Open Call: Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance

The Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance (the Lab) is inviting applications through its Call for Ideas, seeking innovative financial vehicles that can mobilize private climate finance in emerging markets. The opportunity provides technical incubation, investor network access, and support to fast-track concepts from idea to pilot launch. Preliminary applications are due 18 October (time zone not specified in the source). Opportunity at a Glance

- Opportunity name: Call for Ideas

- Funding/Support provider: The Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance (CPI)

- Opportunity type: Investor-led public-private initiative to incubate and support early-stage climate finance solutions

- What applicants submit: A proposal for an innovative financial vehicle (not an individual project)

- Eligible applicants: Cohesive applicant teams with a proven track record and capacity to dedicate significant staff time during the cycle (specific legal forms not specified in the source) - Eligible locations: ODA-eligible countries (developing economies recognized by the OECD) in defined regional windows (see “Eligible Activities or Priority Areas”)

- Deadline: 18 October (preliminary applications due; time zone not specified in the source)

- Program timeline (key dates):

- Call for ideas open: 21 September

- Preliminary applications due: 18 October

- Selected applicants invited to full application: mid-November

- Full applications due: early December

- Interviews with shortlisted applicants: December–January

- Regional Selection Meetings: mid-February 2027

- Global Selection Meeting (new cohort selected): early March 2027

About the Opportunity

The Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance is an investor-led, public-private initiative that incubates innovative, well-designed, early-stage climate finance solutions. The Lab’s goal is to increase private investment for climate action in emerging markets by developing financial solutions that are scalable and replicable. During the annual cycle, proponents work with the Lab Secretariat to co-create key aspects of the financial vehicle, including its structure, implementation planning, market assessment, and impact considerations. Funding and Benefits The Lab states that selected proponents receive a comprehensive package of support to advance a financial solution from concept toward pilot launch, including: - Technical assistance and advisory services totaling more than USD 250,000 worth (package value stated by the Lab) - Dedicated analytical support: work with two dedicated CPI analysts over seven months to co-develop the financial model, refine instrument design, and strengthen the impact framework - Investor engagement through a Working Group of 10–15 public and private investors, funders, and technical specialists - Go-to-market support after Endorsement, including: - pitch deck development - investor mapping - fundraising strategy - targeted introductions

- Market validation: Lab endorsement signals the solution has been assessed by leading public and private institutions

- Global visibility through an alumni network that has mobilized more than USD 5 billion for climate action in emerging markets Who Is Eligible? The Lab is seeking applicant teams that can develop and advance a financial vehicle during the Lab cycle. Eligibility requirements in the source include:

- Applicant type: Cohesive applicant teams (specific organizational forms are not specified in the source)

- Track record: proven track record of deploying capital or developing climate solutions

- Capacity: ability to dedicate significant staff time during the cycle

- Geographic requirement: the vehicle must target implementation in ODA-eligible countries (developing economies recognized by the OECD)

The source also clarifies what is not eligible in scope: - The Lab seeks financial vehicles, not individual projects or standalone technology deployments—unless tied to a novel financial product. Eligible Activities or Priority Areas This Call for Ideas focuses on innovative financial vehicles designed to mobilize private capital for climate mitigation and adaptation in emerging markets. Submissions should meet the following conditions: - Vehicle type (must be an investment structure/mechanism), examples include: - debt/equity funds - guarantee facilities - asset financing - results-based financing - securitization structures - other investment vehicles leveraging capital markets and insurance products - Maturity stage (concept development level): - Initial Development Stage, with market assessment and early design underway, or - Feasibility and Structuring, with vehicle structure actively designed and investor sounding in progress - Geographic windows and focus (regional program windows described in the source):

- Africa – Mitigation: climate mitigation solutions supporting Africa-focused investment needs (ODA-eligible countries in Africa)

- Asia-Pacific – Mitigation: mitigation-focused financial solutions targeting ODA-eligible countries in Asia-Pacific

- Brazil – Mitigation / Adaptation co-benefits: transformative investment solutions for Brazil’s national climate priorities

- India – Mitigation and/or adaptation: solutions addressing India’s financing challenges in green sectors

- Latin America and the Caribbean – Mitigation / Adaptation co-benefits: ideas focused on climate mitigation with a pathway toward long-term net zero goals and scalable private capital mobilization Why This Opportunity Matters Many climate finance barriers—such as limited access to credit, risk, and a lack of innovative financing mechanisms—can prevent private capital from reaching climate action at scale. This Lab is specifically structured to support the development of investment vehicles (not one-off projects) with co-created instrument design, impact frameworks, risk mapping, and go-to-market planning—aimed at enabling replication and broader deployment across emerging markets. How to Apply The source provides the ov