LIFT initiative is a multi-country climate finance programme implemented by the GGGI with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). LIFT supports selected African countries to strengthen access to climate finance and accelerate investment in priority green sectors aligned with national development strategies and NDCs. The programme focuses on mobilising climate finance through high-quality concept note development, strengthening direct access and accreditation to the Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund, and capacity building as well as expanding green lending portfolios of commercial banks and financial institutions. By combining policy support, institutional capacity building, and transaction-level assistance, LIFT aims to unlock scalable public and private climate investments and deliver measurable impact across the participating countries.

Enhanced capacity of selected public and private organizations to access and manage climate finance, leading to increased climate investments in partner countries investments in partner countries.

Outcome 1: Increased access to climate finance through high-quality Concept Notes for financiers for a total value of at least USD 50 million.

Outcome 2: Strengthened institutional capacity to access and manage climate finance including accreditation to GCF and AF.

Outcome 3: Increased green loan portfolio of selected banks, Financial Intuitions, and financial inclusion partners.

With 1.4 billion people, representing about 17% of the global population, Africa is on the front lines of a climate crisis it did little to cause. The continent contributes less than 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet nine of the world’s ten most climate-vulnerable countries are in Africa.

Climate shocks compound existing social and economic vulnerabilities. African countries require an estimated USD 1.1–2.8 trillion between 2020 and 2030 to implement their NDCs, but current climate finance flows amount to only USD 43.7 billion annually, meeting just 13% of needs. Despite USD 2.4 trillion in available private sector assets, only USD 8 billion is directed to climate finance. The COVID-19 pandemic further strained economies and widened inequalities, underscoring the need to reset development pathways toward greener and more resilient growth.