Adaptation & Resilience Fund (A&R Fund) – ClimateWorks Foundation (2025)

A bold philanthropic fund supporting locally driven climate resilience projects in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa, with an initial focus on extreme heat in urban areas.

🔍 Quick Snapshot

Provider: ClimateWorks Foundation & partner foundations
Opportunity Type: Philanthropic grant funding (RFP)
Total Fund: Up to USD 9 million
Deadline: 19 September 2025
Geographic Focus: South Asia, Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa
Themes: Extreme Heat Resilience; Innovative Finance; Institutional & Civil Society Capacity

🌍 About the Fund

The Adaptation & Resilience Fund (A&R Fund), launched by ClimateWorks Foundation with global philanthropic partners, invests in climate resilience solutions led by local organizations. Its first round of funding targets extreme heat in vulnerable urban settlements across Asia and Africa, through innovative finance mechanisms and capacity-building initiatives.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Legally registered organizations able to receive U.S.-based grants
Operational presence or partnerships in South Asia, Southeast Asia (incl. Malaysia), or Sub-Saharan Africa
Focus on extreme heat resilience in urban informal or vulnerable communities
Projects with strong potential for replication or scaling
Proposals may include co-funding or cost-sharing mechanisms

🎁 Grant Benefits

Access to catalytic funding in climate adaptation
Support for innovative finance & institutional resilience strategies
Empowers local communities, especially marginalized groups
Potential for systems-level transformation in urban climate resilience

📝 How to Apply

Visit the ClimateWorks A&R Fund page
Review the two RFP streams: Innovative Finance & Institutional/Civil Society Capacity
Select the stream that best aligns with your project
Download guidelines and prepare required documents (proposal, budget, org profile, theory of scale, implementation plan)
Submit by 19 September 2025 via the instructions on the ClimateWorks website