Request for proposals
Strengthening institutional capacity and civil society
leadership to address extreme heat in urban areas in
Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia
This document serves as a guide for prospective applicants to the Request for Proposals (RFP)
of the Adaptation and Resilience Fund (A&R Fund) managed by ClimateWorks Foundation’s
Adaptation and Resilience program. The purpose of this document is to explain the RFP to
prospective applicants, offer guidance for submitting an application, and introduce the A&R
Fund priorities. The information in this document will be covered during a public webinar taking
place on August 20, 2025, from 7–9 AM U.S. Pacific Time (PT). The webinar will be recorded
and made available to those who request it.
RFP SUMMARY INFORMATION:
● Issuing Organization: ClimateWorks Foundation’s Adaptation & Resilience Program
● Release Date: August 2025
● Letter of Inquiry (LOI) Submission Deadline: September 19 at 11:59 pm PT
● RFP Application: Apply Here
● RFP Webinar: August 20 at 7-9 AM PT Register Here
● Total Funding Availability: $3–$4.5 million USD across several potential grantees
● Geographic Focus: Lower-, lower-middle-, and middle-income countries in
Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia
● Contact Information: adaptation@[Link]
OVERVIEW
Objective
This RFP seeks to identify and support initiatives that specifically address the A&R Fund’s
aspirations on institutional capacity and field building. We hope to identify and support
initiatives that build institutional capacity and strengthen civil society leadership to address
extreme heat and urban resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. This
RFP supports inclusive, coordinated, and locally grounded planning and implementation to
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ensure cities and communities are better prepared for — and protected against — one of the
most urgent and overlooked climate threats: extreme heat.
Funding opportunity
We invite proposals for projects and initiatives of varying funding needs focused on different
geographies. While there is no strict baseline or limit to the funding that can be requested or
allocated to specific geographies, we do intend to award multiple grantees under this RFP.
Below are a few funding guideline parameters for applying to this RFP:
● Total Funding: We plan to award a total of $3.0–$4.5 million USD for this RFP and
anticipate providing several grants to different awardees.
● Grant Size: For organizations submitting proposals as a sole awardee, we recommend a
budget of no more than $1 million USD. Larger budget requests will undergo additional
scrutiny. Proposals submitted by consortia may request larger budgets, commensurate
with the scale and complexity of the work. The lead implementing partner within the
consortia will be awarded the grant on behalf of the entire consortia.
● Grant Duration: The grant term can range from one to three years from the day of the
grant award, with the expectation to report annually on progress and impact. Tranche
payments will be made based on the completion of agreed-upon program/project
milestones.
Problem statement
Cities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face compounding challenges in preparing
for extreme heat. Planning systems are often limited, public and institutional prioritization of
extreme heat remains low, and city-level responses tend to rely on short-term or emergency
response measures rather than planning for or implementing long-term climate-informed
strategies. Heat planning rarely integrates into core governance structures, resulting in
fragmented or temporary initiatives. Without institutional ownership, mainstreaming in
policy/plans, and sustained budgeting, even well-designed pilots and initiatives frequently stall.
Cross-departmental coordination — health, planning, energy, and transport — is often weak,
leaving critical implementation gaps.
Vulnerable communities — including those living in informal settlements, low-income
neighborhoods, working in outdoor or informal labor sectors, and particularly women — bear
the brunt of extreme heat’s impacts, yet they are often excluded from planning processes and
underserved by city-level responses. Exposure, sensitivity, and the ability to adapt usually
determine the vulnerability of communities. Vulnerable communities frequently adapt out of
necessity, yet these efforts are often unrecognized, unsupported, and formal planning
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processes often overlook their experience and leadership. Co-creating resilience strategies
with communities at the design, implementation, and evaluation phases is essential. Despite
growing threats, many local governments and civil society organizations (CSOs) lack the
frameworks, networks, internal capacity, and sustained financing needed to lead cross-sectoral
planning or mobilize effective, inclusive responses to extreme heat. This funding opportunity
intends to address those gaps by supporting efforts that strengthen institutional capacity and
elevate local community leadership — ensuring cities are better equipped to plan for, respond
to, and reduce the impacts of extreme heat through durable, locally driven strategies.
Types of institutional capacity and field-building strategies
ClimateWorks seeks proposals that support integrated and intersectional approaches to
extreme heat planning and implementation in cities where strengthening institutional capacity
and civil society leadership are jointly advanced. Proposals should build on existing heat action
plans (HAPs), broader resilience strategies, climate action plans, and/or adaptation plans —
moving them from planning to implementation — and embed inclusive, community-driven
approaches across all activities.
