On 19 March 2025, the Head of the Technical Support Unit (TSU) of the Mitigation Action Facility (MAF), Sören David, participated in a high-level roundtable during the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue (BETD) alongside 25 high-level experts, including government representatives and financial sector executives. The discussion, titled “Driving Investment through Energy Targets in NDCs – A private Sector – Government Dialogue”, explored strategies to mobilise investments that drive the achievement of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). MAF’s participation reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating climate action through a combination of targeted financing mechanisms and technical support for countries to achieve their NDCs.
Driving Investments for NDC Achievement: MAF’s Role at BETD
The BETD is a key annual event where international policymakers, industry leaders, and financial experts convene to discuss the future of sustainable energy This year, the roundtable discussion focused on the financial pathways necessary for countries to fulfil their climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. Representing MAF, Sören David shared insights from the Facility’s global portfolio, highlighting the importance of aligning public and private investments with national priorities set in NDCs. With many countries currently preparing their updated NDCs (NDC 3.0) ahead of the 2025 submission deadline, the dialogue underscored the urgency of accelerating investment flows. “Energy targets in NDC updates can strengthen credibility and ambition by specifying and prioritizing key projects – particularly within whole-of-government approaches,” Sören David noted during the discussion.
Key Insights from the High-Level Dialogue
A key focus of the roundtable was identifying strategies to unlock funding that aligns with NDC targets while addressing barriers to private-sector engagement.
Key takeaways included:
- Mobilising Private Capital: Clear energy targets within NDCs can increase investor confidence, attracting private-sector engagement in climate projects.
- Public-Private Collaboration: Strengthening partnerships between public institutions and private investors is essential for bridging financing gaps.
- Lessons from MAF’s Portfolio: Successful MAF-supported projects, such as the Thailand Low-Emission Rice project, illustrate how targeted financial mechanisms can scale up low-carbon investments. This project, for example, secured follow-on grant funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in its final years, expanding its reach and impact.
Bridging Investment Gaps for Future NDCs
For MAF, the dialogue reinforced the importance of providing tailored financial solutions that address country-specific needs while remaining flexible enough to adapt to changing market conditions. This aligns with the newly selected Kazakhstan Reactive Power project, for which MAF is investing EUR 6 million to promote an NDC-aligned energy transition.
Key outcomes of the event include:
- Enhanced Stakeholder Engagement: Strengthened relationships with public and private actors working to mobilise investment for NDC implementation.
- Knowledge Sharing: Shared good practices from MAF’s global portfolio, providing real-word examples of successful financing mechanisms.
- Future Collaboration: Identified news opportunities for co-financing with multilateral institutions and private investors.
Looking ahead, MAF remains committed to advancing innovative solutions that support countries in delivering on their NDCs. Insights from the BETD dialogue will guide ongoing efforts to mobilise investments and foster partnerships that drive sustainable, low-carbon development.
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We thank the BETD organisers for hosting a crucial dialogue and look forward to building on these discussions to support the next generation of ambitious, investment-driven climate action.