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Climate Finance in Fragile Contexts
Fragile and conflict-affected states are among the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, yet they consistently face the greatest barriers to accessing climate finance. Weak institutional capacity, complex political economies, security constraints, and limited data availability all compound the challenge of designing and delivering effective climate finance programmes in these contexts.
Due to these challenges, climate finance flows to fragile contexts remain critically underfunded relative to need. Practitioners working in these environments require specialized knowledge to bridge the gap between global climate finance architecture and local realities. This course addresses that gap by providing targeted, context-specific guidance anchored in practical case studies and real-world experience.
This course provides an introductory and practice-oriented introduction to climate finance in fragile and conflict-affected states (FCS). Recognising that fragile contexts present unique challenges and risks for climate finance access and delivery, the course equips participants with the conceptual tools and practical skills required to navigate vertical climate funds, design conflict-informed interventions, and develop high-quality funding proposals.
Using the Green Climate Fund (GCF) project cycle as a guiding framework, participants will move from foundational concepts through to the hands-on development of a concept note. The course integrates a conflict-informed approach throughout, emphasising the importance of Do No Harm principles, fragility-sensitive programming, and gender-responsive design in climate finance interventions.
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Explain the distinction between climate finance and climate funding, and articulate the role of vertical funds within the broader climate finance architecture.
- Identify and compare key vertical climate funds relevant to fragile and conflict-affected contexts, including their eligibility criteria, priorities, and access modalities.
- Apply conflict-informed project design to the appraisal and development of climate finance interventions.
- Develop a context analysis and baseline assessment that reflects the complexity of fragile environments.
- Construct a theory of change that integrates climate resilience, fragility-responsive design, and gender-responsive programming.
- Define and articulate outputs, activities, and outcomes in line with vertical fund requirements and results frameworks.
- Design an impact measurement framework appropriate for fragile and data-scarce contexts.
- Produce a high-quality GCF Concept Note ready for submission or further development into a full project proposal.
The course is delivered through a series of six live, online webinars, each facilitated by a subject-matter expert with direct experience in climate finance and fragile contexts. Each session combines conceptual input with interactive exercises, case studies, and peer learning.
The methodology is grounded in the following principles:
- Applied focus: Practice-oriented learning
- Progressive structure: Each module builds directly on the previous, culminating in a complete concept note.
- Contextualized learning: Participants are encouraged to draw on their own contexts and experience throughout.
- Expert-led sessions: External experts and practitioners share frontline experience and lessons learned.
- Peer review: Participants receive facilitated peer review of draft concept note components.
The course comprises six structured modules, each delivered as a 90-minute online webinar:
Module 1 — Vertical Climate Funds in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings
Introduces the global climate finance architecture and the role of the major vertical climate funds, with a focus on the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Global Environment Facility (GEF), and Adaptation Fund. Participants compare their mandates, governance arrangements, eligibility criteria, access modalities and project cycles, and examine how these funds currently engage in fragile and conflict-affected settings. The module also explores existing investment patterns, opportunities and barriers to financing climate action in FCAS.
Module 2 — From Theory to Practice: Peace-Positive Climate Programming
Explores the relationship between climate change, conflict and peace and introduces the rationale for peace-positive approaches to climate finance. Participants examine the principles of peace-positive climate programming, distinguish these from conflict sensitivity, and identify practical entry points for integrating them throughout the climate-finance project cycle. Through an organizational mapping exercise, participants identify where their own institutions can strengthen peace-positive approaches.
Module 3 — Conflict Sensitivity in the GCF Project Cycle
Provides a practical introduction to the GCF project cycle, from concept development and submission through approval, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Participants examine the roles of Accredited Entities, National Designated Authorities, executing entities and implementing partners and identify where conflict sensitivity can be integrated at different stages. They then apply climate- and conflict-sensitive lenses to fictional project concepts and develop recommendations for strengthening project design.
Module 4 — Developing a Climate Rationale for a GCF Project
Focuses on one of the foundations of GCF project design: developing a robust climate rationale. Participants learn to construct the causal chain connecting observed and projected climate hazards, exposure and vulnerability to the proposed intervention, and examine the evidence required to substantiate it. Particular attention is given to the challenges of building a credible climate rationale in fragile settings, including weak or interrupted data systems, restricted access, proxy and remote-sensing data, and the need to distinguish conflict-related vulnerabilities from climate impacts.
Module 5 — Theory of Change, Results Frameworks and Safeguards
Builds participants' ability to translate the climate rationale and conflict analysis into a coherent project logic. Participants examine how a GCF Theory of Change connects the climate problem to activities, outputs, outcomes and impacts, including the assumptions underpinning these causal pathways. The module introduces GCF results frameworks and considers how fragility affects assumptions, indicators and monitoring. It also addresses sustainability and inclusion, environmental and social safeguards, gender and Indigenous Peoples considerations in fragile settings.
Module 6 — Developing a Climate- and Conflict-Sensitive GCF Concept Note
Serves as the course capstone, bringing together the concepts and tools introduced throughout the programme. Participants work with the GCF Concept Note structure and integrate the climate rationale, Theory of Change, conflict sensitivity, peace-positive approaches, safeguards, gender considerations, stakeholder engagement and results framework into a coherent project concept. Participants present and peer-review their draft Theories of Change and use the feedback received to strengthen the different components of their Concept Notes.
This course is designed for mid-to-senior level practitioners working at the intersection of climate change, development, and fragility. Target participants include:
- UN agency staff and system coordinators working in fragile or humanitarian settings
- National government officials and focal points of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in FCS
- Development bank programme officers and climate finance specialists
- NGO and civil society organisation staff engaged in climate resilience or peacebuilding programming
- Private sector actors and green finance practitioners seeking to engage in fragile markets
1000 USD
