Call for Projects 2026

In the Project Concept Phase and DPP / Proposal Phase, all projects are evaluated against pre-determined selection criteria, which ensure that the most ambitious and transformational projects would be approved for funding and, thus, implementation.

General Information Document

Start Application

Submission deadline:
25 February 2026

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General Information
Concept
Preparation
Implementation

General information

Calls

launched since 2013

mitigation projects

selected

835

million EUR

allocated for Calls so far

Through its annual competitive Calls for Projects, we strive to shift our priority sectors towards a carbon-neutral development pathway. Projects funded by the Mitigation Action Facility support partner countries in implementing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Long-Term Strategies (LTSs). Our funding is used to develop financial mechanisms and deliver technical assistance to tackle wider policy, regulatory or other barriers that inhibit investment and constrain carbon-neutral development.

The most ambitious and feasible climate change mitigation projects are selected for funding support through a comprehensive process including the following phases: Concept Phase; Detailed Preparation Phase (DPP); and Implementation Phase.

Application

Check the Concept Phase tab where you can find all relevant information and key resources supporting your application.

General Information Document

The GID provides general information as well as requirements and specific information on the selection process of projects for funding under the Call for Projects 2026 (part B). The purpose of this document is to assist potential applicants in preparing and submitting Project Concepts.

Timeline

14 November 2025	Launch of the Call at Mitigation Action Facility side event at COP30 in Belém
14 November 2025 – 25 February 2026	Project Concept Phase (mandatory)
March – May 2026	Assessment and a limited number of Concepts invited to the Pitch
May – June 2026	Virtual Pitch
August 2026	Selection of Concepts for the Detailed Preparation Phase (DPP)
August 2026	Preparation and submission of DPP concept and DPP budget
September 2026	Formal approval of selected projects for DPP
September 2026 – December 2026	Contracting for the DPP
Up to 12 months (after contracting)	DPP
By the end of month 12 (after contracting)	Submission of Project Proposals
Approx. five months after proposal submission	Funding decision for the Implementation Phase

Key features and refinements

Sectoral focus	Energy, transport, industry, and cross-sectoral projects linked to one of the others
Country-driven	Nationally owned projects aligned with ambitious NDCs, in the context of NDCs 3.0, and development plans
Funding approach	Grant-based funding for projects combining technical assistance and financial cooperation
Funding volume	Overall funding volume of the Call: EUR 100 million; Up to EUR 25 million per project
Introduction of Lighthouse Pilot Projects	Optional, additional modality of delivery replacing former Piloting modality
Application process	Six Concepts allowed per applicant, including any regional branches or subsidiaries
Project cycle	The Outline Phase has been waived. Up to 25 applicants will be invited to pitch their Project Concepts The Detailed Preparation Phase (DPP) duration is capped at 12 months. Mature projects with strong readiness may be invited to develop a Project Proposal, bypassing the DPP.
Support for carbon markets	Provision of Technical Cooperation support to relevant projects for carbon market readiness. More details available in the policy paper.

Means of support

current phase

Concept Phase

The Project Concept Phase was introduced in the 2023 Call for Projects to simplify the application process and attract a diverse pool of applicants.

The period for submitting Project Concepts lasts for three and a half months. For the presentation of Project Concepts, a standardised web-based questionnaire (Open Application Platform, OAP) is used inviting applicants to provide details on the envisioned intervention, The submission of Project Concepts is mandatory in order to proceed to the next steps in the selection process.

Application

Applicants have three and a half months to submit a Project Concept providing only basic details on the idea, rationale, required support, and intended impacts (no annexes are required). When submitting a Project Concept, applicants/ASPs must provide responses to all the questions in the application form. All information must be provided in English.

Assessment

Each Concept undergoes a structured, multi-stage assessment. Eligibility checks and initial concept filtering are supported by an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven tool.

Selection criteria

Timely submission	By the closure of the Project Concept Phase of a Call for Projects
Sector focus	Focus on one of the priority sectors or a cross-sectoral project
Completeness	All requested information is provided (all mandatory fields in OAP are filled out)
Language	Information is provided in English
ODA eligibility	According to the OECD DAC-list throughout the entire foreseen implementation
ODA finance	Qualification of the Mitigation Action Facility funding as ODA finance
Funding volume	Requested Facility funding for implementation is EUR 5-25 million, excluding DPP
Duration	Envisaged implementation duration of 3 – 5 ½ years

Upon successfully passing through the eligibility check, Concepts are evaluated against a set of ambition and feasibility criteria (both are rated equally).

