Multilateral Aid Review summary - The Climate Investment Funds (CIFs)

The CIFs are a set of programmes to deliver low carbon, climate resilient development.  The CIFs comprise the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), which finances projects and programmes that contribute to demonstration, deployment and transfer of low carbon technologies, and the Strategic Climate Fund (SCF).  The SCF has sub-programmes on adaptation, renewable energy in low income countries and forestry.

	comment
Contribution to UK development objectives	Satisfactory
	+	Meets a critical gap in delivering climate change outcomes, delivering finance at scale, informing future climate change architecture; innovative; shifting MDBs’ approach to climate change.  Excellent range of countries, vulnerabilities and needs to fulfil the pilot nature of the CIFs.
	_	Lack of clear eligibility criteria in one of the four programmes led to two countries being ruled ineligible.
	+	Rapid progress from concept stage to development of investment plans and projects; strong anticipated results; strong focus on learning, demonstration and replication.
	_	The CIFs are a new mechanism and evidence of delivery at country level against their objectives is still being built.
	+	The CIFs work on the gender impacts of climate change is at the forefront of the climate change field (though as yet is limited as thinking is being developed).
	_	No specific focus on fragile contexts.
Organisational strengths	Satisfactory
	+	Very low admin costs relative to other similar MOs; early evidence that interventions will be cost effective.
	+	Innovative, effective, efficient and equitable governance structures; innovative approach to MDB collaboration; excellent global stakeholder consultation.
	_	Patchy experience at country level, particularly on country leadership; mixed evidence on engagement of developing country stakeholders beyond governments.
	+	Clear mandate, management held to account, strong decision-making systems; strong reporting, auditing and independent analysis.
	_	Lengthy process to design results frameworks.
	_	No common approach or agreed methodology for how to allocate funds between pilots in the four programmes.
	+	Strong commitment to transparency; equitable governance structures; consensus decision making.
Capacity for positive change	Likely
	+	Commitment from stakeholders to a set of improvements that fit with the UK’s priorities.
	_	Some reforms rely on broader change within the MDBs and are therefore more difficult to effect within the CIFs.