WHO as an Accredited Implementing Entity of the Adaptation Fund; Accessing AF funding for Climate Change and Health

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been approved as an Accredited Implementing Entity by the Adaptation Fund (AF), enabling WHO to support countries in accessing Adaptation Fund grants, undertaking adaptation planning and developing strategic frameworks to build their programming with the AF. As such, WHO is ready to support regions and countries in accessing AF funds to strengthen adaptation planning and climate resilience of the health systems.

Eligibility & process

The Adaptation Fund finances climate change adaptation and resilience activities in developing countries that are vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change and are Parties to the Kyoto Protocol. Funding applicants must submit project proposals through a National Implementing Entity, a Regional Implementing Entity, or a Multilateral Implementing Entity, such as WHO. Proposals also require endorsement by the Designated Authorities of the country in which the proposed activities would take place.

AF project proposals should describe how the activities will help with adaptation to climate change and improve climate resilience. The activities should aim at producing visible and tangible results on the ground by reducing vulnerability and increasing the adaptive capacity of human and natural systems to respond to the impacts of climate change, including climate variability. Adaptation projects/programmes can be implemented at the community, national, regional and transboundary level. Projects/programmes concern activities with a specific objective(s) and concrete outcome(s) and output(s) that are measurable, monitorable, and verifiable.

To provide further guidance in accessing AF funding for health-related projects, WHO and the AF are conducting webinars on AF funding opportunities and project proposal processes. These webinars will bring together representatives from WHO Regional and Country Offices and Ministries of Health, responsible for the proposal preparation and implementation of climate change and health projects. 

Objectives of the Webinar

• Strengthen the capacity of WHO Regional and Country Offices, representatives from the Ministry of Health to prepare funding proposals on climate change and health to be submitted to the Adaptation Fund (AF);
• Highlight the knowledge and interlinkages between climate change and health for the development of health focused projects;
• Take stock of countries’ needs on climate change and health and opportunities to mobilise available funding through the AF.

Expected Outcomes of the Webinar

• Enhanced capacity at regional and country level in AF proposal preparation for the health sector;
• Strong understanding of the AF proposal development and submission processes under different available funding windows;
• Regional and national entry-points identified to for climate change and health proposal development to be submitted to the AF.