5 December 2014: The Adaptation Fund (AF) Board, Indigo Development & Change and the Adaptation Fund Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Network hosted a side event at the Lima Climate Change Conference reviewing the implementation of the Adaptation Fund’s direct access modality in Africa. The event, ‘Adaptation Fund: An Overview of Direct Access Implementation,’ also highlighted lessons learned for scaling adaptation activities through direct access finance.

Sönke Kreft and Alpha Kaloga, GermanWatch, presented the outcomes of a study of National Implementing Entities’ (NIEs) experiences in six African countries. The study, ‘Learning from Direct Access Modalities in Africa,’ found constraints such as low institutional capacity, language barriers and tension between maintaining high fiduciary standards and recognizing national circumstances. The study recommends “expectation management” through the development of a self-assessment tool that can provide step-by-step guidance on accreditation. It also calls for National Designated Authorities (NDAs) to steer the process, as they provide a critical leadership role, and for holding broad-based stakeholder consultations from the outset in order to maintain a focus on the most vulnerable and excluded groups.

Presenting an NIE perspective, Dethie Ndiaye, Centre de Suivi Ecologique, Senegal, said direct access is one of the most innovative features of the AF and expressed hope that the Green Climate Fund (GCF) will take the same approach. He noted that, despite the challenges faced, his country has implemented a successful adaptation project through rehabilitating infrastructure and enhancing institutional capacities.

Daouda Ndiaye, AF Secretariat, presented an overview of activities undertaken through the Readiness Programme. Among feedback received from NIEs on further actions to be taken by the AF, he highlighted, inter alia: developing a criteria checklist to assist in pre-assessment or pre-screening of applicants; securing more funds and predictable sources of funding; developing a mentoring programme for NIEs; and exploring the possibility of developing one accreditation standard for different funding mechanisms.

Among issues raised during a discussion session, participants highlighted the need to clarify the future relationship between the AF and the GCF’s Adaptation window and to provide more guidance on the accreditation procedure for Regional Implementing Entities. [IISD RS ENBOTS Coverage] [IISD RS Coverage of Lima Climate Change Conference] [Adaptation Fund NGO Network Event Announcement] [Indigo Development & Change Website] [AF Website]