Frontline Funds Accelerator

Minimal climate finance supports locally led climate action, despite evidence that funds in the hands of organized community actors often have a greater impact and more equitable distribution than large amounts of top-down funding channeled through big projects.

“Frontline” groups have a great deal at stake as the climate changes, and therefore, create innovative and equitable solutions. Yet, the financing landscape often overlooks grassroots-led funding mechanisms. This failure of climate finance to reach those most affected further exacerbates the disadvantages that drive poverty and vulnerability.

The Frontline Funds Accelerator is an equal partnership of the Huairou Commission, Slum Dwellers International, Climate Justice Resilience Fund, Global Resilience Partnership, and IIED. The partners envision a climate-just financial architecture where communities and donors establish equitable and trusting relationships, hold each other accountable, and share risks. In such an architecture, significant investment would be dedicated to grassroots-led climate and development funding mechanisms that demonstrate effective, dignified, and just local action. Toward this vision, the Frontline Funds Accelerator is pursuing system transformation in four ways:

  • Supporting funders to recognize grassroots networks as creators of effective climate solutions, while also fostering partnerships that increase the flow of funding and technical support to grassroots communities

  • Helping grassroots groups build governance and operational capacities that facilitate partnership and increase funding for scaling their initiatives

  • Creating spaces to build innovative local finance mechanisms and document strategies for multi-sectoral partnerships and learning

  • Building coalitions across constituency-led grassroots movements to advocate for new approaches for partnership and participatory financing

Ready to join?

Evidence is clear that investing in grassroots-led climate action drives just, sustainable change. To support the Accelerator’s efforts, you can become a partner, make a financial contribution, or provide in-kind support. For more information contact CJRF.