Deadline: 27th February 2024
The International Climate Initiative (IKI) is an important part of the German government’s international climate finance commitment. Since 2022 the IKI is implemented by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) in close cooperation with the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) and the Federal Foreign Office (AA).
Through the IKI, the ministries jointly support approaches in developing and emerging countries to implement and ambitiously develop the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) anchored in the Paris Agreement. This includes measures to adapt to the impacts of climate change and to conserve and rebuild natural carbon sinks, taking into account environmental, economic and social concerns. The IKI also supports its partner countries in achieving the goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Thematic priorities
The following thematic priorities are available:Â
- Climate-friendly transport: Support of partner countries in the creation of foundations, strategies, and concrete approaches for climate action and the propulsion/energy transition in transport   (BMWK)
- Embodied carbon: Decarbonisation of the construction and basic materials industry (BMWK)
- Flexibilisation of the distribution grids for the integration of high proportions of renewable energies (BMWK)
- Support to partner countries on the EU Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and carbon pricing for the decarbonisation of industry (BMWK)
- Scaling up of successful mitigation-relevant IKI approaches in the fields of energy, energy efficiency, industry, finance, and mobility (BMWK)
- Closing the loop – circular and resource-efficient management as a driver for climate and environmental protection, especially in G20 emerging economies (BMUV)
- Climate Information Services – Promotion of regional systems for evidence-based NAP processes to strengthen the resilience of people and ecosystems (BMUV)
- Protecting, restoring, and strengthening the resilience of mountain peatlands in Latin America as well as peatlands in the Argentinian part of Patagonia (BMUV)
- Capacities and structures for ambitious biodiversity conservation at the sub-national level (BMUV)
- Resilience through biodiversity – networking and restoration of protected areas, OECMs, and highly degraded areas in Sub-Saharan Africa (BMUV)
- From the negotiating table to the high seas: Support for the implementation of the BBNJ Treaty for marine protection (BMUV)
- Diverse, cultural world-views in equitable protection approaches (BMUV)
- Accelerating the energy transition in Sub-Saharan Africa (Federal Foreign Office)
Amount and duration of the grant
Duration of the grant
The maximum duration of funding is eight years. A minimum duration is not specified.
Amount of the grant
The funding volume provided by the IKI is a minimum of 5 million to a maximum of 20 million EUR per project. The specifications on the funding volumes defined in the thematic priorities apply. Exceeding or falling short of the permissible funding volume will lead to the exclusion of the project outline.
Requirements for all implementing organisations
Eligible organisations
The following organisations are welcome to apply: –
- Non-governmental organisations,
- Universities and research institutions,
- International intergovernmental organisations and institutions (such as development banks),
- Organisations and programmes of the United Nations
- Private sector companies.
Governments of the partner countries are not eligible to apply for IKI funding.
Organisations against which the EU has imposed sanctions are excluded form IKI-funding. In particular, the following are excluded from funding:
a) persons, organisations, or bodies specifically mentioned in the legal acts imposing these sanctions
b) companies owned or controlled by persons, organisations, or bodies subject to EU sanctions
c) companies operating in sectors subject to EU sanctions insofar as the aid would undermine the objectives of the sanctions in question
As an applicant or a recipient of funding, the implementing organisation undertakes to comply with all applicable EU and UN sanctions regimes. If the applicable sanction regulations are violated, the full grant can be reclaimed.
Requirements for the lead organisation
Turnover criterion
The average annual IKI project funding volume shall not exceed the average annual turnover of the lead organisation measured over the last three financial years; this shall be substantiated by certified annual accounts.
Professional experience and regional expertise
The lead organisation must have been implementing international cooperation projects in the respective thematic area in ODA countries for at least five years. The lead implementing organisation should also have experience in the respective target region. The lead organisation must demonstrate this professional experience and regional expertise via references in the project outline.