Building women's leadership in climate finance and GCF Project conceptualization

Across the three days, participants built both practical and technical knowledge through expert-led presentations, interactive discussions, and hands-on group exercises. Sessions covered a wide range of topics, including the evolution of climate finance, international climate funds, GCF policies and programming and Nepal's procedures for mobilising climate finance. 

Participants also explored GCF concept note preparation, the climate rationale for mitigation and adaptation, project conceptualization, problem and solution tree analysis, designing Theory of Change, stakeholder engagement, environmental and social safeguards, gender mainstreaming, GCF investment criteria, risk assessment and carbon markets.

A central feature of the training was collaborative group work, where participants applied what they had learned to real project thinking. Working in teams, they identified climate-related challenges, mapped problem and solution trees, prepared Theories of Change, analysed stakeholders, and refined project ideas aligned with Nepal's national priorities and the GCF investment framework. This hands-on approach allowed participants to translate technical concepts into practice, strengthening their confidence in project design and concept note development.

At the closing session, participants reflected positively on their experience, noting the value of strengthening their technical knowledge on climate finance and reaffirming the importance of encouraging greater women's participation in climate finance initiatives. Many also expressed appreciations for the chance to build practical, hands-on skills in GCF project conceptualization.

The training was organised under the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme. IUCN Nepal is serving as the delivery partner to Nepal's National Designated Authority (NDA) to implement the readiness project entitled, ‘Enhancing Country Capacity for Accessing and Implementing Climate Finance Interventions in Nepal’.