ACCION Clima III - NDC implementation Costa Rica and regional knowledge exchange

Costa Rica wants to implement its ambitious national climate targets in sectors and actively contribute to the regional and international dissemination of good climate policy approaches. For this purpose, the project strengthens climate-friendly governance and institutional capacities for integrated climate protection strategies and policies. It develops ambitious NDC implementation projects, i. a. in the transport and waste sectors. It supports financing arrangements with the private, insurance and banking sectors, the linking of green fiscal reform and climate incubators, and the development of monitoring mechanisms. The project also strengthens cooperation on climate protection at local level with municipal actors and the private sector. Green recovery also plays a role here. Regionally, it provides a hub for innovative NDC implementation as well as an interface for ICI projects in Central America and the Caribbean.

Project data

Countries: Costa Rica
IKI funding: 10,000,000.00 €
Included preparation phase: 93,179.28 €
Duration: 05/2021 till 04/2026
Status: open
Implementing organisation: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Political Partner: Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) - Costa Rica
Online: https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/393.html

https://iki-cac.org/inicio

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State of implementation/results

As part of the governance component, the results of the Youth Forum for Climate Action were presented, including the draft youth integration plan (NDC goal 10.10) and the youth position on the NDC update 2025 (NDC goal 10.11). In addition, an agenda for greater involvement of young people in climate and governance processes was developed.
The Parque Tec incubator received support for eight climate and biodiversity start-ups. Experts offered advice on optimising business models, economic viability and strategic alliances. In August 2025, the start-ups presented their concepts at an impact investment forum in Mexico.
In July 2025, Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación (SINAC) organised the second national conference of female park rangers with project support. Over 95 participants discussed gender policy, strengthened leadership skills and addressed safe working conditions. The conference builds on previous processes and contributes to the implementation of Target 23 of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
The project supported a digital scrollytelling platform that visualises the experiences of IKI projects in Central America and the Caribbean. Eight stories show how women, young people, indigenous groups and coastal communities are developing responses to climate and environmental crises.
In Costa Rica, public-private partnerships to promote the climate protection agenda were initiated in an immersion workshop. Around 40 representatives from various sectors were trained in project development skills.
Together with the Alliance for Climate Action, the project organised a communication course to provide companies and organisations with tools for effectively communicating climate messages.
As part of the interface function for Central America and the Caribbean, the project organised the 5th regional networking workshop in 05/2025. Over 100 participants from IKI implementing organisations, partners and the IKI ministries exchanged experiences, discussed the future role of IKI in the region and learned about the impacts and results of selected projects in Costa Rica during project visits.
The project also coordinates a thematic community for the dissemination of solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on the PANORAMA Solutions knowledge platform.
Information on progress and results is regularly published on GIZ Costa Rica's social networks (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), the IKI-CA-C website and in the IKI newsletter for Central America and the Caribbean.

Latest Update:
12/2025