Frequently Asked

Questions

July 2020
`

Contents
1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 3
2. The UK PACT Programme.................................................................................................... 3
3. Application process and parameters for the Country Programmes ................................ 5
4. Eligibility criteria for applying to the Country Programmes ............................................... 8
5. Budget and finance requirements ........................................................................................ 9
6. Selection criteria and process ............................................................................................ 11
7. Scope and focus of the current Country Programmes funding rounds ........................ 13
8. Country specific questions .................................................................................................. 15
8.1. China ................................................................................................................................. 15
8.2. Colombia ........................................................................................................................... 15
8.3. Mexico ............................................................................................................................... 15
8.4. South Africa ...................................................................................................................... 16

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1. Introduction
This document compiles a list of answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) regarding
the UK PACT programme and the application process for the Country Programmes.

The FAQ are divided into seven categories:

The UK PACT programme

Application process and parameters for the Country Programmes

Eligibility criteria for applying to the Country Programmes

Budget and finance requirements

Selection criteria and process

Scope and focus of the current Country Programmes funding rounds

Country-specific questions

2. The UK PACT Programme

Q. What are the roles of Palladium, BEIS and the UK Embassy in UK PACT?
A. UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions) is a £60m flagship programme
under the UK's International Climate Finance (ICF) portfolio. It is part of the UK’s £5.8bn
commitment to International Climate Finance by 2021 to tackle climate change. The
programme (2018-2022) is funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy (BEIS).
BEIS has partnered with Palladium International Limited to deliver the Country Programmes
component of UK PACT. Palladium will manage and oversee the selection and
implementation of grants awarded under the Country Programmes, in strategic collaboration
with BEIS and UK Embassies in each partner country. Successful projects will be directly
managed by Palladium, with strategic oversight from BEIS and the relevant Embassy.
Q. Is it possible to get more information on projects from the first phase of UK PACT?
A. When the first phase of UK PACT launched in 2018, grant funding was allocated to three
countries: China, Colombia and Mexico. Across all countries UK PACT funded a total of 34
projects. Key facts and figures, case studies and success stories from the first phase of UK
PACT can be found on the Country Programmes pages of the UK PACT website.
Q. How is UK PACT related to COP26?
A. UK PACT works with partner countries to implement and increase their ambitions for
carbon emission reductions in line with their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
and the long-term goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit dangerous climate change. Five
years after the Paris Agreement was agreed, countries are expected to come forward with

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more ambitious NDCs as well as long-term plans. Countries are expected to submit their
new plans ahead of COP26, which is taking place in Glasgow, and in 2020 if possible. In
this context, UK PACT will support partner governments to put forward greater ambition.
The UK PACT priority sectors in the upcoming calls for proposals align with strategic COP26
campaign pillars, in particular, Nature-Based Solutions, Energy Transition and Energy
Efficiency, Green Finance, and Zero-Emissions Vehicle campaigns. Together with partner
governments, we hope to be able to showcase strong case studies from UK PACT projects
that demonstrate emissions reduction and ambition-raising support delivered through our
UK PACT Country Programmes at COP26.
Q. What does it mean for UK PACT to be flexible and adaptive?
A. UK PACT responds directly to demand identified by partner governments. The
programme has been designed to respond to this demand through three key mechanisms:
Country Programmes; a Green Recovery Challenge Fund; and Skill-Shares and
Secondments. The combination of these three mechanisms provides the programme with
the flexibility to deliver capacity building support in the most effective and efficient way based
on specific needs and demand of partner countries.
It is also important that individual projects funded under UK PACT remain responsive to
changes in needs and demands due to shifts in context. Flexible and adaptive programming
means that projects are equipped and facilitated to shift activities and outputs in response
to such changes over the project lifetime. The need for such flexibility has been made
especially clear under the current COVID-19 crisis, and we will be looking for robust risk
assessments and mitigation strategies in project proposals to ensure projects have the
necessary built-in flexibility and adaptability to prepare for continued uncertainty and change
within the operating environment.
Q. What is meant by Official Development Assistance (ODA)?
A. According to the OECD, Official Development Assistance is defined as financial support
to eligible countries and to multilateral development institutions which are: 1) Provided by
official agencies, including state and local governments, or by their executive agencies; and
2) Is administered with the promotion of the economic development and welfare of
developing countries as its main objective.
Q. Has the COVID-19 situation had an impact on the objectives and purposes of UK
PACT?
A. UK PACT aims to accelerate domestic and international action and ambition on climate
mitigation and deliver sustainable low-carbon economic development. As such, UK PACT
has an important role to play in supporting Government, businesses and civil society in their
efforts to achieve a 'green, clean and resilient recovery’ post-COVID-19, and in supporting
new policy, planning, investment and action to align with climate ambitions.
As part of our assessment criteria for the next phase of UK PACT, we will be looking for
evidence of how project proposals can contribute to both emissions reductions and
economic recovery objectives. We will also be looking for innovative proposals that support
government ministries in their response policy and planning, and financial institutions and
banks to develop the tools needed to help facilitate and fund new clean growth objectives.

