Adaptation Fund-UNDP Innovation Small Grant Aggregator Platform (ISGAP) under Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator is designed to develop and diffuse innovative adaptation practices, tools, and technologies that will result in improved climate resilience of the target beneficiaries over the baseline or business-as-usual scenario. The programme operates similarly as a challenge fund with two cycles of funding, each run for two years. There are four main processes for each funding cycle: (1) Call for proposals, (2) Screening, and selection; (3) Implementation; and (4) Knowledge coordination and result aggregation.

Detail process is under the FAQ below: detail programme process. UNDP aims to provide a total of 15-20 micro grants to promote new/pilot innovative adaptation practices, business models and technologies ($60,000 for a two-year cycle); and 10-15 small grants to accelerate innovative adaptation practices, business models and technologies with scaling up potential ($125,000 for a two-year cycle). Grantees could receive another round of funding for the second cycle if they reached the milestones proposed for the first cycle (therefore, a total $120,000 for micro grants and $250,000 for small grants for this four-year programme).  Technical assistance from the network of UNDP and partners will be provided to grantees to enhance the results. ISGAP is also providing grantees a pathway to scale, either through public funding projects or through potential private funding channels brokered by UNDP and partners.  

Detailed Programme Process

Step 1. Call for Proposals. Applicants need to register and submit their basic information in the ISGAP IT portal. 

Step 2. Screening and Shortlisting (minimum 4-6 weeks), depending on total amount of applications received. UNDP will conduct first around screening based on three key criteria: 1. Climate Change Adaptation, 2. Innovation, 3. Social and Environmental consideration. Shortlisted grantees will need to download a grant proposal template from the IT portal. This grant proposal will need to be completed within a week timeframe and uploaded onto the IT portal. 

Step 3. Final screening and grantee selection (4-6 weeks), depending on total amount of longlisted proposals. Successful grantees will be contacted to sign the grant agreement with UNDP. 

Step 4. Inception Training. The programme will kick-off with a series of inception webinars, both aiming to build connections and conduct training. Training items will be focused on innovation, business strategy, climate risks, impact measurement and management, and safeguards.

Step 5. Grantees will need to assess key barriers for their operation or scale-up potential. Building on the grant proposal, each grantee will need to submit an acceleration workplan to UNDP. The UNDP Project board’s experts will provide advice on suggested barriers and potential ways to overcome these barriers.

Step 6. Implementation. Grantee will implement according to their workplan with the following activities: 

•    Project delivery against acceleration workplan
•    Order contract to selected vendor (if UNDP support is required to source vendors, in specific cases)
•    Check-ins with the Project Management Unit (PMU), or UNDP Country Office (if needed) 
•    Fill in impact/results quarterly in annual project report and submit to the PMU. These reports also have sections to report on financial expenditures, on how risks and safeguards mitigation measures are proactively managed by grantees, and how they ensure to comply with gender equality commitments.
•    Attend National/International events (invited by UNDP) related to innovation, climate change adaptation, business development, finance for adaptation, and topics alike.
•    Participate in networking, matchmaking and deal sharing opportunities and events.
•    Annual grantee survey and feedback meeting to evaluate performance of PMU, vendors and partners
•    Share learnings, challenges, and stories with UNDP

This section is specifically for the UNDP programme grantee. For the UNEP-CTCN programme, please visit here.