About the CFA
Strengthening high-potential low-carbon businesses and project developers to unlock private investment across emerging markets.
Although capital to support climate projects exists, many strong climate solutions struggle to secure investment. Usually this is not because they lack potential, but because they are not structured or presented in a way that meets investor expectations. The Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) helps high-potential low-carbon businesses and projects strengthen their investment readiness, while bringing together investors, public partners, and local institutions to build stronger climate investment pipelines and networks. Funded by the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the CFA provides practical, independent, and tailored support to improve investment cases, clarify funding needs, and strengthen how opportunities and impact are communicated to financiers. We also create structured opportunities for dialogue between projects, investors, and public partners, informed by a clear understanding of investor priorities. The CFA does not invest, broker deals, or raise capital. Instead, we help businesses and projects build the credibility, visibility, and relationships that make investment more likely.
Since launching in 2020, the CFA has supported over 200 climate-focused businesses and projects across emerging markets. CFA-supported businesses have gone on to close more than 50 investment deals, helping unlock over USD 500 million in climate finance. Today, the CFA operates in ten countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It supports locally led climate mitigation solutions across a wide range of sectors, including energy, transport, industry and manufacturing, buildings, agriculture, waste, and water.
Climate businesses and project developers - Support to improve their readiness for investment, and structured opportunities to connect with the right investors. Investors and financiers - Providing early visibility of credible climate investment opportunities, informed by local market insight and investor priorities. Public and institutional partners - A platform that helps turn climate ambition into climate investment, while strengthening local capacity and surfacing the real-world barriers and opportunities shaping climate investment.
How it works? The CFA journey
The CFA supports businesses and project developers to move from promising climate solutions to investment-ready opportunities. The CFA journey is designed to meet entrepreneurs where they are, strengthen their readiness for finance, and create opportunities to engage with the right investors and partners.
Sourcing & Selection
CFA seeks ambitious climate businesses and projects with clear growth plans and investment potential
Applicants apply through an open country call and are assessed against the CFA framework to identify those ready for the next stage: Acceleration.
Step 1Acceleration
Selected businesses and projects receive hands-on, independent support from experienced industry experts to strengthen their investment case and prepare for investor engagement.
Support is tailored to each business and includes developing investor-ready materials, strengthening ESG and climate impact narratives, and addressing key gaps.
Step 2Engagement
CFA facilitates tailored opportunities for dialogue between businesses, project developers, and investors, informed by a clear understanding of investor mandates and risk appetite.
Participants benefit from structured pitching and networking opportunities that enable interaction with relevant investor groups.
Step 3Alumni Network
After the main phase of support, businesses and projects join the CFA alumni network, maintaining visibility, peer connections and access to the wider climate finance ecosystem.
Step 4