Resources & Tools

A wealth of resources, data platforms, and guidance documents are available to support you at every step. Building a strong climate rationale requires credible data. These platforms provide free and open access to the necessary information:

Asia-Pacific Specific Tips and Considerations

The GCF Concept Note must be consistent with the Country Priorities (see Chapter II) determined by each country, which should be aligned with the NDCs and NAPs submitted by each country to the UNFCCC. Furthermore, project proposals must be consistent with the strategic objectives and investment criteria of the GCF (see Chapter III). These are the fundamental considerations in preparing concept notes. Beyond that, understanding the issues common to the Asia-Pacific region may work as supplemental information, helping each country to perform accurate risk assessments incorporating the regional-wide risks, such as transboundary climate risks. The following sources of information can be used to understand the risks specific to the Asia-Pacific region, and transboundary climate risks in particular. Users must note that these are still the emerging areas of study.

Troubleshooting the Navigator Tool

When drafting a concept note, it is important to adhere to the Concept Note template provided by the GCF. The new Concept Note template is designed to provide a clearer format for concept notes, which tend to be lengthy, and therefore adhering to the format is also in line with GCF expectations. You can refer to the GCF’s various resources as listed below, or may better contact GCF personnels if you have specific questions. If you encounter difficulties during the concept note writing process, this Navigator Tool is intended to assist users in efficiently developing concept notes. It is designed to extract key points from the wealth of information provided by the GCF. Please refer to it at each stage of concept note development.

When lost, it is important to return to the original project objectives and the fundamentals of GCF financing. GCF financing must align with each country's priorities and also comply with GCF's investment criteria. If the original project objectives are clear, developing the contents of the concept based on such objectives aligned with these requirements will be a basic direction.

Collaboration and Team-Based Writing

The development of GCF Concept Note is typically a process carried out by a team composed of diverse stakeholders. The following are general tips useful in collaborating with the team members in the Concept Note development process.

  • Project developers should be inclusive and collect relevant stakeholders as much as possible, who are related to or impacted by the ideas included in the concept note.
  • When forming the team, it is important to include those who can represent those people affected by the ideas in the concept note and/or those who can represent the views of particularly vulnerable people and communities.
  • It is also desirable to emphasize gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) perspectives.
  • Team works often takes time. It is necessary to decide on a member or organization to oversee and lead the entire process and ensure that progress is managed appropriately. In addition, it is important to make sure all members are informed when making important policy decisions. Generally, it is required to balance efficiency and inclusiveness.

Various digital tools are available to help stakeholders collaborate effectively. These are particularly useful for effectively including team members and stakeholders who live in remote areas. Consider using tools such as the following.

Tools useful for organizing information, collaborative writing, and version control

Tools that can assist with brainstorming and discussions

Additional GCF-Related Tools and Guidance Documents

Materials related to the GCF process in general:

Materials related to the Concept Note development in particular:

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