We encourage proposals that do any or a combination of the following:
● Advance climate-informed planning and implementation for extreme heat resilience and
equitable, sustainable cooling access
● Elevate the leadership and capacity of local CSOs as essential partners in governance,
action, and implementation of both heat-risk reduction and sustainable cooling strategies
● Address urban heat risks in vulnerable communities (especially informal settlements,
outdoor work zones, and/or low-income neighborhoods, with a strong focus on gender
justice) through inclusive, coordinated action
● Leverage or scale existing work (e.g., HAPs, urban resilience strategies) and strengthen
institutional ownership and integration into policy, governance, budget processes, and/or
long-term financing strategies at both regional and national levels
● Directly address and help develop robust regulatory frameworks (labor laws, health
mandates, building codes, etc.)
ClimateWorks is specifically interested in exploring partnerships with institutions or
organizations that are pursuing the following:
● Establishing or strengthening multi-agency and cross-sectoral planning teams
● Building inclusive planning frameworks with deep community engagement and leadership
● Co-producing and implementing vulnerability and needs assessments or monitoring tools
with local CSOs and community groups
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● Updating or expanding existing HAPs with a focus on implementation
● Embedding heat planning into formal governance systems (e.g., budgeting processes,
municipal mandates, urban planning units, early warning systems, and social protections)
● Designing and implementing early warning systems for extreme heat, as well as
climate-informed early warning systems linked with response measures, impact-based
forecasting and response, and anticipatory action for climate hazards, including
approaches that embed indigenous knowledge
● Designing and implementing long-term, heat-specific interventions
● Supporting local CSOs to lead advocacy, knowledge co-production, public engagement,
or field-building efforts
● Mobilizing community knowledge and local data in resilience planning, governance, and
accountability
● Prioritizing interventions in urban heat hotspots and high-risk communities, especially
informal settlements and low-income neighborhoods, with a focus on outdoor laborers,
women laborers, and young children
● Designing Technical Assistance (TA) support and allocating budget for CSO participation
and institutional engagement
● Facilitating collaboration between grassroots and city actors, including through consortia
● Supporting coordination mechanisms or learning exchanges across cities, sectors, or
jurisdictions
● Creating learning processes — such as after-action reviews, seasonal monitoring, or
city-led knowledge exchanges — that inform adaptive management
● Developing key evidence bases on effectiveness, equity, return on investment, and
durability of impacts
● Embedding in policy frameworks, regulations, legal requirements, national missions or
schemes, and development of mandates, budgets, and constituencies for management
and preparedness for extreme heat
Organizational eligibility
This RFP is open to all nonprofits, civil society organizations, community-based organizations,
cooperatives, labor unions, international organizations, city-focused networks and alliances,
academic institutions, consultancies, public sector banks, and private sector enterprises that
align with the mission of the A&R Fund and which are deemed by ClimateWorks to be eligible
to receive funding based on applicable laws and regulations.
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Governments and public agencies must specify a preferred technical assistance provider (or
multiple providers) that is best suited for their proposed project activities. This technical
assistance provider will serve as the recipient of funds.
Organizations already receiving ClimateWorks funding are also eligible to apply. The A&R Fund
is simultaneously launching a second RFP focused on innovative finance for extreme heat
resilience. Proposals that address both RFPs are welcome.
For this specific RFP, consortia are strongly encouraged to apply and proposals should show
coordination between institutions and communities. Proposals that tightly link institutional
planning and civil society engagement in a coordinated, equity-centered approach are
encouraged. LMIC-based proposal leads, national societies, and proposals led by or
meaningfully partnering with local actors and marginalized communities are strongly preferred.
City networks that work across different municipalities should explain how they will apply
learnings, data, and interventions more broadly across cities in LMICs. City leadership will need
to be engaged during the proposal process, and a letter of support will be required at the full
proposal stage of the application.
Geographical focus
LMICs in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Eligible costs
● Personnel
● Technical assistance
● Convenings
● Coordination platforms
● Community engagement
● Communications
● Sub-grants
● Indirect costs, preferably under 15%. Indirect costs include operating expenses that
support your organization and its management overall and are not attributable to the
operation of this project. For example, occupancy (rent, utilities, etc.), fundraising,
finance and accounting, information technology, telecommunications costs, and
indirect cost allocations of common costs.
