Climate Finance Access Network

What Climate Finance Access Network does

Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) is a nonprofit, demand-driven network launched in 2021 by RMI (Rocky Mountain Institute) that places highly trained climate finance advisors directly within host country ministries across Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs). CFAN advisors are embedded for at least one year at no cost to the host country, helping governments navigate complex international climate finance systems, develop bankable project pipelines, and access funding from multilateral climate funds. The network's core service offerings include a five-month cohort-based advisor training program, in-country capacity building via train-the-trainer approaches, project pipeline development, and a structured six-step host country engagement process. CFAN operates across approximately 19 countries in the Pacific (12) and Caribbean (7) regions, supported by an implementing partner network including GGGI and SPC for advisor recruitment and deployment.

CFAN is funded by development partners, governments, and foundations, with disclosed funding including an initial $7M grant from RMI in 2021, $5M from Canada in November 2022, and over $67M from Canada announced at COP28 in December 2023. Funding sources include Canada, Australia, Open Society Foundations, and the Islands Fund for Climate and Justice. The network reports $2.6B in project pipeline developed, 150+ climate projects supported, 1,000+ practitioners trained, $150M in mobilized climate finance, 1.5 million people directly benefiting, and over 1 million tons of carbon emissions avoided. RMI serves as the Network Coordinator managing day-to-day operations; the network is governed by a Steering Committee and Advisory Group comprising member initiatives, country representatives, and donors. CFAN has no software product, no AI/ML capabilities, and operates as a pure service-delivery nonprofit with a dozen RMI-hosted coordinator staff and 15 embedded advisors.

Name

Climate Finance Access Network

Legal name

Climate Finance Access Network

Website

https://cfanadvisors.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) is a nonprofit network that embeds trained climate finance advisors within government ministries across Small Island Developing States in the Pacific and Caribbean to help developing countries access international climate finance and develop bankable project pipelines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Finance Advisory Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Management Consulting Services (541618)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Finance, Carbon Markets & MRV Systems (BPADALAB), Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support (BPADALAA), Sustainability, ESG & Climate Finance Risk (EDABAJAO), Climate Finance Funds & Green Investment Facilities (BPADACAH)

Keywords

• Climate finance advisory
• Capacity building services
• Climate project development
• Embedded technical assistance
• Nonprofit consulting services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Donor Funding / Grants: CFAN operates as a nonprofit network funded by development partners, governments, and foundations. The network was launched by RMI with an initial grant of $7 million. Funding comes from donors including Canada, Australia, and various foundations. CFAN advisors are fully funded and come at no cost to host countries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CFAN is a nonprofit network that places highly trained climate finance advisors directly within host country ministries in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) across the Pacific and Caribbean. Advisors are deployed for at least one year at no cost to host countries, supported by a rigorous five-month cohort-based training program and ongoing technical assistance to develop bankable climate project pipelines and build lasting in-country capacity.

Product overview

The Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) is an agile, demand-driven initiative offering advisory services to developing countries facing capacity constraints in accessing climate finance. Rather than a unified software product, CFAN operates as a service network consisting of: (1) Climate Finance Advisor Placement, which deploys trained advisors embedded in host country ministries; (2) the Climate Finance Advisor Training Program, a five-month intensive cohort-based training covering project design, finance structuring, and climate finance sources; (3) In-Country Capacity Building, providing ongoing technical support and stakeholder training; and (4) Project Pipeline Development, supporting the creation of bankable climate projects aligned with national priorities. The organization also facilitates a structured Host Country Process for engagement. CFAN advisors work across the Pacific and Caribbean regions, with the network coordinated by RMI.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Climate Finance Advisor Training Program
• Climate Finance Advisor Placement
• In-Country Capacity Building
• Project Pipeline Development
• Host Country Process

