International
Climate Initiative (IKI)

BMU selects programmes for IKI funding on the basis of ideas competitions that are announced regularly. Country specific as well as thematic selection processes are launched. Each time, BMU also publishes the corresponding funding information (see right column "Documents").

Each selection process consists of two stages:

Stage 1

For the first stage of the selection procedure, coherent programme outlines need to be submitted in English through the online platform using the corresponding user interface on the IKI website. BMU will evaluate all complete programme outlines received in this format by the IKI Secretariat by the submission deadline.

After this deadline, the online system for submitting programme outlines is no longer accessible. Programme outlines that are not submitted using the appropriate channel cannot be considered in the further stages of the selection procedure.

Taking into account foreign and development policy criteria as well as available budget funds, BMU makes a preliminary selection of promising programme outlines. Applicants are informed in writing of the results of the evaluation.

Stage 2

The lead executing organisations of promising programme outlines receive a written invitation to present a formal programme proposal and, immediately after that, can request funding for preparing the programme, for instance for studies, appraisal missions, or planning workshops with partner institutions. After the written invitation, lead organisations have eight months to submit their programme proposal. This proposal will be subsequently evaluated by BMU and serve as a basis for its decision. The appropriate requirements and templates that should be observed in this process – including requirements with respect to monitoring and safeguards – will be announced once the first stage of the procedure is completed.

The International Climate Initiative is open to a broad range of participants from Germany and abroad. It supports programmes carried out in partner countries by federal implementing agencies, NGOs, business enterprises, universities and research institutes, and by international and multinational organisations and institutions, e.g. development banks and United Nations bodies and programmes.

Programme application is open to applicants worldwide through a regular call for proposals. This two-stage procedure is designed to ensure that funding is awarded to ambitious programmes with the most suitable implementing organisations. Applicants, whose submitted programme outlines have passed the first stage of the selection process according to predefined criteria by the BMU, are invited in a second phase to submit detailed programme proposals. These proposals are expected to be drafted in concordance with the guidelines on results-based programme planning and monitoring in the IKI, also known as the guidelines on programme planning and monitoring. The following points apply in particular to BMU-funded programmes:

Designing an international climate finance architecture:

The IKI supports mechanisms for mobilising additional funding, private investments in particular, as well as sustainable business models for climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation measures.

Innovation and the multiplier effect:

IKI programmes should follow technologically, environmentally, methodologically or institutionally ambitious and replicable approaches that are transferrable and that achieve results beyond individualprogrammes.

Transparency and Coherence:

The IKI supports its partner countries in making measurable, reportable and verifiable (MRV) contributions to climate change mitigation. BMU also participates in the international debate on MRV. On the one hand, it is continuously improving its own monitoring approach. The planning and monitoring of IKI programmes follows the impact logic of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). On the other hand, the IKI also focuses on strengthening transparency and governance structures in international climate financing.

Learning from Experience:

Stakeholders active in the IKI use platforms such as workshops or online networks to exchange experiences and know-how and learn from one another. An independent evaluation of individual projects and the entire programme provide important insights for continuously improving the IKI.

Standard Indicators:

As from 2015, all new programmes are to use not only the programme-specific indicators, but also the overarching standard indicators that summarise the central impacts of the IKI funding programme. Each programme reports on all standard indicators to which it has made a significant contribution.

IKI's standard indicators are:

Reduction indicator: Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and increase in carbon storage (as tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) in the project/programme area.

Adaptation indicator: Number of people the programme directly assists with adaptation to climate change impacts or ecosystem conservation.

Ecosystem indicator: Ecosystem area (in hectares) that is improved or protected by the programme’s activities.

Policy indicator: Number of new or improved policy frameworks for managing climate change and/or conserving biodiversity.

Institution indicator: Number of new or improved institutionalised structures or processes for managing climate change and/or conserving biodiversity.

Methods indicator: Number of new or improved methodological tools for managing climate change and conserving biodiversity.

Since 2017 IKI programme implementing organisations are expected to apply the GCF Safeguard System (interim IFC Performance Standards). Performance Standard 1 is not applicable for IKI programmes. The systematic consideration of safeguards within the International Climate Initiative will contribute to the avoidance of potential negative impacts of programmes on people or the environment and enhance the overall quality ofprogramme planning and implementation. Programme applicants are expected to suggest a risk category based on a screening of all Performance Standards in conjunction with planned measures to avoid and mitigate the risks.  In case of potential risky activities relevant instruments for risk minimization, monitoring and management have to be included in the programme concept (e.g. indicators, desk study, safeguards workshop with stakeholders).    

Implementing organisations without institutional safeguard system or in-house expertise will receive support from the IKI Secretariat in the risk assessment process. High-risk programmes and – in exceptional cases – medium risk programmes may apply for a preliminary study or programme mission. Furthermore, it is possible to apply for an extension of the deadline for programme proposal submission if necessary in order implement safeguards appropriately. If changes regarding the risk categorization occur during programme implementation, these changes have to be communicated to the responsible project managers of the IKI Secretariat immediately.