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Non-eligible costs
● Pure research projects: Research that does not transition into practical applications or
lacks a clear path to tangible implementation within the scope of this RFP’s objectives
● Lobbying or attempting to influence decisions made by the governments, including
direct communication with officials, advocacy for specific policies, or attempts to
influence public opinion
● Pure investment funds seeking concessional returns on grant capital
● Returnable or refundable grants
All applicants who are awarded grants from the A&R Fund will be supported as part of a
larger cohort of ClimateWorks grantees working on adaptation and extreme heat. This
support’s intention is to create a network of organizations working towards common aims,
receive support from ClimateWorks on any developmental needs identified by the cohort,
share learnings, and help maximize the impact of knowledge outputs.
PROCESS, TEMPLATES, AND DEADLINES
Stage 1: Letter of inquiry (LOI) submission
Applicants must first submit an LOI that outlines the main elements of their proposed initiative.
LOIs will be reviewed against the criteria outlined below. A select number will then be invited to
submit a full proposal.
● Format: Submit your LOI via this RFP application. If you would like to review the
questions prior to beginning your application, you can review them here.
● Deadline: LOIs must be submitted via the link above by September 19, 2025
● Decision announcement: Successful LOI applicants will be notified by November 15,
2025, to proceed to the next stage
Stage 2: Full proposal submission (invitation only)
Following the review of the LOIs, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal.
This detailed proposal should expand on the information provided in the LOI, including a
comprehensive project design and implementation plan, deliverables and milestones schedule,
detailed budgets, partner letters of support, etc. Full proposals must also outline the project's
scalability and partnership potential.
● Format: Detailed templates and guidelines will be provided to invited applicants
● Deadline: Full proposals are due by January 5, 2026
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● Decision announcement: Successful applicants will be notified in February 2026 to
proceed with the grantmaking process
Stage 3: Grantmaking and compliance review (for successful proposals)
Finalists notified in February 2026 will proceed with the grantmaking process. Please note that
a successful proposal in the RFP process does not guarantee the receipt of a grant, as all
potential awardees must still undergo a compliance review and other necessary evaluations by
ClimateWorks.
Format: Detailed guidelines will be provided to finalists
Timeline: Grant awards in Q2 2026
LOI STAGE: ELIGIBILITY AND EVALUATION CRITERIA
To ensure the selection of the most effective and impactful projects, the following eligibility
and evaluation criteria will be used to assess LOI submissions:
Eligibility criteria
The following questions will help us determine your eligibility to be considered for the RFPs:
● Is your organization legally registered?
● Is your organization able to receive grant funding from the U.S.?
● Is your proposed initiative within Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, or Southeast Asia and
benefiting climate adaptation and resilience efforts for communities located in these
geographies?
● Are you a local organization or does your initiative intend to partner with local
organizations? (Local organizations are place-based entities, led by members from and
primarily serving the community or region where the initiative is to be implemented.)
Evaluation criteria
Strategic fit and relevance
● The proposed project addresses specific, real-world challenges and gaps identified in
the field. The proposed approaches are appropriate and tailored to tackle these issues
effectively, demonstrating a solid understanding of the context and needs.
● The proposed project addresses climate vulnerabilities in urban geographical settings,
especially urban informal settlements.
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● Relevant data and analysis, such as local climate information, heat risk assessments, or
vulnerability diagnostics, will inform the proposed project.
● The proposed project should be clearly grounded in an understanding of current and
future climate risks and adaptation needs. It should demonstrate clear potential to
enhance climate resilience, reduce exposure to extreme heat and/or other climate
hazards, and result in tangible, measurable improvements in resilience for the targeted
cities or populations.
Project outcomes and impact potential
● The proposed project should demonstrate a clear and actionable strategy for scale or
replication.
● The proposed project should demonstrate strong readiness to implement work in a
timely manner.
● The LOI should detail the anticipated outcomes and impact of the proposed project.
● The LOI should describe who the proposed project will benefit, and how the project will
reduce vulnerability and/or build adaptive capacity.
● LOIs must identify specific A&R Fund priorities they intend to report against; these are
also listed in the RFP Application.
Local leadership and community partnerships
● Proposals must demonstrate plans to form collaborations and strong partnerships with
local institutions and community organizations.
○ Please note: If applicants advance to the proposal stage, they will be expected
to include relevant letters of support from key partners in their proposal
submission.
● Projects that involve multi-stakeholder collaboration, interagency coordination, or
engagement across multiple sectors and jurisdictions will be prioritized. Projects with
potential for cross-city, regional, or national influence — such as policy integration —
are encouraged.
Community-driven and equitable
● Proposals must demonstrate inclusion of historically underserved groups and
responsiveness to community priorities.
