RFQ: Sources of Finance for Non-ODA Eligible Islands and Territories

REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS: Sources of Finance for Non-ODA Eligible Islands and Territories 

SUMMARY OF PROCUREMENT 

This procurement is for the development of a sub-module on sources of finance for non-ODA eligible islands and territories for the Climate Finance Access Network’s (CFAN) advisor training programme.

About RMI 

RMI decarbonizes energy systems through rapid, market-based change in the world’s most critical geographies to align with a 1.5°C future and address the climate crisis. We work with businesses, policymakers, communities, and other organizations to identify and scale energy system interventions that will cut greenhouse gas emissions at least 50% by 2030. 

For nearly 40 years, RMI has utilized our unique techno-economic expertise and whole-systems thinking to both publish ground-breaking research and analysis. We bring together collaborations of rare reach, range, and expertise—creating unconventional partnerships and mobilizing action to drive change on the massive scale needed to combat the climate crisis. 

About the Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) 

In its role as Network Coordinator to the Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN), Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), a US-based non-profit corporation, seeks a reputable and experienced Firm to support the refinement of its training curriculum.  

Through a network of donors, member initiatives, and countries, CFAN was established to alleviate the challenge faced by developing countries in accessing climate finance to achieve their climate goals. By cultivating a network of highly trained and embedded in-country climate finance advisors, CFAN builds the capacity of developing countries to unlock critical climate finance. After attending CFAN’s multi-month, cohort-based training program, CFAN advisors (“advisors”) are placed in relevant government offices (e.g., ministries of finance or ministries of the environment) or Direct Access Entities (DAEs) to support and build capacity in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific to access and structure climate finance. CFAN launched its first cohort in February 2022 and currently hosts eight advisors in the following Pacific countries: Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Tonga and Vanuatu. It will follow with an expanded Pacific cohort in Federated States of Micronesia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and the Pacific Community. CFAN will also launch a Caribbean cohort of Advisors in 2023, supporting both countries and overseas territories.  

RMI is initially serving as CFAN’s Network Coordinator. RMI is an independent non-profit with a 36-year track record of advancing market-based solutions to climate change. Today, the organization has a staff of over 360 scientists, engineers, and business leaders who have helped governments, utilities, multinational companies, innovative startups, and communities understand and benefit from the new energy economy with the imaginative application of rigorous technical and economic analysis. RMI has over three decades of experience working in the US, and over the last decade added international experience as a core capacity—in China, India, the Caribbean Islands, sub-Saharan Africa, and southeast Asia.  

SCOPE OF WORK AND OUTPUT/DELIVERABLES 

CFAN’s state-of-the-art training is a rigorous, cohort-based, multi-month intensive program that grounds participants in a deep understanding of the climate finance ecosystem and prepares them to unlock finance flows. From climate finance fundamentals to region-tailored strategy, the training is designed to grow national and regional capacity by providing participants with the expertise required to accelerate finance for climate investments.  

The current five-month training comprises weekly live sessions and asynchronous online content. The training includes individual office hours sessions, guest lectures, coursework, quizzes, and train-the trainer exercises. At present, the course is composed of five core modules:  

• Module 1: Communication and Facilitation  
• Module 2: International climate finance foundations and trends  
• Module 3: Climate finance sources project design and proposal   
• Module 4: Climate finance instruments and financial structuring   
• Module 5: Sectoral expertise  

Additionally, CFAN is scoping the addition of a sixth module on implementation and absorptive capacity.  

The objective of this ToR is to develop a sub-module to Module 3 specifically on sources of finance for non-ODA eligible islands and territories. Module 3 currently contains content outlining climate finance sources, project design and development, and proposal requirements and processes. However, this content solely focuses on multilateral funding sources for ODA eligible countries, such as the Green Climate Fund, Global Environment Facility, and the Adaptation Fund. As CFAN prepares to build its second cohort of Pacific advisors and to expand its training to the Caribbean, it’s become increasingly crucial to incorporate content geared specifically toward non-ODA eligible islands and territories.   

This new sub-module would thus seek to address sources for finance for non-ODA eligible islands and territories, in order to identify their unique situation and needs and outline sources, mechanisms, and initiatives focused on enabling access to climate finance from non-ODA eligible islands and territories.  

Topics include, but should not be limited to:  

• An overview of different funding sources (including multilateral and bilateral sources, regional sources, national funds, philanthropies) and their requirements, thematic priorities and eligibility criteria; 

• Guidance on accessing each source including presenting processes and modalities, cycles and guidelines for filling out templates, and, where applicable, governance arrangements; 
• Guidance on best practices for developing bankable proposals for relevant funding sources and case studies showcasing the elements of a successful project, including case studies on proposals submitted by non-ODA eligible islands and territories in the Pacific and Caribbean; and 
• An overview of key international and regional initiatives focused on advocating, supporting and enhancing access to finance for overseas countries and territories CFAN could potentially partner with. 

Learning outcomes should include, but not be limited to:  

• Enhanced understanding of the various climate funding opportunities available to non-ODA eligible islands and territories; 

• Enhanced practical understanding of the requirements of accessing such funding; and 
• Working knowledge of the processes, cycles and guidelines of selected, key funders. 

It is expected that the new sub-module will include no longer than 10 hours of pre-recorded content, including interviews/video features with relevant stakeholders. Content will be uploaded to CFAN’s bespoke training platform, Moodle, where advisors are able to access pre-recorded presentations, slides and speaker notes, and additional curriculum resources for each of the 5 modules.   

All presentations must be accompanied by speakers’ notes and include notes where further elaboration is required so that advisors can use the presentations to train others in the content. Once all content has been approved, the Firm is expected to upload the content onto CFAN’s bespoke Moodle site, following the format of existing content.   

Deliverables   

Proposed timeline

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Please contact Alex Milano ([email protected]) with any questions.

Extended Deadline: Friday, 20 October 2023