GLOBAL CAPACITY BUILDING COALITION LAUNCHES NEXT PHASE OF ACCELERATOR PROGRAM AIMING TO STRENGTHEN COUNTRY PLATFORM DELIVERY IN EMERGING MARKETS AND DEVELOPING ECONOMIES
The 2026 GCBC Accelerator will support high-potential efforts advancing country platform design and implementation with technical expertise, strategic support, and access to global networks
The Global Capacity Building Coalition (GCBC) today announced the launch of the 2026 GCBC Accelerator, a global initiative that will identify, elevate, and support high-potential capacity building efforts focused on the design, structure, and implementation of country platforms across emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs).
Building on the success of the Accelerator’s inaugural cohort in 2025, this year’s Accelerator will focus on addressing the capacity constraints that often limit the effectiveness and scalability of country platforms. Applicants will be supported in their work across a number of capacity constraint areas, including strengthening enabling environments, improving planning, overcoming financing hurdles, and assisting with implementation challenges.
"In emerging markets and developing economies, organizations are undertaking exceptional work to help governments design and operationalize country platforms, often without the strategic networks, visibility, or resources needed to scale their impact," said Mary Schapiro, Chair of the Global Capacity Building Coalition. "The GCBC is eager to elevate organizations with promising and innovative solutions that can help countries translate ambition into well-designed national platforms that mobilize finance for climate and development.”
Country platforms are recognized as a critical mechanism for translating national priorities into investment pipelines, with local capacity critical to their success. Across EMDEs, a growing network of research institutions, advisory organizations, and implementation partners is helping governments navigate complex challenges related to planning, financing, governance, and project delivery.
At the same time, local organizations often possess deep local knowledge and technical expertise, yet many face barriers to scaling their impact. Limited access to strategic networks, financing institutions, and government decision-makers can restrict opportunities to deploy and expand proven solutions. The Accelerator is designed to help close this gap.
Selected participants will receive tailored support, including product development and technical assistance, access to GCBC’s global network of members, communications and visibility support, and co-design assistance to deliver capacity-building initiatives to governments and other partners building credible country platforms.
The first GCBC Accelerator cohort demonstrated the value of targeted support, helping advance practical climate finance capacity-building solutions, from working with Transforma on transition finance frameworks in the Latin America region, to Climate Compatible Growth’s strengthened financial modeling tools and government workshops, to Africa Adaptation Initiative’s progress toward accreditation for its Adaptation Finance Academy.
The Accelerator is open to think tanks, technical advisors, university research centers, NGOs, economic advisory firms, and other organizations working to address barriers to the effective development and delivery of country platforms in EMDEs.
Applications are particularly welcome from organizations that strengthen financial structuring, planning, or pipeline development capacity and that demonstrate both strong technical credibility and clear potential for impact. Specific areas of focus include financial and energy modeling, policy roadmap support, readiness assessments, macroeconomic frameworks, project preparation facilities, transaction advisory, and technical assistance to governments on climate finance challenges.
Applications are open through August 15th, 2026.
Additional information, including eligibility criteria and application details, is available here.
The selected 2026 Accelerator cohort will be announced in Fall 2026.
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About the Global Capacity Building Coalition (GCBC)
The Global Capacity Building Coalition (GCBC) is an unprecedented global initiative. It brings together many of the world’s leading climate finance organizations to accelerate and scale climate and transition finance capacity building for financial institutions and finance professionals, particularly in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs). The Coalition is designed to enhance collaboration and respond to growing requests for capacity building support from financial institutions in EMDEs to meet the aims of the UN and the G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG).
The GCBC was launched by the U.N. Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions, Michael R. Bloomberg, alongside senior leaders of multilateral development banks, finance, and international organisations at COP28 in December 2023.
To express interest in joining the Global Capacity Building Coalition, or supporting its work in other ways, contact secretariat@capacity-building.org.