Frequently asked questions

WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THE TAP?

Enabling access to finance to scale up local climate action
Accelerating net-zero emission and climate-resilient development
Supporting national ambitions through transformative local infrastructure projects

WHAT IS THE TAP?

A subnational demand-driven Project Pipeline
A Project Preparation Facility (PPF) with tailored services from ICLEI and TAP partners, to guide project development to achieve maturity and financing
A platform publicly presenting projects seeking finance, also partnering with other platforms
An advocacy instrument presenting the demand and diversity for subnational project finance.

WHO ARE THE TAP PARTNERS?

As of November 2020 the TAP partners are:

bettervest
C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40)
Cities Alliance
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) / Covenant of Mayors in Sub Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) component III
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) / FELICITY
European Investment Bank (EIB)
Global 100% RE Platform
Global Covenant of Mayors (GcOM)
Global Fund for Cities Development (FMDV)
Global Infrastructure Basel (GIB) Foundation
Lincoln Institute
R20 – Regions of Climate Action (R20)
Sustainable Infrastructure Foundation (SIF)
UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)
United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)
United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)

IS IT A CLOSED PARTNERSHIP? WHO CAN BE A TAP PARTNER?

TAP partnership is growing and is open for all wishing to support cities, towns, and regions to a low-to no-carbon, resilient development. Partners can be suggested by the ICLEI Regional Offices, TAP partners, as well as invited by the ICLEI World Secretariat. Interested organization can also express their interest via contacting ICLEI.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES OFFERED BY ICLEI AND PARTNERS?

Local and regional governments have access to tailor-made services from ICLEI and TAP partners during the whole project cycle, from early stage project definition to long-term mentoring, with the aim to develop robust and bankable project concepts.

Potential TAP Services:

Exploration of innovative financing mechanisms fitting and suitable to local demand
Capacity building and technical assistance on how to prepare a robust project concept, including planning and feasibility studies
A thorough exploration of possible funding opportunities and financial strategies
Connection to other Project Preparation Facilities and strategic global and regional initiatives that offer additional technical assistance
Connection to other platforms
Matchmaking with potential investors and funding institutions

WHO CAN APPLY? WHAT ARE THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA?

Projects have to be submitted by local and subnational governments, or their partners (as long as the local / regional government is a key stakeholder in the project)
(Hard) infrastructure projects
Proven transformative impact (ambitious, cross-cutting, inclusive)

WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF TRANSFORMATIVE?

The definition of “transformative” action refers to an action that contributes to tackling climate change (low emission development; climate change mitigation, adaptation, and/or resilience; and access to secure, affordable, and sustainable energy). It supports systematic and sustainable change at the community level, with the potential for large-scale impact and scalability.

TAP projects submitted have to fulfill the criteria of “transformative” and ensure that the three key components (ambitious, cross-cutting, inclusive) are embedded in the projects. There will be a basic screening process of these criteria when projects are submitted.

Ambitious	Cross-cutting	Inclusive
In line with or more ambitious than the Paris Agreement Supports the long-term commitment contributing to domestic action and international initiatives to cut global greenhouse gas emissions to meet the 2°C or 1.5°C goal Increases the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and fosters climate resilience at the local level	Relevant Serves a meaningful percentage of the population. Has potential scaling opportunities to serve an increasing percentage of the population. Delivers local benefits beyond climate change impacts	Local / Regional Government administration Coordinates within the multiple departments / teams to ensure co-design. Uses or sets up appropriate coordination mechanisms and processes to ensure effective project management
In line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addresses to reach the scale and ambition on the SDGs (support local sustainable development priorities), particularly on: Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities Goal 13: Climate action	Holistic and integrated approach Considers resource and energy use of the project throughout its entire life cycle (e.g. considering the location of the project, and optimizing the use of local resources [air, water, waste, land, biodiversity / ecosystems, energy] Has a holistic approach supporting multiple sectors been considered when designing the project (e.g. buildings connected to district energy) Supports comprehensive climate risk management (e.g. disaster prevention, insurance, etc.)	Citizens Engages communities, citizens and local stakeholders actively, encouraging their participation in the conceptualization, design, implementation and monitoring of the project. Demonstrates how citizens will benefit in the short- and mid-term. Demonstrates how disadvantaged and particularly vulnerable communities will benefit in the short to long term (e.g. contribute to poverty alleviation, addressing the urban poor, unemployed, elderly, youth, women, ethnic minorities, indigenous groups, etc.)
		Local business and industry Reaches out to local business and industry (incl. insurance) to explore involvement in stimulating sustainable development and enhancing resilience also in the private sector

