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Strengthening Climate Action Through Collaboration: Highlights from the PCN Development Workshop

Posted on July 22, 2026

From September 29 to October 1, 2025, key stakeholders from across government, civil society, academia, and development organizations convened in Quezon City for a three-day Project Concept Note (PCN) Development Workshop. Organized as part of the accreditation process of the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) as a Direct Access Entity (DAE) to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the workshop marked a significant step in strengthening the Philippines’ capacity to access and implement climate finance. The initiative was supported by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) under a GCF Readiness Project.

Building Capacity for Climate Finance

The workshop brought together a diverse group of participants, including representatives from national government agencies, non-government organizations, academic institutions, and FPE’s Board of Trustees. The primary objective was to deepen participants’ understanding of GCF processes, particularly the development of Concept Notes (CNs), which are critical entry points for securing climate finance.

Through a structured training program, participants were introduced to the GCF project cycle, accreditation requirements, and a comprehensive 10-step approach to developing strong and viable Concept Notes. The sessions also emphasized the importance of aligning project ideas with GCF investment criteria, environmental and social safeguards, and climate rationale.

Hands-On Learning and Collaborative Design

A key highlight of the workshop was its highly participatory and practical approach. Participants engaged in group work to develop initial project ideas centered on three thematic areas:

• Wetlands protection
• Coastal and coral reef conservation
• Sustainable forestry

Each group developed a detailed Theory of Change (ToC), outlining how proposed interventions could lead to long-term climate resilience and mitigation outcomes. These exercises enabled participants to translate theoretical knowledge into concrete project frameworks.

One notable output was a coastal resilience concept titled “Waves of Resilience,” which focused on restoring blue carbon ecosystems while supporting climate-resilient livelihoods. The project emphasized ecosystem restoration, community engagement, and strengthened governance as key pathways to enhancing resilience among coastal communities.

In addition to developing ToCs, participants identified critical data gaps and pre-feasibility considerations, including environmental risks, governance challenges, and socio-economic barriers. These insights will be instrumental in refining project proposals moving forward.

Strengthening Knowledge and Skills

The workshop also included interactive elements such as a GCF quiz, plenary discussions, and technical sessions on investment criteria, Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS), and project implementation structures. Participants were guided in assessing whether their proposed projects could qualify under the GCF’s Simplified Approval Process (SAP) and in identifying potential executing entities and stakeholders.

Evaluation results indicated a strong learning impact. Participants rated the workshop highly, with feedback ranging from “good” to “very good” across key training components. Pre- and post-assessments further demonstrated significant improvements in participants’ knowledge of GCF processes and project development.

Advancing Toward Climate Investment

Beyond capacity building, the workshop produced tangible outputs that will directly contribute to the Philippines’ climate finance pipeline. These include:

• Initial Theories of Change for three priority project ideas
• Identified pre-feasibility study requirements
• Enhanced stakeholder collaboration and knowledge-sharing

As a next step, the consultant will develop one to two draft Concept Notes based on the workshop outputs, with continued engagement from participants. These concept notes will support FPE’s efforts to become an accredited entity and play a more direct role in channeling climate finance to local initiatives.

A Model for Future Engagement

The success of the workshop highlights the value of collaborative, multi-stakeholder approaches in climate project development. It also provides a strong model for future capacity-building initiatives aimed at empowering national institutions and stakeholders to access global climate finance mechanisms.

As the Philippines continues to face increasing climate risks, initiatives like this workshop underscore the importance of building local expertise, fostering partnerships, and developing high-quality, impactful climate projects that can drive sustainable and inclusive resilience.