Global EbA Fund - Support for the Implementation and Upscaling of Ecosystem-based Adaptation

The Global EbA Fund is a fast-start support for innovative approaches to ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA). It improves the understanding, planning and expansion of EbA and access to public funding for catalytic adaptation intervention. It prioritises filling funding and knowledge gaps with a broad thematic focus on innovation and urgency, encouraging creative solutions and partnerships among funding applicants. Through its work, the Fund addresses research gaps, pilots innovative EbA approaches, engages in strategic EbA policy mainstreaming, and incentivises innovative finance mechanisms and private sector EbA investment. To multiply its reach, the Fund will leverage relevant partnerships and networks including Friends of EBA, the Global Adaptation Network and the Global Commission on Adaptation.

Project data

IKI funding: 40,000,000.00 €
Duration: 12/2019 till 06/2028
Status: open
Implementing organisation: International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) - USA
Implementing Partner: International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) - USA
Online: https://globalebafund.org/

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State of implementation/results

Since its launch, there have been six deadlines with over 1900 applications received. The Global EbA Fund closed its seventh call for proposals on 21 April 2024. The next deadline will be announced on the website. It granted 35 projects under the first five cohorts. www.globalebafund.org/grantees/.
Following the experience of the Fund over the last two years some important changes have been made to streamline the application process. Such as:
- The Fund replaced its two-stage application process, in which successful concept stage applicants were invited to submit a full proposal through a single-stage application.
- The Fund now includes three new Action Pillars. Previously, applicants would align their proposed interventions with one of three Strategic Objectives. In addition to this, projects must now clearly indicate their relevance to a maximum of two of three new Action Pillars.
- The Core Indicator Framework was developed to support the monitoring and communication of the grantees’ project outcomes. Applicants must identify at least three relevant indicators from the Core Indicator Framework and incorporate them into the individual project’s logical framework.
- Alongside the general EbA project proposals track, the Global EbA Fund introduced a track for thematic project submissions. The first thematic call on EbA in Urban Environments was announced with the 5th call and the second thematic track on Indigenous and Traditional knowledge in EbA alongside the 6th call for proposals.
- The Fund introduced a digital grant management system to allow end-to-end management of applications and grants. It is intended to increase the efficiency and transparency of the granting process from application, review, award of grants as well as the monitoring and reporting. globalebafund.smapply.io
Following an extensive expert consultation process, UNEP produced a publication on “Harnessing Nature to build Climate Resilience: Scaling up the use of Ecosystem-based Adaptation” for the Global EbA Fund.
IUCN, jointly with Deutsche Gesellschaft für International Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) launched a free, self-paced EbA E-learning course – Ecosystem-based Adaptation: Working with nature to adapt to a changing climate. This is a massive open online course (MOOC) that will equip learners with transferable and replicable skills in designing and implementing EbA initiatives.
The results of a global online survey hosted by UNEP Global Adaptation Network have been used to contribute to the EbA Barriers Analytical paper and compiled into an EbA Stakeholders Dialogue report released in April 2023. www.unep.org/…
Facts and information provided for each funded project, including the title, location, amount received and project approach are disseminated using an innovative and interactive format - ArcGIS Storymaps. storymaps.arcgis.com/…
The First Global EbA Fund newsletter was launched and distributed in August 2023. globalebafund.org/…
The Fund Secretariat released a policy brief on the Seven Lessons on Using Ecosystem Restoration for Climate Change Adaptation that examines a range of examples where restoration has led to increase climate resilience. www.unep.org/…
In May 2023, a webinar was held to launch the policy brief on the Seven Lessons on Using Ecosystem Restoration for Climate Change Adaptation www.youtube.com/…
The Global EbA Fund organised the 9th EbA Knowledge Day in collaboration with the IUCN Friends of EbA and the UNEP Global Adaptation Network. The event attracted 244 participants. www.youtube.com/…;t=5100s&ab_channel=FriendsofEbA%28FEBA%29
In 2024 the Secretariat analyzed preliminary data from the first 14 projects in the Portfolio, using the pilot indicator framework. The analysis highlighted the following:
2,289 beneficiaries were supported to increase their resilience to climate change impacts through capacity building, trainings and awareness raising activities. Out of those 1,316 were men and 973 women.
1,862.5 ha of ecosystems are under conservation, restoration or sustainable use from projects activities.
610,372 USD mobilised as a result of projects activities and 1 financing instrument developed.
13 policies influenced to incorporate EbA principles and approaches through direct engagement with national and sub-national governments, civil society and local communities.
4 coordination mechanisms established at national and sub-national levels to promote the incorporation of EbA principles and approaches in policy and practice through councils, committees and coordination platforms.
3 Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) instruments introduced to monitor the effectiveness of EbA actions at sectoral sub-national level.
5 supply chains adapted to include EbA approaches and improve resilience in the agricultural sector focused on commodities such as coffee, corn, beans, acai and brazil nut.
6 value chain actors influenced to include EbA approaches in their business models in livestock, agriculture and aquaculture sectors, as well as eco-labelling entities.
24 EbA knowledge products such as briefs, guidelines, methodologies, assessments another were developed by the funded projects.
The 10th EbA Knowledge Day was held in Bonn, Germany, in June 2024. It emphasised the role of EbA in supporting the synergistic achievement of the goals of the Rio Conventions. Summaries and recommendations from the sessions of the event can be found in the Summary Report (friendsofeba.com/…).