Cameroon Seeks Direct Access to Green Climate Fund Financing

Cameroon’s National Sinking Fund (CAA) has begun the process of seeking accreditation from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), a move that could allow the country to access and manage international climate finance directly through a national institution.

As part of that effort, the public agency has launched a call for expressions of interest to recruit consultants who will help strengthen its institutional framework and prepare it to meet the GCF’s accreditation requirements. The tender, issued on June 16, 2026, is financed through the CAA’s 2026 budget.

The assignment goes well beyond drafting internal policies. The consultants will help the CAA demonstrate that it meets the Green Climate Fund’s standards for financial management, governance, procurement, transparency, environmental and social safeguards, and stakeholder protection.

If accredited, the agency would be able to identify, prepare, implement, and monitor climate projects financed through the Green Climate Fund.

Meeting international standards

The work has been divided into four separate contracts. The first focuses on environmental and social governance. The selected consultant will develop an environmental and social policy, an environmental and social management system, and a climate strategy. The assignment also includes drafting a policy on Indigenous Peoples, developing risk management tools, and designing a staff capacity-building program.

The second contract covers gender policy and measures to prevent sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. It includes an assessment of the CAA’s current practices, the preparation of a code of conduct, and tools to integrate gender considerations throughout the project cycle.

The third focuses on institutional integrity. The consultant will establish a grievance mechanism, a whistleblower protection framework, and procedures for handling sensitive complaints, particularly those involving environmental and social issues or gender-based violence.

The fourth contract calls for an independent legal opinion on the CAA’s eligibility for accreditation. The review will assess whether the agency has the legal authority and institutional autonomy to sign agreements, receive and manage international funding, and assume the fiduciary responsibilities required by the Green Climate Fund.

Reducing reliance on international intermediaries

Accreditation would significantly expand the CAA’s role. Beyond managing public debt and government financing, the agency would become a national institution responsible for mobilizing and managing climate finance. According to the CAA, it would support climate projects from the planning stage through implementation while ensuring they comply with international standards.

For Cameroon, the main benefit would be greater national control over financing for climate adaptation and mitigation projects. Direct accreditation would reduce the country’s dependence on international organizations to submit, administer, or oversee projects financed by the Green Climate Fund.

That autonomy, however, comes with strict requirements. The CAA will have to demonstrate that it has robust systems for internal controls, risk management, transparency, abuse prevention, and complaint handling. The accreditation process therefore represents much more than an administrative exercise. It requires significant changes to the institution’s governance and compliance framework.

Accreditation remains several steps away

The environmental, social, gender, and institutional integrity assignments are each expected to take 90 calendar days, while the legal review is scheduled to be completed within 14 days. The contracts are open to individual consultants, consulting firms, and engineering companies from Cameroon and abroad with experience developing institutional policies and knowledge of Green Climate Fund, World Bank, International Finance Corporation, or similar international standards.

For the legal review, the lead expert must be a member of the Cameroon Bar Association, work for a law firm authorized to practice in the country, and have at least 10 years of professional experience. The deadline for applications, originally set for July 8, 2026, was extended to July 21. Recruiting the consultants and preparing the required policies is only the first step. The CAA must still submit its framework to the Green Climate Fund for review before accreditation can be granted.

If successful, the agency would become a direct channel for international climate finance, giving Cameroon a national institution capable of structuring and managing projects in areas such as climate-resilient agriculture, energy, infrastructure, water management, and climate disaster resilience.

Amina Malloum