For detailed information please refer to the General Information Document (GID).

Selection

Up to 25 Project Concepts are then invited to a virtual Pitch conducted jointly by the TSU and external experts, with the aim of identifying the most ambitious yet feasible projects, including some Lighthouse Pilot Projects, to advance to the DPP.

Concept template

This example of a Project Concept template serves as a guidance for applicants and can be used for information purposes only. This document is not suitable for an actual submission of a Project Concept. The submission of Project Concepts occurs exclusively via the Open Application Platform (OAP) that is accessible during Project Concept Phase.

Checklist for applicants

As an applicant at the Concept Phase, you are either (i) a national ministry, or (ii) a legal entity (e.g., governmental agency, development bank, NGO, INGO, private financial institution, commercial entity, foundation)
The country in which your project will be implemented (subsequently referred to as the “partner country”) is included on the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) List
Your project is implemented in one of the three priority sectors – energy, transport or industry – or proposes a cross-sectoral approach with a clear link to one of these sectors.
The chosen priority sector is included in the partner country’s NDC.
Your project is country-driven and embedded in national development strategies and plans.
Your project combines both policy and/or regulatory reforms with financial mechanisms.
You intend to use project funds to leverage additional public and/or private capital investment, with a clear strategy to phase out Mitigation Action Facility support and phase in other financing sources by the end of the project’s implementation.
Funds provided by the Mitigation Action Facility and associated investments qualify as Official Development Assistance (ODA) throughout the implementation period.
Funds provided by the Mitigation Action Facility are used in line with the public benefit purpose of promoting sustainable development in the partner country.
Your project is implementation-ready.
Your project applies an intersectional understanding of gender equality and social inclusion (GESI).
The implementation period of your project ranges from 36 to 66 months.
The funding requested for project implementation ranges from EUR 5–25 million.

The Mitigation Action Facility strongly recommends reading the entirety of the GID to complete your understanding of the application process, and to ensure your application has the best chance of being selected. However, we’ve provided a checklist for Applicants summarising the “must-haves” and “must-knows”.

Key resources for applicants

Here you can find a collection of the most important materials:

General Information Document – Call for Projects 2026 (PDF)

Call for Projects 2026 – Project Concept template (PDF)

Transformational Change Measurement Framework (TCMF) – Guidance Note (PDF)

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework 2024 (PDF)

Mitigation Action Facility Mitigation Guideline for Project Concept Phase (PDF)

Common pitfalls in Project Concept submissions (PDF)

Mitigation Action Facility Financial Mechanisms Report (PDF)

Carbon Market Policy Paper (PDF)

Mitigation Action Facility’s Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Analysis (PDF)

Sector knowledge brief for the Mitigation Action Facility transport sector (PDF)

Sector knowledge brief for the Mitigation Action Facility energy sector (PDF)

Sector knowledge brief for the Mitigation Action Facility industry sector (PDF)

starts Sept 2026

Detailed Preparation Phase (Proposal)

During the Detailed Preparation Phase (DPP), projects are further refined with expertise and technical guidance made available by the TSU to support applicants.

Duration

This phase lasts up to 12 months. Applicants are encouraged to submit the Project Proposal before the deadline.

Proposal assessment

Once the Project Proposal has been submitted at the end of the DPP, it undergoes a comprehensive review by the TSU and external experts. Project Proposals are also evaluated based on the ambition and feasibility criteria (similar to the Concept Phase), but in this case the feasibility criteria are emphasised.

Fast-track pathway

For well-developed and mature projects, the fast-track pathway is an option for bypassing the DPP. A full proposal is still required under this approach, however. Projects approved for the fast-track pathway will submit the complete proposal along with all annexes after the decision to bypass the DPP has been made.

Approval for implementation

Based on the assessment results, the Board approves projects for funding under the Implementation Phase.

Important note: Passing the Concept Phase does not guarantee implementation funding; the final decision depends on the detailed Proposal assessment following the DPP and the availability of funds.
2028

Project Implementation

Following the final approval of a Project Proposal by the Board, the Facility Grant Agent (FGA) will enter into a grant agreement with the qualified implementation organisations (IOs).

All the rules and procedures that have been defined in the underlying contractual arrangements between the Board and the FGA and that are relevant for the implementation of the project will be reflected in the grant agreement.

The IOs are fully responsible for implementing the project according to the Project Proposal and any conditions stipulated in the grant agreement.