Climate Finance Accelerator South Africa (CFA‑SA) 2026 Cohort – Call for Proposals.

The Climate Finance Accelerator South Africa (CFA‑SA) is accepting applications for its 2026 cohort, offering intensive, tailored support to help South African low‑carbon projects become more bankable and investor‑ready. Funded by the UK Government’s International Climate Finance and implemented in South Africa by the National Business Initiative (NBI) and GreenCape, CFA‑SA is a technical assistance programme that works directly with project developers to align their propositions with investor requirements, improve financial and technical documentation, and build connections with a wide range of financiers. The programme does not raise capital or act as a transaction adviser; instead, it provides independent, hands‑on capacity building that strengthens the pipeline of bankable, climate‑mitigation projects in line with South Africa’s climate and just transition objectives.

CFA‑SA targets revenue‑generating businesses and post‑feasibility projects in key mitigation sectors such as energy, transport, waste management, water, and sustainable agriculture, with a minimum funding ask of USD 3 million and core technologies at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 or above (system commissioning / full‑scale pilot in an operational environment). Selected projects benefit from a structured package of support: initial project assessment and tailored support planning; 4–6 months of bespoke one‑to‑one and group capacity building with financial, technical and Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) experts; a multi‑day event with pitch sessions and investor engagement; and ongoing relationship support to sustain momentum after the formal programme. By convening project developers, financiers (public and private, domestic and international) and policymakers, CFA‑SA also contributes to addressing enabling‑environment barriers and advancing South Africa’s broader climate finance ecosystem.

Eligible countries

This call is country‑specific:

• Eligible country: South Africa (projects must be based and implemented in South Africa).

Implementing partners:

• National Business Initiative (NBI)
• GreenCape
  (Funded by the UK Government / International Climate Finance).

Call window / key dates

• Call close / application deadline: 06 February 2026

Support package (type and value)

CFA‑SA provides technical assistance and capacity building, not direct grant or loan funding:

1. Project assessment
   • Initial review of each project to determine bankability gaps and define a tailored support plan.​
2. Capacity building (4–6 months)
   • One‑on‑one sessions with financial, technical and GEDSI experts.
   • Tools and templates for project financing (e.g. data room, financial model, pitch deck).
   • Webinars / group sessions on:
     • Improving financial data rooms and pitch decks
     • Understanding the South African investor landscape and mandates
     • Effective communication and branding for climate businesses
3. Multi‑day in‑country event
   • Investor‑facing pitch opportunities.
   • Shared learning, networking and engagement with a wide range of financiers and ecosystem stakeholders.
4. Ongoing relationship support
   • Follow‑up engagement to agree how CFA can continue to support the project’s investor outreach and barrier‑removal efforts.​

There is no direct cash grant to project developers; the value lies in high‑quality transaction‑readiness support and facilitated investor connections.

Eligibility criteria

Project and business profile
Applicants should:

• Be based in South Africa and implement activities in South Africa.
• Be either:
  • A revenue‑generating business, or
  • A project at least at the post‑feasibility stage (full technical and financial feasibility study completed).
• Be seeking a minimum investment of USD 3 million.
• Use core technologies that are proven at minimum TRL 7, i.e. system commissioning with a full‑scale pilot/product/service already demonstrating performance in an operational environment.
• Have a credible pathway to commercial viability and long‑term returns.

Thematic focus / sectors
Projects should deliver measurable climate‑mitigation outcomes and fit within one or more of the following sectors:

• Energy (e.g. clean generation, storage, energy efficiency, green hydrogen and related value chains)
• Transport (e.g. low‑carbon mobility, EV infrastructure, logistics decarbonisation)
• Waste management (e.g. circular economy, waste‑to‑energy, recycling)
• Water (e.g. efficiency, treatment, resilience solutions)
• Sustainable agriculture (e.g. climate‑smart production, low‑carbon agri value chains)

Projects that also demonstrate positive impacts on gender equality, social inclusion and Just Transition are particularly encouraged.

Additional expectations

• Clear, robust climate‑impact case (mitigation and, where relevant, resilience).
• A strong management team and governance structure capable of engaging with investors.
• Willingness to share project information with CFA partners under confidentiality and to engage actively in capacity‑building and investor‑facing activities.

Application process

• Applicants must complete the official online application form (Microsoft Forms link provided by NBI/GreenCape).
• Before applying, applicants are strongly advised to download and review the “Climate Finance Accelerator: South Africa Call for Proposals” guidance PDF, which outlines:
  • Detailed eligibility and selection criteria
  • Application questions
  • Required supporting documents (e.g. feasibility study, financial model, pitch deck, corporate documentation).

Projects are selected through a competitive process based on their climate impact, commercial viability, scalability, investment readiness, and contribution to inclusion and Just Transition objectives.

Click HERE to visit the official website.