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CFA South Africa

CFA South Africa

Information on CFA South Africa, how it can help your project and project eligibility criteria.
To start your application, please go to Page 2
The following form intends to gain the relevant preliminary information about the project that could be part of the Climate Finance Accelerator. The questions guide the type of information required to assess whether your project could be subject to blended financing. The form must only be answered with the information that is available and that reflects the characteristics of the project (If you do not have information regarding any section, please leave it blank).

The proposal will be kept confidential, and will not be reproduced in any form or by any means. Nor will it be used for any purpose except in consideration for the Climate Finance Accelerator South Africa.
CFA South Africa

The Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) is a global technical assistance programme funded by the UK government to directly support climate projects to access finance. The CFA operates in eight countries (Nigeria, Colombia, South Africa, Türkiye, Mexico, Peru, Pakistan & Egypt) with the aim of encouraging the flows of finance required to deliver on countries’ ambition to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

Delivery of the CFA in South Africa is led by NBI & GreenCape. The CFA programme provides project developers with support and training from technical, financial and gender equality and social inclusion experts. It also facilitates knowledge sharing and learning with financial institutions and public bodies, both nationally and internationally. Following the training, CFA South Africa will bring project developers and financiers together for workshops planned in South Africa and London. This will enable projects to meet potential investors and present their projects.

In the first phase of the programme (2021), 13 projects were selected and over a period of four months received training in technical, financial, mitigation potential and gender and social inclusion aspects. The object was to help them to obtain financing with different national and international investors.


For the second phase of the CFA in South Africa, up to 12 low-carbon projects will be selected from sectors such as climate tech, energy, transport, manufacturing, industry, land use, forestry, waste management and housing, to build capacity and connect them with potential investors. 

The CFA programme is also holding a series of workshops in London during February 2023 with City of London financiers. Projects of appropriate size and readiness from the CFA South Africa programme will be invited to attend.   

All applications will be reviewed on an individual basis by a member of the CFA South Africa team
 
How the CFA South Africa can support your project.

The Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) is a practical and deal-oriented programme that supports climate projects to improve their bankability and appeal to financiers.
Preparing projects that are attractive to investors is challenging. Low carbon projects are often perceived as higher risk as new technologies and business models are not widely understood. Regulatory and policy barriers can also create blockages in accessing capital at scale.

The Climate Finance Accelerator offers a range of support to assist climate mitigation projects in accessing finance.

By engaging with the CFA programme, project developers can benefit from:
  • Access to investors. The CFA provides project developers greater opportunities to access finance by working directly with potential investors to understand their needs and develop their projects accordingly. Through the CFA’s reach, project proponents have the opportunity to reach commercial and concessional investors, operating both nationally and internationally. The CFA Programme is also holding a series of workshops in London in February 2023 with City of London financiers. Projects of appropriate size and readiness from the CFA South Africa programme will be invited to attend.  
 
  • Coaching and best practice insights. The CFA provides access to expert insight and coaching. Through knowledge sharing sessions on what matters to financiers when taking the decision to invest, project developers will gain valuable insights and develop capabilities in making projects attractive and investment ready. For example, the CFA will advise on the development of key materials such as term sheets for investors and marketing presentations. Exchanges of best practices with other CFA countries (Türkiye, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, Nigeria, Egypt, Pakistan) will also be enabled.
 
  • Networking opportunities. Project developers will have the opportunity to expand their network with investors and other key stakeholders in the climate finance landscape. These include government representatives at national and local level, national and international development banks & agencies, and a cohort of projects facing similar challenges. The network will provide project developers with long-lasting benefits to current and future low carbon opportunities.
 
  • Increased visibility. Participation in the CFA and CFA events can raise the profile of a project amongst a range of stakeholders from regional and national policy makers, through to a range of stakeholders from local and international finance providers.
 
  • Achieving low carbon project objectives. The CFA supports projects to realise and communicate their positive impacts. The CFA has access to climate, sectoral  and social impact specialists and can assist projects to support local and national climate ambitions, as well as helping to unlock co-benefits such as poverty reduction, improved gender equality and social inclusion, and tackling biodiversity loss.

The type of projects the CFA can support

The CFA supports low carbon projects that are seeking finance.

We encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet all the criteria

Candidate projects should:

  • Be designed to achieve measurable climate outcomes in terms of direct or facilitated greenhouse gas emission reductions.
 
  • Have a total financing need between USD $5m-$150m. Smaller projects may be considered in special circumstances. Funds or similar structures consisting of multiple smaller projects are also welcomed.
 
  • Be (at least) at the pre-feasibility stage of development.
 
  • Have a business model that will generate commercially viable returns in the long-term (although some element of concessional financing may be required initially).


We strongly encourage projects that can demonstrate positive social impacts and how they contribute to furthering gender equality and social inclusion
For further information on whether your project is suitable, please get in touch at southafrica@climatefinanceaccelerator.co.uk.
 

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