The overall objective of this evaluation is to assess opportunities for mobilizing public and private sector financing for Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in Africa, as well as the types of capacities required to seize these opportunities. The specific objectives of the Recipient in relation to the Project are as follows: 1. Evaluate the effectiveness of two Finance Fellowship Programs (FFPs) in enhancing professionals’ capacities, policy contributions, and engagement in climate finance discussions; 2. Propose recommendations for future capacity-building initiatives and financing accelerated climate action through NDCs and other channels. The following key messages are derived:

• Africa’s NDC finance gap reflects more than insufficient capital. While the scale of unmet financing needs is substantial, the deeper constraint lies in the lack of institutional preparedness and technical capacity. Without the systems and expertise required to access, structure, and manage climate finance, additional capital alone will not close the implementation gap.
• Institutional readiness and capacity strongly shapes climate finance allocation. Climate finance remains concentrated in countries with stronger governance systems, credible regulatory frameworks, and demonstrated project execution capacity, systematically sidelining capacityconstrained states regardless of need.
• Capacity deficits are systemic and interlinked. Challenges extend beyond individual skills to fragmented coordination across ministries, weak MRV systems, limited project pipeline development, and underdeveloped financial sector literacy. These institutional weaknesses reinforce one another and constrain climate finance mobilisation at scale.
• Existing capacity-building provision is fragmented, supply-driven and insufficiently embedded in domestic systems. Although programmes have expanded, many remain short-term, supply-driven, and externally designed. Limited institutional anchoring and weak integration into national governance structures undermine long-term impact and knowledge retention.
• Bridging the NDC implementation gap requires institutionalised and sequenced capacity pathways. Capacity building must move beyond ad hoc training towards structured, nationally embedded strategies that align individual skill development with institutional reform. Integrating capacity milestones into NDC investment planning and strengthening domestic governance architectures are essential to unlocking sustainable climate finance.

More details, see policy brief here.