29 June 2011: The UNFCCC Secretariat has published a background note on direct access and a scoping paper for the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

At the first technical workshop of the Transitional Committee (TC) for the design of the GCF, which took place in Konigswinter, Germany, from 30 May-1 June 2011, TC members requested the co-facilitators of workstream II (governance and institutional arrangements) and workstream III (operational modalities) to collect further background information on direct access. In particular, members requested information on the legal, governance and operational aspects of direct access modalities within existing global funds. The background note (TC-2/WSII/4 and TC-2/WSIII/5) is structured around experiences and funds highlighted by TC members in submissions and discussions at the first technical workshop. It draws on the Adaptation Fund under the Kyoto Protocol, the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and TB, and the Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunization. It also considers general budget support approaches, which could be considered a form of direct access.

The UNFCCC Secretariat has also published a scoping paper (TC-2/WSIII/1), which synthesizes discussion among the TC members, their representatives and observers, as well as written submissions received on Finance Entry Points. This document will be considered during the second meeting of the TC and is intended to stimulate further discussion, allowing the co-facilitators to prepare and table a working paper outlining decision points on sub-workstream III.1 at the second technical workshop of the TC, scheduled to take place from 13-14 July 2011, in Tokyo, Japan. [Publication: Background Note: Direct Access] [Publication: Scoping Paper – Finance Entry Points]