Financial Feasibility of a GEF Project

Before putting time and effort into moving a Concept to PIF stage, it is important to assess the financial feasibility of the GEF project. Following are some questions that should be answered when considering moving forward on a GEF concept:

• What makes up the baseline? How is it funded and by whom (co-financing)?
• Is there confidence that anticipated co-financing meets the GEF requirements (1:7 ratio)?
• Are there other sources of funding that can support the cost project development?
• Have project partners been identified? Are there any initial concerns with partner capacity and their ability to secure co-financing (including operations and management)?

In addition, the Working Group should consider the cost of getting a GEF project from Concept to CEO Endorsement Request Document Submission. While funding may be available to assist with these expenses (see PIF Development Grants (PDG) and Project Preparation Grants (PPG)), these are rarely enough to cover all costs associated with project development. Use the cost calculator to estimate the total cost of developing a GEF project from start to final submission. Additional sources of funding will need to be identified to ensure the development of your project can be sustained until final CEO Endorsement Request Document submission.

Applying for Concept Development Grant (CDG): To assist with Concept and PIF Development, the Team can apply for funds from the WWF GEF Agency budget.