Call for Projects 2023 – Outline Phase

The Project Concept Phase preceding the development of Project Outlines has been introduced with the Mitigation Action Facility Call for Projects 2023 to simplify the application process and open the competition to a wider range of potential applicants and partners. For the presentation of Project Concepts, an Open Application Platform (OAP) is used inviting applicants to provide details on the envisioned intervention. No Annexes need to be filled out. The application form in OAP is guided by the questions that will at a later stage require further, more detailed, elaboration in the Project Outline.

Yes, the Project Concept Phase is mandatory. If you have a Project Outline ready, you will still need to submit a Project Concept via OAP and wait for the assessment and selection results.

If the Project Concept is selected to proceed into the Project Outline Phase, you will be invited to submit a Project Outline including the required Annexes.

Project Concepts can be submitted exclusively through the Open Application Platform (OAP) accessible via the Mitigation Action Facility website. Project Concepts submitted in any other way will not be considered in the assessment process.

In its approach, the Mitigation Action Facility strives to follow the logic of the IPCC Common Reporting Framework as well as incorporate recommendations outlined in the Breakthrough Agenda Report 2022.

Thus, the energy sector mainly includes projects that aim at GHG emission reductions in the generation of electricity and heat production, including storage solutions for the energy generated from (renewable) sources. Optimisation of energy use through the introduction of energy efficiency measures would also fall within the scope of the sector. The activities may involve both public and private / commercial sectors.

In its approach, the Mitigation Action Facility strives to follow the logic of the IPCC Common Reporting Framework as well as incorporate recommendations outlined in the Breakthrough Agenda Report 2022.

The transport sector covers projects aiming at GHG emission reductions in land, sea and air transport. Land (road) transport includes solutions ranging from the deployment of zero emission vehicles to the development and harmonisation of charging infrastructure as well as interventions along the EV / EV batteries supply chain. Further, expansion of rail network and infrastructure, including public transport, can offer a climate-neutral alternative to individual (road) transport. Sea and air transport also present opportunities for the coordinated deployment of zero emission charging or refuelling infrastructure, e.g. along the major international routes. The mitigation measures can also aim at achieving carbon neutrality in ports / airports.

In its approach, the Mitigation Action Facility strives to follow the logic of the IPCC Common Reporting Framework as well as incorporate recommendations outlined in the Breakthrough Agenda Report 2022.

The industrial sector would encompass interventions in the heavy (e.g. construction, cement, chemicals, metals) and light industry (e.g. consumer goods, fashion, retail). Interventions such as optimisation of resource use, innovation on industrial processes and product use (IPPU), introduction of near-zero-emission technologies, etc. aiming at GHG emission reductions can target any type of enterprise – small- and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), large companies or even clusters. Projects targeting energy efficiency and / or energy generation in the industrial sector will be considered as cross-sectoral linked to two priority sectors (energy and industry) of the Mitigation Action Facility.

A biomass to energy project is an example of a cross-sectoral approach linked to one priority sector. Biomass for instance is derived from organic materials such as agricultural or urban waste, trees and plants, which are the (by-)products of other sectors such as waste, agriculture or forestry. Thus, the energy generated from biomass could be used for electricity or heat production, in line with the scope of the priority sector energy.

Cross-sectoral projects could be linked to two of the Mitigation Action Facility priority sectors. For example, a project seeking to promote e-mobility solutions and the development of the necessary (renewable) energy infrastructure to support it.

Yes, projects should target sectors explicitly included in the first updated or second NDCs.

Yes, this is possible. Each Project Concept is assessed on its own merits and the same selection criteria, regardless of whether it comes from the same or different countries.

Yes, a local non-governmental organisation can apply. If selected for the Project Outline Phase, it shall demonstrate a proof of sufficient endorsement from the government institutions relevant for the implementation of the project and comply with the capacity requirements listed in the GID, section 5.1.1 “Applicants in the Concept and Outline Phases”. A local NGO may not need to meet the capacity requirements, if, latest at the Project Outline Phase, it submits an Outline jointly with another Applicant / ASP (in a consortium) capable of meeting the capacity requirements.

All submitted Project Concepts will undergo a desk assessment by the TSU. Based on the assessment and recommendation of the TSU, the Board will select up to 25 Project Concepts to proceed to the Project Outline Phase. The Board will also decide on the Project Concepts and their respective submitters (Applicants / ASPs) that will receive support in the Outline development.

The support would encompass three major areas that the Project Outline (incl. Annexes) largely focuses on: barrier analysis and stakeholder engagements, development of a financial mechanism and a business model, and calculation of GHG emission reductions. The Applicants / ASPs will be able to choose whether they want to receive support in only one, in two or in all abovementioned areas of support. The external experts that will provide support are recruited on the basis of a public tender.

Yes, it is possible that the Applicant Support Partner (ASP) is made up of a consortium of legal entities.

It will be desirable to accomplish the shift to the large-scale project within the project’s lifetime. If selected for the Project Outline Phase, Applicants are requested to formulate key milestones associated with the smaller scale pilot phase that need to be achieved before moving into the large-scale project. The specific milestones and criteria for the two stages will be determined in DPP.

There is a substantial number of novel technologies that could be piloted as part of a project. Some illustrative examples are grid-scale battery storage, low emission steel and cement in the built environment, hydrogen production and application.

No, there are no restrictions with regard to the types of technical support measures. The Mitigation Action Facility expects that the technical assistance is linked to and enables investments in technologies, capacity development and behavioural change driving carbon-neutral development pathways. 

Projects are expected to propose financial mechanisms that enable the leveraging of public and private funds in order to make best use of the grant provided by the Mitigation Action Facility.

This leverage can be achieved through a variety of financial mechanisms and products. The chosen mechanism(s) or product(s) should be the most appropriate and feasible one(s) to overcome identified key barriers. Potential mechanisms include (but are not limited to) guarantee schemes for commercial loans, soft loan programmes, and even direct grant payments. All supported financial mechanisms need to demonstrate that the subsidy element does not crowd out commercial finance (it should “crowd in” commercial finance), that it is the most efficient and effective solution for overcoming a certain barrier and that there is a clear phase-out concept for the mechanism – or other ways are shown to ensure a sustainable impact of the financing mechanism beyond the project’s lifetime.

The Mitigation Action Facility does not set a rule for the percentage blend of subsidies/credits/equity, etc., but the choice and mix of instruments should be adequately justified.

Policy commitment is encouraged, and quantifiable tax incentives would be taken into account in the assessment as enablers of transformational change. ‘Hard’ funding commitments might, depending on the specific country context in question, indicate a higher degree of ownership and sustainability of a project.

Please refer to the website of the NDC Partnership for further information.