The Green Climate Fund has long been criticized for how difficult it is for low-income countries to access funding. The world’s biggest climate fund, set up in 2010 to finance adaptation and mitigation projects, has repeatedly come under fire for its application process, with critics complaining that it delays the disbursement of much-needed money for communities dealing with the impacts of climate change.
In 2017, GCF introduced the Simplified Approval Process, or SAP, to make it easier for organizations to access funding for projects with significant climate impact potential. According to GCF’s website, “SAP vastly simplifies the process and documentation” required to apply for funding.
However, several NGOs that have received funding through SAP told Devex the process was neither fast nor simple. GCF’s own Independent Evaluation Unit found that SAP has done little to reduce either the procedural burden or the time frame for projects.