Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF)

Description What is done in the programme or project and why, what results are pursued, who benefits from the activities and who are involved in the implementation.

The Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) was established in response to guidance received from the seventh session of the UNFCCC COP in Marrakech in 2001. Like the Least Developed Countries Fund, the SCCF is managed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). It is designed to finance activities, programs and measures related to climate change that are complementary to those funded through the climate change focal area of the GEF, under the following four financing windows: (i) Adaptation to climate change; (ii) Technology transfer; (iii) Mitigation in selected sectors including: energy, transport, industry, agriculture, forestry and waste management; and (iv) Economic diversification. Among these four windows, adaptation has the top priority, therefore, also Finland contributes to this window. As at April 27, 2015, 79 countries had accessed a total of $329.23 million for 73 projects under the SCCF. Of the total resources approved, $273.75 million were for 63 projects under the SCCF Adaptation Program. Most of the projects are still under implementation or in the planning phase, therefore, the results achieved are still limited. According to latest report in total, 35 out of 57 projects provided an estimated number of direct beneficiaries. These projects aim to directly reduce the vulnerability of an estimated 3.73 million people. In addition, 22 SCCF projects are already supporting 37 countries in their efforts to integrate climate change adaptation into national development policies, plans and frameworks.