Call for proposals for innovation projects in the Heavy-Duty Vehicles and Engines sector

About 

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition has launched a call for proposals seeking solutions to pressing challenges for short-lived climate pollutant mitigation in the heavy-duty vehicles and engines sector. 

This call aims to bridge critical information, implementation, and finance gaps in the sector to create enabling environments for SLCP mitigation. 

Solutions supported by this call are expected to help sector stakeholders and governments implement and scale up mitigation action in line with the CCAC’s 2030 objectives. 

The call is open for 8 weeks, closing on 30, April 2024.

Objectives

Projects submitted to this call for proposals should advance innovative approaches and technologies to improve the speed, scale, and access to mitigation action in a developing region, country, or state. 

Proposed projects are required to cover one of the following focus areas: 

• Focus area 1: Focus area 1: Minimizing the impact of black carbon from Heavy-Fuel Oils (HFOs) on the cryosphere. 
• Focus area 2: Advancing implementation of electric buses along planned bus corridors. 
• Focus area 3: Developing green freight corridors or green city deliveries.
• Focus area 4: Supporting green shipping in Africa. 
• Focus area 5: Developing finance strategies or carbon market projects for soot-free heavy-duty vehicles.

Note: This call for proposals seeks projects that implement mitigation solutions. Applicants interested in supporting national policy and planning projects should wait to apply to the CCAC’s call for proposals for national planning and policy projects which will launch in Q2 of this year. More information about these opportunities will be made available on the call for proposals announcements page. 

Additional focus areas may be introduced in future calls for proposals as new gaps are identified and current gaps are addressed.

Who can apply 

The CCAC can only fund non-profit entities, which include non-governmental organizations (NGOs), intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), and government entities. 

For-profit entities are not eligible to receive CCAC funding, though may participate in projects as stakeholders, collaborators, or co-funders. Applicants are encouraged to include for-profit entities in the development of the project proposal and during project implementation when their ownership of the proposed solution is key to the project’s success.  

Project eligibility criteria

To be eligible for consideration, project proposals must be: 

• Complete 
• Relevant 
• Submitted on time 
• Within the budget range set in the call for proposals
• Less than 24 months in duration
• Compliant with CCAC gender criteria

Proposals that do not meet these minimum criteria will not be evaluated.

Successful proposals will demonstrate clear alignment with the CCAC’s Sector Engagement Strategy and recommended SLCP mitigation measures for the sector, as well as:

• Demonstrate support of the targeted governments and other relevant leaders
• Have co-funding or in-kind contributions
• Provide a plan to sustain the project results after completion 
• Be linked to existing priorities, efforts or needs within the targeted region, country, or state 
• Have the resources available to implement the project, if and once it is approved
• Provide a reasonable estimate of the project’s SLCP mitigation potential and the resulting co-benefits for climate, air quality, and development
• Demonstrate no negative impact on vulnerable populations and biodiversity, and, if possible, generate a positive impact

Multidisciplinary collaborations, as well as the involvement of appropriate private sector stakeholders, are encouraged.

Find out more about the CCAC’s general project evaluation criteria on our Applicant Resources page.

Other requirements 

All applicants requesting CCAC funding will be required to provide their last three (3) audited financial statements to be eligible for CCAC funding. These statements may be provided along with the initial application form or during the evaluation process. 

In addition to eligibility criteria outlined above, qualified implementers (United Nations agencies excluded) must meet the following criteria: 

• Have adequate financial resources to perform the contract and meet all existing commitments (financial health). 
• Be able to provide proof of registration and not-for-profit status. 
• Have a record of satisfactory performance with UNEP/CCAC, when applicable; and not have been suspended or debarred by UNEP/CCAC or another UN agency. UNEP/CCAC also considers entities included in the Security Council Resolution Lists to be ineligible for UNEP/CCAC agreements. 
• Have necessary rules, policies, or processes in place to prevent misconduct and corruption, especially regarding Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH). 

As a general rule, project budgets must keep costs for incidental procurement to a strict minimum: 

• For agreements of $200,000 and below: up to $20,000 or 15% of total amount, whichever is lower 
• For agreements of above $200,000: up to $40,000 or 15% of the total amount 

Incidental procurement refers to costs related to Contractual Services; Equipment, Vehicles and Furniture; Operating and other Direct costs; Supplies, Commodities and Materials. More details can be found in the guidance provided with the application form.

Important deadlines

• Deadline to submit project concept note: 30 April 2024 
• Longlist notification: 15 May 2024 
• Full project proposal deadline (for selected applicants only): 14 June 2024
•  Award notification: Q4 2024
• Expected project start: Q1 2025 

This call will follow a two-stage application process, consisting of a project concept note and full funding proposal. 

The first stage is this call for proposals, in which applicants are invited to submit project concept note. Applicant eligibility and project feasibility will be considered based on the concept notes submitted, and a selection of longlisted applicants will be made. 

Longlisted applicants will be invited to complete the second stage of the application process, in which they will have one (1) month to develop a full funding proposal. 

Full funding proposals that are submitted by the deadline will be evaluated by members of the CCAC Secretariat, Funding Task Team, and Board, in consultation with relevant CCAC Partners. 

Applicants may be invited to present their proposals in further detail and to respond to follow-up questions about their proposal before a final selection is made. 

Successful applicants will be invited to develop a Project Implementation Plan and Detailed Budget in consultation with the CCAC Secretariat and relevant CCAC Partners. 

The selection process may take up to 6 months after the closing date of the call for proposals. Due to the high volume of requests, the CCAC will not respond to requests for updates or feedback during this time.

Important documents 

• Application form (.docx) 
• Resources for applicants 
• CCAC Sector Engagement Strategies

About CCAC project funding 

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) is the only international body working to reduce powerful but short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) – methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and tropospheric ozone – that drive both climate change and air pollution. Our goal is to reduce global warming in the near-term to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and support economic development, improved health, and environmental and food security benefits. 

Each year, the CCAC provides grants for SLCP mitigation projects through two complementary calls for proposals – one focused on supporting national policy action and another on advancing transformative solutions in key emitting sectors.