On 11 May 2021, the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) as the Thai National Designated Authority (NDA) to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Environmental Fund Division (EFD), and GIZ organised a virtual progress meeting of the GCF Readiness and Preparatory Support III project’s implementation and put forward the recommendations of the GCF’s Direct Access Entity (DAE) application to strengthen the capacity of EFD for driving the country’s climate finance mechanism.

The Creagy Company Limited, a national consulting firm, and Viridia Projects, an international consultant, presented key elements of revised documents related to the Direct Access Entity (DAE) application. They discussed with representatives from EFD and ONEP as the National Designated Authority (NDA) of GCF about the accreditation documents of EFD, from preparation of policies – in particular to set up Environmental and Social Safeguards as well as Gender – and practices required by the GCF for climate change projects. The requirements aim to ensure that the EFD as an intermediation is capable to manage and mitigate risks of the projects applying for grants that have potential for limited adverse environmental and social risks and provide sufficient mitigation measures.

The discussion also included the operational procedures, internal processes, project assessment criteria, and monitoring and evaluation for EF to meet GCF requirements. Regarding the next steps, the consultants will finalise the application with draft relevant handbooks / guidelines and training to help EFD and relevant staffs in preparing for implementation in accordance with GCF requirements. In addition, recommendations of the design of EF website will be provided to serve target groups applying for funding by considering a user-friendly format. For Thailand, becoming a DAE will strengthen the readiness and capacity of the EF to directly access other international funds as well as act as one of Thailand’s mechanisms for climate finance.