Ambitious

Cross-cutting

Inclusive

In line with or more ambitious than the Paris Agreement

Supports the long-term commitment contributing to domestic action and international initiatives to cut global greenhouse gas emissions to meet the 2°C or 1.5°C goal
Increases the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and fosters climate resilience at the local level

Relevant

Serves a meaningful percentage of the population.
Has potential scaling opportunities to serve an increasing percentage of the population.
Delivers local benefits beyond climate change impacts

Local / Regional Government administration

Coordinates within the multiple departments / teams to ensure co-design.
Uses or sets up appropriate coordination mechanisms and processes to ensure effective project management

In line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Addresses to reach the scale and ambition on the SDGs (support local sustainable development priorities), particularly on:
- Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
- Goal 13: Climate action

Holistic and integrated approach

Considers resource and energy use of the project throughout its entire life cycle (e.g. considering the location of the project, and optimizing the use of local resources [air, water, waste, land, biodiversity / ecosystems, energy]
Has a holistic approach supporting multiple sectors been considered when designing the project (e.g. buildings connected to district energy)
Supports comprehensive climate risk management (e.g. disaster prevention, insurance, etc.)

Citizens

Engages communities, citizens and local stakeholders actively, encouraging their participation in the conceptualization, design, implementation and monitoring of the project.
Demonstrates how citizens will benefit in the short- and mid-term.
Demonstrates how disadvantaged and particularly vulnerable communities will benefit in the short to long term (e.g. contribute to poverty alleviation, addressing the urban poor, unemployed, elderly, youth, women, ethnic minorities, indigenous groups, etc.)

Local business and industry

Reaches out to local business and industry (incl. insurance) to explore involvement in stimulating sustainable development and enhancing resilience also in the private sector

HOW TO APPLY?

There is an annual TAP call, announced at an international event and on the TAP website. The 2023 TAP call opens on 31 March.

Once the call is open, applicants can Register or Login to access the application form (available in 4 languages).

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE APPLICATION IS SENT?

Applications are screened by ICLEI World Secretariat based on their completeness and “transformative” potential. Project applications not meeting the requirements will anyway get feedback and recommendations for further improvement.

Once an application is accepted, it can access and benefit from tailor-made tools and services from ICLEI and TAP partners.

IS THERE FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR THE PROJECTS AND TAP SERVICES?

ICLEI’s role is not to provide financial support for project preparation. ICLEI commits to (i) explore and engage with TAP Partners that could provide project preparation support/technical assistance and (ii) search for a matching funding partner for TAP Projects. TAP Services provided by partners are conditional, depending on Partners’ interest and the funds availability.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BEING IN THE TAP PIPELINE?

ICLEI explores options and engages financial and technical partners to find support for the project idea
Projects get national and international visibility for potential funders

IS THE TAP A MATCHMAKING TOOL?

Matchmaking and connecting to other Project Preparation Facilities (PPFs) and platforms is a crucial part of TAP, but TAP is also very important as an advocacy tool that shows the demand and diversity of local needs while promoting multi-level governance.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RECENT CALL AND THE CALL IN 2015?

The focus is explicitly on hard infrastructure projects
There is a new application form harmonized with C40, CDP, SOURCE and FELICITY
The new application form contains a detailed checklist on the transformative criteria
Projects are screened based on their transformative impact, which is the main criteria to be approved in the project pipeline
There is a new TAP partnership
Partners build a value chain and offer tailor-made services
There is a special focus on the “incubator” phase: enabling environment, project definition, scoping