Quantifiable outcome

• $2.6 billion global project pipeline developed
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• RMI (Rocky Mountain Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Network Coordinator - manages day-to-day operations of CFAN including coordinating country demand, supporting member initiatives, designing and hosting advisor training, supporting in-country work, fundraising and budgeting. RMI is an independent, non-partisan, nonprofit organization.
• GGGI (Global Green Growth Institute)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2021Implementing partner that recruits, hires, and enrolls qualified advisors in CFAN for Pacific deployment. Manages advisors during deployment and provides input into CFAN services. Regional coordinators work on behalf of GGGI.
• Pacific Community (SPC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRegional implementing partner for Pacific countries. SPC hosts CFAN advisors embedded in their organization and provides climate change and environment sustainability programs across the Pacific region.
• Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional climate change center for CARICOM member states. Hosts CFAN advisor to develop project proposals and resource mobilization for Caribbean region.
• CARICOM Development FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional development fund for Caribbean community. Hosts CDF advisors working on specific project portfolios across multiple Caribbean countries.
• University of the West IndiescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStrategic partnership for delivering climate finance training in the Caribbean. Leverages regional reach, academic expertise, and networks to scale CFAN's work and extend impact across the Caribbean.
• NDC PartnershipmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal partnership supporting countries in implementing climate commitments through NDCs. CFAN advisors work with NDC Partnership for coordinated support.
• Caribbean Development BankmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional development bank for Caribbean. Collaborates with CFAN on climate finance access for Caribbean countries.
• SPREP (Pacific Regional Environment Programme)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional environmental organization for Pacific island countries. Partners with CFAN on climate and environment programs.
• Tony Blair Institute for Global ChangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal change institute partnering with CFAN on climate finance initiatives.
• Climate AnalyticsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate policy institute partnering on NCQG project to inform new collective quantified goal on climate finance through technical papers and events.
• PIFS (Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional political organization for Pacific islands. Partners on climate finance access for the Pacific region.
• LEDS Global PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal partnership on low emission development strategies. Collaborates with CFAN on climate finance capacity building.
• African Adaptation InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrican adaptation initiative partnering on climate finance knowledge sharing and capacity building.
• African Development Bank GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrican development bank collaborating on climate finance initiatives and knowledge sharing.
• International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainable development research organization partnering on climate finance knowledge products.
• NAP Global NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork supporting national adaptation planning processes. Collaborates with CFAN on adaptation finance access.
• Sustainable Energy for AllmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization working on sustainable energy. Partners on energy-related climate finance projects.
• Bankers Without BoundariesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit focused on sustainable finance. Collaborates on climate finance innovative approaches.
• STARTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate change research and capacity building organization partnering on knowledge sharing.
• ODI (Overseas Development Institute)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal development think tank. Partners on climate finance research and policy engagement.
• The Nature ConservancymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal environmental organization. Partners on nature-based climate solutions and biodiversity financing.
• Oxfam in the PacificmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational development organization working in Pacific region on climate justice and resilience.
• CCSA (Caribbean Climate Smart Accelerator)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaribbean accelerator for climate-smart solutions. Partners on climate finance innovation in the Caribbean.
• E Co.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainable development consultancy providing technical expertise on climate finance.
• CCREE (Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional center for renewable energy and energy efficiency in Caribbean. Partners on clean energy climate finance.
• ANSA Merchant BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaribbean merchant bank partnering on climate finance solutions for the region.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Climate Policy Initiative (CPI): CPI is a deep climate finance research and advisory organization producing the annual Global Landscape of Climate Finance. Like CFAN, CPI works to identify and address gaps in climate finance flows to developing countries, though CPI focuses more on data, analysis, and policy rather than embedded advisory.
• NDC Partnership: NDC Partnership is a CFAN strategic partner providing coordinated support to countries implementing their Nationally Determined Contributions. Both organizations focus on unlocking climate finance for developing countries through capacity building and direct in-country technical support.
• NAP Global Network: NAP Global Network supports national adaptation planning processes and collaborates with CFAN on adaptation finance access. Both organizations provide capacity building and technical assistance to developing countries navigating complex climate finance architecture.
• Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI): GGGI is CFAN's primary Pacific implementation partner and provides comparable climate finance advisory services to developing country governments. Both organizations embed technical advisors within host ministries and work on bankable green growth project pipelines, making GGGI the closest functional peer.
• Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL): SEforALL is an international organization working on sustainable energy access and finance, partnering with CFAN on energy-related climate finance projects. Both organizations operate as multi-stakeholder partnerships mobilizing climate finance for developing country priorities.

Emerging players

• Climate Analytics: Climate Analytics partners with CFAN on the NCQG project to inform the new collective quantified goal on climate finance. Both organizations produce technical analysis and policy recommendations to scale climate finance for developing countries, though Climate Analytics focuses more on science-based policy.
• Tony Blair Institute for Global Change: Tony Blair Institute partners with CFAN on climate finance initiatives and provides advisory support to governments on climate and development. TBI's government advisory model intersects with CFAN's embedded-advisor approach, though TBI operates more broadly across policy domains.

Broad incumbents

• International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD): IISD is a sustainable development research organization partnering with CFAN on climate finance knowledge products. IISD operates as a broader sustainable development think tank with a wider mandate than CFAN's narrow climate finance access focus.
• Overseas Development Institute (ODI): ODI is a global development think tank partnering with CFAN on climate finance research and policy engagement. ODI operates a much broader development research portfolio while sharing CFAN's commitment to evidence-based climate finance policy support.

Others

• The Nature Conservancy: The Nature Conservancy partners with CFAN on nature-based climate solutions and biodiversity financing. TNC operates as a large environmental NGO with significant climate finance programming, providing a thematic connection though not direct competition for CFAN's advisory services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cfanadvisors
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cfanadvisors

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Climate Finance Access Network