: defining the FNE’s new role and adapting its long-term strategy and work plan; ensuring a sound management approach; adapting FNE operational processes, including the timing of support and project management cycles; building internal capacities on climate change; and mobilizing additional funding sources, including direct access to climate funds through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Adaptation Fund (AF).

The case study also describes: the FNE’s original operations and management, including its funding sources for operations and projects and project monitoring and evaluation; and the process through which FNE became the fourth national entity to gain direct access to the AF.

The UNEP National Climate Finance Institutions Support Programme (NCFISP) prepared the report, which is part of a series of four case studies on the set up and management of NCFIs. [FS-UNEP Press Release] [Publication: Case study: National Environment Fund Benin (FNE)]