Irish Aid Enterprise Fund for International Climate Action (EFICA)

Objectives

The Irish Aid Enterprise Fund for International Climate Action (EFICA) intends to provide grant funding to Irish companies, researchers and NGOs, working alone or as part of international partnerships, for climate related activities in developing countries which have a commercial or enterprise focus. This Fund aims to promote the mobilisation of private finance for climate action.

Particular consideration (by means of additional weighting) will be given to applications which target the following areas:

• Climate action taking place in Least Developed Countries or Small Island Developing States;
• Clean energy (including clean cooking) projects that reach the community-level;
• Climate action with an adaptation focus;
• Climate action that supports ocean protection  or the promotion of a sustainable blue economy;
• Climate action with cross cutting impacts for gender and/or biodiversity.

Funding available

The fund will award up to €1 million, with a maximum grant of €300,000.

The following types of activities will be eligible for funding:

• Full Projects
• Research to Action
• Capacity Building & Knowledge Exchange
• Feasibility Studies

Eligibility Criteria for all Applicants

• All proposed activities must be have commercial potential and must demonstrate a contribution to climate action taking place in developing countries.
• Successful applicants (lead applicants in the case of collaborative proposals) must be registered/incorporated in Ireland at the time of granting of funds.
• Applicants must provide a completed application form and the required documents outlined for each type of funding application.
• Applicants for Full Projects must be able to demonstrate that they have a minimum of three years of experience as a team in the relevant sector of climate action.
• Applicants for Research to Action projects must be able to demonstrate sufficient expertise in the relevant sector of climate research.
• Applicants must clearly demonstrate why public funds are needed.

Funding Conditions and Project Costs

• EFICA funding is up to a maximum of €300,000 per application. Only one application can be made per organisation;
• Funding will only be awarded to Irish-registered companies or organisations, or research teams affiliated with an Irish academic or research institution;
• Applicants must show a clear linkage between the activities supported and the Fund’s objectives;
• EFICA funding will not exceed 50% of the total costs for Full Projects or Feasibility Studies.
• ‘In kind’ contributions offered by applicants will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to assess whether these contributions can be accepted as part of the matched financing arrangement.
• Applicants must declare all other funding provided by any other Irish or EU Public funding source to be used as part of overall funding.
• A higher proportion of co-funding provided by the applicant will be considered positively in assessing all applications;
• Travel & Subsistence will not be eligible for EFICA funding under Full Projects, with a maximum of 50% of Travel & Subsistence costs for Feasibility Studies.
• A maximum of 50% of any external consultant fees may be claimed as part of the applicant’s budget. (Rate for these services will generally be estimated at a maximum of €200 per day, exceptions may be made for particular local circumstances.)
• If an applicant proposes to undertake a Feasibility Study, Capacity Building or Knowledge Exchange Activity, it should include a list of any potential partners within the application.
• EFICA funds will not be provided to organisations or commercial activities that do not comply with international standards and conventions regarding: human rights, the environment, corruption, or labour laws; and where the organisation cannot demonstrate clear goals and ongoing measures to address these problems.
• Successful applicants will be encouraged to engage with Irish and other national and international companies, researchers and NGOs where relevant on various aspects of the projects i.e., project design, community engagement and mobilization, training and extension, etc.

Important Note: All applications will be subject to a State Aid assessment to ensure compliance with Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty of the Functioning of European Union. Compliance with EU State Aid rules could ultimately determine the eligibility of the project for funding and the amount of funding awarded. Further information will be required in respect of any applications that may involve EU State Aid.

Evaluation Criteria

How to Apply

The Irish Aid Enterprise Fund for International Climate Action is now open for applications.

Applications will only be accepted through the official EFICA application form.

To request an application form please contact efica@dfa.ie stating the type of funding you wish to apply for i.e. Full Project, Feasibility Study, Research to Action or Capacity Building and Knowledge Exchange.

Applications must be submitted to efica@dfa.ie. The deadline for applications is 5.00pm on Friday 29^th April 2022.

Further information

An information session will take place on Thursday 24^th March at 11am. To register for this session please email efica@dfa.ie.

Please monitor this website and the Department’s social media accounts for updates.