Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 13 February 2026 – A Capacity-Building Workshop on Bankable Project Development and Concept Note Preparation was organised by the Ministry of Environment (MoE) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in collaboration with Association of Banks in Cambodia.

The workshop was part of the two-year GCF Readiness project aimed at strengthening Cambodia’s institutional and technical capacity to mobilise climate finance. The initiative places particular emphasis on preparing private financial institutions for future engagement with the GCF, including potential Direct Access Entity (DAE) accreditation and the development of a strong national pipeline of climate-responsive projects that exceed USD 400 million. Those pipelines include Greening Logistics and Transport, Climate Finance for SMEs, and water, sanitation, waste, and ecosystem resilience in Tonle Sap and key river basins alongside Eco Industrial Parks’ readiness.

The three-day workshop, which concluded today, responded to findings from a readiness needs assessment conducted in the previous year. The assessment identified systemic, institutional, and technical barriers limiting Cambodia’s ability to access and deploy climate finance effectively and informed the Readiness Action Plan 2025–2027, which prioritises private-sector engagement, capacity building, and project pipeline development.

The workshop brought together more than 40 representatives from financial regulators, commercial banks, microfinance institutions, development partners, and industry associations. Over the course of three days, participants engaged in technical sessions and hands-on exercises covering GCF governance and access modalities, investment criteria, results-based management, climate and financial additionality, and the structuring of financially viable, climate-aligned projects.

The programme guided participants from understanding GCF climate rationale and policy requirements, through investment logic and financing structures, to the practical drafting of concept note ideas aligned with Cambodia’s national priorities and GCF investment criteria.

Mrs. Nathalie Andre, GGGI Cambodia Country Representative, shared, “This final workshop marks an important milestone in Cambodia’s GCF Readiness journey. Over the course of this project, we have focused on building practical skills, strengthening institutions, and preparing a pipeline of climate projects. The next step is to translate this readiness into concrete investments that deliver climate impact on the ground.”

Discussions also highlighted the role of private financial institutions in mobilising climate investments, including the use of concessional finance, blended finance instruments, and risk-sharing mechanisms to crowd in private capital. Participants examined case studies of approved GCF projects to better understand what constitutes a ‘bankable’ project in GCF terms, balancing climate impact with financial viability.

As the main final activity under the project, the workshop concluded with group presentations of preliminary concept ideas, reflections on lessons learned, and discussions on next steps, including continued technical support and follow-up engagement under Cambodia’s GCF Readiness Program. Insights from the workshop will also contribute to strengthening national readiness and accelerating progress towards Cambodia’s NDC 3.0 commitments and long-term climate goals.