The Special Climate Change Fund shows how adaptation projects can deliver tangible benefits, but unpredictable financing continues to constrain their reach and long-term impact.

Established in 2001 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the SCCF supports adaptation in developing countries not eligible for the Least Developed Countries Fund. To assess its performance and relevance, the Independent Evaluation Office conducted a program evaluation from 2015 to 2017, using portfolio and document analysis, field visits to Ghana, Honduras, and the Philippines, and interviews with key stakeholders.

The evaluation finds that SCCF projects are strongly aligned with Convention guidance, GEF adaptation strategies, and national priorities, and that the Fund’s accessibility has made it a valued channel for innovative projects. Nearly all projects deliver tangible adaptation benefits and many achieve catalytic effects, though scaling-up often requires additional investment. Effectiveness, however, is constrained by limited and unpredictable financing, which has stalled new contributions since 2014 and discouraged proposal development.

The report recommends securing sustainable financing, clarifying and communicating the Fund’s niche within the adaptation finance landscape, and improving the accuracy of project data in the Project Management Information System.