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PROPOSAL STAGE: EVALUATION CRITERIA AND SCORING
If an applicant is invited to submit a full proposal, the following eligibility criteria will be used to
assess proposals:
Project outcomes and impact potential (20%)
● Proposals must outline the initiative outcomes, activities, timeline, deliverables, and key
milestones in detail. They should describe the expected outcomes related to reducing
heat exposure, improving resilience, and/or building adaptive capacity — especially
among vulnerable populations. Reviewers will consider the scope and depth of the
proposed benefits, the potential scale of impact, and how these outcomes support
broader systems change in urban climate adaptation, and will be assessed on their
potential for long-term impact.
Implementation plan (30%)
● Proposals must be grounded in realistic assumptions and a practical approach. They
must clearly outline a feasible implementation plan aligned with the project timeline.
● Proposals should identify key risks and mitigation strategies.
● Proposals must illustrate a robust strategy for actively involving and collaborating with
locally impacted stakeholders, and enhancing their capacity to gain greater
independence in developing climate strategies over time and become less reliant on
external partners.
Community-driven and equitable (15%)
● The proposed project should meaningfully engage historically underserved groups and
respond to community priorities, ensuring interventions are shaped by and benefit
those most affected. Where relevant, proposals should involve community members in
decision-making, design, and implementation, and demonstrate how outcomes will
address disparities and strengthen resilience.
Collaboration and strong partners (15%)
● The proposed project should include partnerships with institutions, government, and
other critical entities that bring expertise, resources, and/or community connections
that enhance the project's potential for success. Where relevant, successful proposals
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should have a significant percentage of the total project funding allocated to or
benefiting in-country/local partner(s) to draw in local expertise, leadership, and
contextual understanding in achieving long-term success and sustainability.
Organizational and partnership capacity (10%)
● Proposals must demonstrate that the project team has relevant experience and a
proven track record of successfully implementing similar initiatives. The team should
have expertise in the specific areas of climate adaptation and resilience, particularly in
urban areas, innovative finance mechanisms, and project management in relevant
geographies.
Project budget (10%)
● The budget should be realistic and justified, demonstrating the overall
cost-effectiveness of the proposed activities.
ABOUT THE ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCE FUND (A&R FUND)
ClimateWorks Foundation — with the support of other philanthropies — has established a
first-of-its-kind multi-donor philanthropic fund for adaptation and resilience, known as the
Adaptation and Resilience Fund (A&R Fund), to mobilize and catalyze greater philanthropic
investment in adaptation and resilience in LMICs. The A&R Fund is run and administered by
ClimateWorks with all funders who join committing to a shared strategy and grantmaking
approach, governance structure, and operational plan. The A&R Fund brings together
philanthropic funding and expertise to build momentum across climate hazards to accelerate
and catalyze the systems transformations needed to support people facing the greatest
climate impacts.
While ClimateWorks plans for the A&R Fund to address multiple climate hazards and themes,
particularly given the intersectional nature of climate impacts and responses required to
address these impacts, the initial focus of the A&R Fund is on extreme heat in urban areas —
the leading cause of death among all weather-related disasters.
Vision and mission of the A&R Fund
Extreme heat is becoming a more frequent and intense challenge for people’s health and their
economic security. From 2000 to 2019, it is estimated that extreme heat caused approximately
500,000 deaths and $361 billion in economic losses globally. Attention to adaptation and
resilience for heat and other climate threats has grown, but investments continue to be limited
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and fragmented. Countries are not prepared to adapt to the new extreme heat scenarios that
are becoming increasingly frequent and intense: research and data remain insufficient; policies
are not in place, governments and local decision-makers may lack the technical support or
capacity to make informed decisions, agencies are not coordinated financing solutions are out
of reach, and the civil society ecosystem is under-resourced and under-coordinated. With
these challenges in mind, the A&R Fund will work towards the vision that by 2050, local
communities, institutions, governments, and economies will have the tools and resources
needed to effectively manage climate change impacts. Our vision is for people living in
climate-vulnerable urban areas in LICs/LMICs, including those living in informal settlements,
to have the resources, tools, and assets to be protected from extreme heat and other climate
hazards over the coming years, with positive long-term impacts on health, livelihoods,
income, and overall resilience.
Partnership with ClimateWorks Foundation's Clean Cooling Collaborative
This RFP is being issued with support and in partnership with the Clean Cooling Collaborative
(CCC), an initiative of ClimateWorks Foundation. CCC is focused on creating a future where
efficient, climate-friendly cooling is accessible to all. Its agenda is to curb greenhouse gas
emissions from the cooling sector while increasing access to sustainable cooling solutions,
especially for those at risk from the threats of extreme heat. As part of this RFP, CCC will serve
as a thought-partner, collaborator, and co-grantor with the Adaptation and Resilience program.
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