Applications Invited for ClimateWorks Foundation Adaptation and Resilience Fund for Communities Facing Climate Risks

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About the Organization

The ClimateWorks team is on a mission to end the climate crisis by amplifying the power of philanthropy. ClimateWorks is a global platform for philanthropy to innovate and scale high-impact climate solutions that benefit people and the planet. We deliver global programs and services that equip philanthropy with the knowledge, networks, and solutions to drive climate progress for a more sustainable and equitable future. Since 2008, ClimateWorks has granted over $2 billion to more than 850 grantees in over 50 countries.

About the Grant  

The Adaptation and Resilience Fund is a bold philanthropic commitment to accelerate solutions that build resilience to climate change in low- and middle-income countries.

ClimateWorks Foundation, with the support of a coalition of global foundations, including Howden Foundation, Laudes Foundation, Quadrature Climate Foundation, and The Rockefeller Foundation, has launched the Adaptation and Resilience Fund (A&R Fund) to support locally led efforts that reduce climate risk and strengthen community well-being. From early warning systems to innovative finance tools, the A&R Fund directs capital where it’s most needed: communities on the frontlines of climate impacts.

The Adaptation & Resilience Fund is designed to tackle some of the most pressing challenges of a changing climate. The Fund brings together philanthropic funding and expertise to address multiple climate hazards, and accelerate and catalyze systems transformation to support people facing the greatest climate impacts. In response to the United Nations secretary-general’s urgent July 25 Call to Action on Extreme Heat, the fund’s first wave of grants will focus on helping cities and communities build resilience to extreme heat in urban areas in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa, prioritizing cities with high levels of informal labor and housing, inward migration pressure, and exposure to extreme heat. With nearly two-thirds of the global workforce employed in the informal economy – often outdoors and without social safety nets – communities around the world already face  health risks, economic hardship, and social inequities, all of which are exacerbated by exposure to extreme heat. The A&R Fund will support locally-driven solutions that protect people, strengthen systems, and create pathways for a more resilient future, focusing on four pillars:

• Building the evidence base: We fund research, climate information systems, and communications that help policymakers and communities understand and respond to climate hazards. This includes context-specific health and labor productivity data, early warning systems, and localized modeling tools.
• Strengthening institutional capacity: We support cities and local governments in planning for and implementing resilience-building measures, from heat action plans to improved infrastructure. We also invest in community-based organizations to ensure voices from the community shape local decision making.
• Unlocking innovative finance: We help develop and pilot financial approaches and social protection mechanisms that make adaptation investments possible, from helping to unlock municipal debt financing to piloting community-based parametric insurance.
• Building the field: We invest in the civil society ecosystem to advance locally-led adaptation and resilience, from grassroots groups to city networks. By fostering coalitions and peer learning, our partners lay the groundwork for shared agendas and greater collective impact.

The A&R Fund is excited to announce two new Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to confront one of the most urgent climate challenges of our time: extreme heat in urban areas across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Total available funding: up to $9 million

RFP 1: Innovative finance for urban resilience

How can we unlock the billions of dollars needed for climate adaptation? This RFP seeks bold financial solutions — from municipal debt swaps and resilience bonds to community-based insurance and microfinance — to catalyze public and private investment to protect the most climate-vulnerable communities.

RFP 2: Strengthening institutions and civil society

Great plans need strong systems. This RFP supports city governments, civil society organizations, and community leaders to embed heat resilience into urban planning, policies, and budgets. Proposals should center local voices — especially women, informal workers, and marginalized groups — while building the capacity of cities to plan and act for long-term resilience.

How to Apply

Application deadline: September 19, 2025

Learn more and start the application process

For more information please check the Link

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