The Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF) was accredited to access the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in 2016, and has to date seen the approval of four GCF projects, for a total funding amount of nearly USD 40 million. The EIF was one of the first institutions to access the GCF through the “direct access” modality, whereby developing country institutions can access funds without international intermediation. It was also the first accredited entity to pilot the GCF’s “enhanced direct access” (EDA) approach, and one of the first to make use of the “simplified approval process”. These projects are now well into their implementation, with the first two nearing completion, and many lessons have been learned along the way.
The EIF’s journey with the GCF has been a rewarding and transformational one, significantly scaling up adaptation finance to Namibia, and enabling a paradigm shift in the way in which adaptation projects are conceived and financed. The CBNRM EDA project has been particularly transformational in devolving adaptation finance and decision making to local communities.
This report describes this journey from the perspective of the EIF, as a direct access entity (DAE), detailing the experiences both positive and challenging, and documenting the lessons and best practices that have been gleaned along the way. It identifies a number of recommendations for other developing country institutions, as well as for developing country governments and for the GCF.
