The Green Climate Fund (GCF) on Saturday approved nearly US$1 billion in new financing, pushing its total commitments past the US$20 billion mark, and announced plans to open its first African regional offices in Nairobi, Kenya, and Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The board of the Fund cleared financing for 18 projects, focusing on both emissions reduction and climate adaptation in developing countries. The approvals included simplified review procedures for some initiatives, aimed at speeding up access to finance and project implementation.
Of the total financing, roughly $441 million – or 46% – is earmarked for projects across Africa. A flagship program, ASCENT-GREEN, developed in partnership with the World Bank, received $250 million. The initiative seeks to expand energy access and strengthen climate resilience in 21 eastern and southern African nations, potentially benefiting 28.8 million people in regions where nearly 365 million still lack electricity.
Other approved projects in Africa address sector-specific challenges. The SCALE program in Chad, implemented with aid agency ACTED, focuses on adapting agricultural systems to climate impacts. In Zambia, the Fund is supporting the development of climate risk protection tools for smallholder farmers, while in Kenya, the GCF will help deploy climate-smart solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises and farmers in collaboration with KCB Bank.
The board’s decision to open regional offices is aimed at improving engagement with recipient countries and accelerating project preparation and oversight. Abidjan will host the office for West and Central Africa and parts of North Africa, while Nairobi will cover East and Southern Africa. According to Ivorian authorities, the West Africa office is expected to enhance coordination of climate initiatives, support governments, and improve access to funding.
“The selection of host cities for our regional offices will bring us closer to the countries that we serve, increasing impact and engagement,” said GCF Executive Director Mafalda Duarte. “I would like to thank all 43 countries who expressed interest in hosting an office and reassure them that the decision on regional presence will strengthen our engagement across all countries.”
The announcement comes as Africa faces persistent structural challenges in climate financing. Despite being highly exposed to climate-related risks, the continent receives less than 5% of global climate finance. Limited access to long-term, affordable capital, small project sizes, and difficulties mobilizing private investment at scale continue to constrain climate action.
Experts say financial instruments designed to reduce investment risk, such as those included in the newly approved GCF programs, are critical to scaling climate projects across Africa. “Innovative risk mitigation tools will be essential to attract private capital, accelerate implementation, and ensure sustainable impact,” said a senior executive at Equity Group Holdings in an interview with Proparco.
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Since its establishment, the GCF has supported 354 projects worldwide, financing climate action in developing countries and promoting sustainable development. The Fund’s new commitment underscores its ongoing effort to address both mitigation and adaptation needs while increasing the pace of project delivery in regions most vulnerable to climate change.
With the launch of regional offices, the Fund seeks to replicate its global model of engagement locally, ensuring governments, civil society, and private sector actors have closer access to technical support and financing. By situating teams on the continent, the GCF aims to reduce bureaucratic delays and better tailor interventions to the specific needs of African countries.
“The GCF’s strengthened presence in Africa is a significant step toward closing the continent’s climate finance gap,” Duarte said. “It will facilitate faster project preparation, closer oversight, and more effective support for countries in building climate resilience and transitioning to low-emission development pathways.”
