With the 2023 Thematic Call, the International Climate Initiative (IKI) is looking for ambitious and innovative project ideas for climate change mitigation, adaptation, and biodiversity conservation in developing and emerging countries worldwide.
The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), and the Federal Foreign Office (FFO) have launched a joint ideas competition for this purpose. The aim is to support the partner countries in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, implementing adaptations to climate change, and protecting biodiversity.
The amount of funding for each project is between EUR 5 million and EUR 20 million.
Innovative projects wanted
With the current IKI Thematic Call, the three ministries are looking for innovative and forward-looking projects for 13 thematic priorities. This year’s focus is on the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions in the energy, industry, and mobility sectors as well as sustainable and climate-relevant biodiversity conservation.
For example, the IKI looks for projects that contribute to the decarbonisation of the construction and basic materials industry, that drive forward emission reductions in view of the requirements of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) of the EU, that offer solutions for circular and resource-efficient economies, that promote the protection of mountain peatlands, or that accelerate the energy transition in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The selection procedure: Ideas competition as the first step towards funding
For project selection, project outlines in English can be submitted via the IKI online platform until 27 February 2024 (16:00, CET).
The funding or commissioning within the framework of the IKI Thematic Calls is preceded by an ideas competition. Participation in the ideas competition is open to potential German and international grant recipients as well as to potential contractors in the form of implementing organisations of the German federal government.
In addition to non-governmental organisations, commercial enterprises, universities, and research institutions, international intergovernmental organisations (e.g. development banks) as well as organisations and programmes of the United Nations can submit project outlines.
On 19 and 20 December 2023, two online seminars will be offered in order to give interested organisations an idea of what makes a good project outline. In addition, in-depth information about the selection process and the further procedure will be provided. More detailed information can be found on the IKI website.
All information on the 2023 Thematic Call
About the IKI
The IKI has been overseen since 2022 by the BMWK in close cooperation with the BMUV and the AA. The IKI Office of Zukunft-Umwelt-Gesellschaft (ZUG) gGmbH is the project management agency for the IKI and supports the ministries in preparing and implementing the ideas competition, among other things.