Mitigation Action Facility’s Call for Projects 2026

The Mitigation Action Facility’s Call for Projects 2026 provides grant-based climate finance (up to EUR 25 million per project from an overall EUR 100 million envelope) for ambitious mitigation projects that decarbonise the energy, transport and industry sectors in countries eligible for Official Development Assistance (ODA).

Opportunity overview

The Mitigation Action Facility is a multi-donor platform (Germany, UK, Denmark, EU and CIFF) providing technical support and climate finance for ambitious mitigation projects that support implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and long-term strategies. The Call for Projects 2026 focuses on decarbonising energy, transport and industry, including cross‑sectoral projects linked to one of these priority sectors, and seeks proposals capable of catalysing sector‑wide transformational change and closing the climate finance gap.

Funding is provided as grants that combine Technical Assistance (TA) and Financial Cooperation (FC) to design sustainable, scalable financial mechanisms that unlock further public and private investment in low‑carbon technologies and practices. Projects are expected not only to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also to strengthen institutional capacity, support just transitions, and deliver environmental, social and economic co‑benefits, including contributions to initiatives such as Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) and the Climate Club.

Key features and funding

The Call for Projects 2026 introduces a streamlined, more inclusive project cycle:

• Simplified process: The previous Outline Phase is removed; more detail is now submitted at the Concept Phase, reducing duplication and administrative burden.
• Two‑step Concept selection: After assessment, up to 25 shortlisted applicants will be invited to an online Pitch to present their Concepts to the Technical Support Unit (TSU) and external experts.
• Detailed Preparation Phase (DPP): For selected projects, DPP can last up to 12 months.
• Fast‑track pathway: Mature projects with strong readiness and clear government backing may bypass the DPP and move directly to full Project Proposal and implementation consideration.

Funding parameters:

• Overall call volume: Up to EUR 100 million.
• Funding per project: Between EUR 5 million and EUR 25 million for implementation (excluding DPP funding).
• Instruments: Grant‑based support combining TA (e.g. policy and regulatory reform, capacity development) and FC (e.g. credit lines, guarantees, concessional finance) via market‑based mechanisms.
• All Facility funds and associated investments must qualify as Official Development Assistance (ODA) and serve a public‑benefit purpose, promoting sustainable development in partner countries.

Lighthouse Pilot Projects

The Call includes an optional Lighthouse Pilot Projects track, replacing the former piloting modality. Lighthouse projects are intended as visible, first‑of‑their‑kind demonstrations that:

• Test novel technologies or solutions (globally or in a specific national context), such as tidal stream energy, green hydrogen for industry, local battery manufacturing for e‑mobility or advanced grid stabilisation systems.
• Use a structured approach to capture and disseminate lessons across countries and sectors, strengthening the Facility’s role as a knowledge and learning hub.
• Take calculated risks and act as front‑runners that showcase new pathways, inspire replication and drive broader sectoral transformation.

Lighthouse Pilot Projects follow the same application and selection process as other projects; however, under the ambition criteria there is greater emphasis on technological innovation, demonstration effect and knowledge generation, alongside transformational change, mitigation impact and financial leverage.

Eligible applicants and countries

At Concept Phase, applicants must be either:

• A national ministry, or
• A legal entity, such as:
  • Governmental agencies and public implementing organisations.
  • Development banks or public financial institutions.
  • NGOs/INGOs, foundations or non‑profit organisations.
  • Private financial institutions or commercial companies.

Eligible countries

Projects must be implemented in a partner country that:

• Is included on the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) List of ODA Recipients throughout the entire project implementation period (for 2024–2025, this includes most low‑ and middle‑income countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America/Caribbean, Middle East and parts of Europe and the Pacific).
• Qualifies for ODA; all project funding and co‑financed investments must be used to promote sustainable development and public benefit in these countries, not for private commercial gain.

Examples of DAC‑listed countries include:

• Many African countries (e.g. Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia).
• Asian countries (e.g. Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Vietnam, Philippines, Nepal).
• Latin America and Caribbean (e.g. Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Guatemala, Dominican Republic).
• Selected Middle Eastern and other states (e.g. Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Mongolia, Ukraine, Georgia).

Applicants must ensure that the chosen country remains DAC‑eligible for ODA for the whole planned implementation period.

Thematic focus and project requirements

Projects must:

• Focus on one of three priority sectors – energy, transport or industry – or propose a cross‑sectoral approach clearly linked to one of these sectors.
• Be explicitly aligned with the partner country’s NDC, and, where applicable, with its NDC Partnership implementation plans and long‑term strategies.
• Be country‑driven, embedded in national development strategies and plans, and supported by relevant government institutions.
• Combine policy/regulatory reforms with financial mechanisms that leverage additional public and/or private capital, with a credible plan to phase out Facility support and phase in other finance by project end.
• Use Facility funds in line with ODA rules, focusing on public benefit and transformational sector impacts, not private profit.
• Be implementation‑ready, with an implementation period between 36 and 66 months.
• Apply an intersectional understanding of gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), integrating these considerations into design, implementation and impact.

Projects are also expected to support carbon market readiness where relevant, through TC3 support, which can cover methodology development, regulatory and legal frameworks and public‑carbon market interfaces aligned with Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement.

Application process and deadline

The application process for the Call for Projects 2026 consists of:

• Project Concept Phase:
  • Submission of Project Concepts via the Mitigation Action Facility’s Open Application Platform.
  • Each applicant (including regional branches and subsidiaries) may submit a maximum of six Project Concepts.
  • Concepts are screened against eligibility and ambition criteria; a limited number (up to 25) are invited to the Pitch.
• Pitch step:
  • Shortlisted applicants present their Concepts virtually to the TSU and external experts for further assessment.
• Detailed Preparation Phase (DPP):
  • For most selected projects, an in‑depth design and structuring phase (up to 12 months).
  • Fast‑track: highly mature projects with strong readiness and government backing may be invited to skip the DPP and proceed directly to a full Project Proposal.
• Implementation Phase:
  • For projects approved after DPP or fast‑tracked assessment, covering 36–66 months of implementation.

Deadline: Project Concepts must be submitted by 25 February 2026 through the Mitigation Action Facility’s Open Application Platform.

Further details, including the full General Information Document (GID), templates and FAQs, are available on the Mitigation Action Facility website: **https://mitigation-action.org/call-for-projects-2026/**.​