THE GLOBAL COALITION FOR CAPACITY BUILDING ANNOUNCES ACCELERATOR WINNERS DURING CLIMATE WEEK IN NEW YORK
Three innovative initiatives will use the expertise and network of the GCBC to expand capacity building solutions in climate finance in emerging markets and developing economies
NEW YORK, September 23, 2025 — The Global Coalition for Capacity Building (GCBC) today announced the three winners of its first GCBC Accelerator cohort. Selected from a highly competitive group of nearly 50 applications, these initiatives address the challenges of climate finance on several fronts: mobilizing financing for adaptation in Africa, strengthening the disclosure of climate risks in Latin America and converting national commitments into concrete investments in Africa and Asia. Together, they demonstrate how locally-driven capacity building solutions can unlock global progress.
“Accelerating the clean energy transition in emerging markets and developing economies requires access to the right tools, resources and support,” said Mary Schapiro, president of the Global Capacity Building Coalition. “The winners of the GCBC Accelerator exemplify innovative, high-impact projects that can mobilize sustainable finance and close the investment and capacity gap. The GCBC is proud to celebrate and support these organizations as they work to build resilient and sustainable economies.”
Capacity building remains one of the biggest challenges for emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs). Approximately half of the $2.4 trillion annual funding gap for sustainable development is expected to come from domestic resource mobilization, underscoring the urgent need for local expertise and institutional capacity. The three winners of the GCBC accelerator This year they offer practical and scalable solutions that strengthen institutions, mobilize resources and channel capital to where it is most needed.
African Adaptation Initiative (AAI) — Africa is one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change, but local institutions only manage a small part of the funding that reaches the continent. Under the mandate of African Heads of State and Government, the AAI strengthens the capacities of governments and financial professionals to directly access and manage climate funds. Its Adaptation Finance Academy offers training, peer exchange and personalized support to accompany institutions throughout the process, from project design to resource mobilization. With the support of the GCBC Accelerator, the AAI will expand this work to ensure that climate finance in Africa is not only available, but is also led and managed by local institutions.
Climate-Compatible Growth (CCG) — CCG's Data-to-Deal (D2D) framework bridges the gap between national climate plans and projects ready for investment. By incorporating evidence-based expertise within countries in Asia and Africa, CCG helps governments integrate climate and development objectives, while ensuring real funding. This approach has already proven to unlock billions in investments. With the support of the GCBC Accelerator, CCG seeks to increase its support for national strategies, owned by the countries themselves, that are ready for investment and generate both decarbonization and social benefits, such as health, education and rural electrification.
Transform — Transforma has been a pioneer in the dissemination of climate risks in Colombia, Mexico and Peru, adapting global frameworks to local contexts. Its training and technical assistance programs have helped nine financial institutions in Colombia, which represent 34% of the country's GDP, to strengthen their climate-related reporting. With the support of the GCBC Accelerator, Transforma seeks to expand this model to new regions and sectors, incorporating climate risk into decision-making throughout Latin America.
At a GCBC event during Climate Week in New York, the winners will present their approaches, discuss regional challenges, and connect with coalition members and partners. Each initiative will receive personalized resources, strategic guidance and access to the GCBC's global network to scale its capacity building solutions.
“The GCBC Accelerator provides an incredible opportunity to strengthen one of our key programs: the Adaptation Finance Academy (AFA),” said Ambassador Seyni Nafo, Coordinator of the African Adaptation Initiative. “The AFA is closing the funding gap for adaptation, project by project. We support African governments and institutions to develop, finance and implement critical adaptation projects. It's an honor to be selected for the GCBC Accelerator and we're excited to see the accelerated improvement of the AFA through this program.”
“CCG has always been a research-based association that guides practical actions with tangible results. When we helped develop Data-to-Deal and saw that it secured 11 billion dollars for South American countries, we knew that it represented a radical change in the way we secure climate finance.” said Professor Mark Howells, Director of Climate-Friendly Growth. “Since then, we have made it our mission to highlight the effectiveness of D2D and to support countries in the Global South to adopt it according to their needs. Using D2D ensures that a project is truly ready for investment when presented to funders. We are pleased to have been selected by the Accelerator, which recognizes D2D as an approach that makes a real difference.”
“The recognition of the GCBC Accelerator will allow us to continue and expand our capacity building work, ensuring that more financial institutions integrate climate into their strategies,” said Mariana Rojas Laserna, Director of Climate Finance at Transforma. “We remain committed to turning knowledge into action and to redirecting and mobilizing financial flows towards a just, low-carbon and resilient transition in Latin America.”
The Accelerator selection panel, chaired by Mary Schapiro, included leaders from the financial, sustainability and public policy sectors: Amal Benaissa, Director of Sustainability Promotion at Bank of Africa; Cacá Takahashi, Director of ANBIMA; Marla Garin-Alvarez, First Vice President and Head of the Office of Sustainability, Compliance Group at BDO Unibank; Nana Li, Head of Sustainability and Management of APAC at Impax AM; Nana Maidugu, Head of Sustainability and ESG at NISA; and Olga Cantillo, Executive President of Latinex.
“The GCBC Accelerator demonstrates how focused capacity building and cross-sectoral collaboration can transform climate ambition into tangible progress”, said Marla Garin-Alvarez. “This inaugural cohort reflects the power of locally driven solutions and the critical role of knowledge sharing in accelerating sustainable development. By helping these initiatives scale their work from local to global, the Accelerator is empowering institutions to access and deploy climate finance where it's needed most, closing the gap between vision and action.”
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About the Global Capacity Building Coalition (GCBC)
The GCBC is an unprecedented global initiative. It brings together many of the world's leading climate finance organizations to accelerate and expand capacity building in climate and transition finance for financial institutions and industry professionals, especially in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs). The Coalition is designed to improve collaboration and respond to the growing demand for capacity-building support from financial institutions in EMDEs, in order to meet the objectives of the UN and the G20 Working Group on Sustainable Finance (SFWG).
The GCBC was launched by the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Ambition and Climate Solutions, Michael R. Bloomberg, together with senior leaders from multilateral development banks, the financial sector and international organizations at COP28 in December 2023.
To express interest in joining the Global Coalition for Capacity Building, or to support its work in other ways, contact: secretariat@capacity-building.org.
Media contact: press@capacity-building.org