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We are also aware that the pandemic and post-pandemic situation is continuously evolving
and will continue to do so for many months to come. We want to ensure that UK PACT and
the projects funded remain responsive and adaptive in order to manage challenges and
capitalise on opportunities as they arise. We will therefore also be looking for robust risk
assessments and mitigation strategies to ensure projects have the necessary built-in
flexibility and adaptability to prepare for continued uncertainty and changes within the
operating environment during implementation.
Q. Will there be further funding rounds of UK PACT? Will these include projects
longer than 12 months?
A. BEIS is currently thinking about the future of UK PACT and it is possible that, subject to
approval of further funding for the UK PACT programme in the future, we may subsequently
be in a position to extend funding to projects selected in this funding round beyond the 12-
month funding period. The expression of interest template will allow applicants to set out
information on their longer-term vision for what they would do, if they could implement
projects for more than one year. Although BEIS currently cannot guarantee funding for
projects that are longer than 12 months, we reserve the right to later extend projects selected
through this funding round beyond the initial 12 months, subject to approvals for further
funding for UK PACT. Please also note that any extension is not guaranteed, and would be
subject to satisfactory performance, a detailed proposal for the subsequent phase and
continued strategic fit with UK PACT priorities, as well as BEIS approvals for further funding
for UK PACT.
UK PACT is currently due to end in March 2022. BEIS is currently developing plans for the
future of UK PACT. UK PACT is demand-led and flexible in its approach. As such, we would
not look to define at this stage the frequency of calls for proposals in any given country,
however, subject to further funding being available, we would look to strike a balance
between continuing to support projects that are performing well, and where multi-year
approaches bring greater impact and value for money, as well as being open to new project
proposals that bring new ideas and are relevant to the context at that time. Once we are in
a position to do so, we plan to share our thinking and future plans with the market.

3. Application process and parameters for the Country

Programmes
Q. Can you confirm the timeframes and deadlines for the application process?
A. For information on the timeframe and deadlines for the EoI process, please visit the
Country Programmes Opportunities Portal, accessed at the following link:
https://www.ukpact.co.uk/apply-now
Q. How and where do I submit a proposal?
A. The instructions for submitting a proposal can be found on the UK PACT website at the
following link: https://www.ukpact.co.uk/apply-now

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Q. Where can we find presentations and recordings from the market engagement
events?
A. The presentations and recordings from the market engagement events can be found by
following the relevant webinar links on the Events page of the UK PACT website:
https://www.ukpact.co.uk/events
Q. Is it possible to make multiple applications?
A. Yes, organisations are free to submit proposals for more than one project. We would
however urge organisations to focus on quality rather than quantity, and organisational
capacity to deliver multiple projects will be considered as part of the overall assessment.
Q. Is it possible to make an application across multiple countries?
A. EoIs should be prepared for one country and will be assessed based on their ability to
deliver a project as part of the Call for Expressions of Interest to which the EoI has been
submitted. Applicants are welcome to submit EoIs in one or more of the UK PACT calls and
will be asked to inform UK PACT of this intention in each of the application forms. The
following Calls for Expressions of Interest are being launched for UK PACT Country
Programmes in July:

Colombia - 10th July

South Africa - 10th July

China - 14th July

Mexico - 16th July

All calls will be launched on www.ukpact.co.uk

Funding for projects that include multiple countries will be possible through the UK PACT
Green Recovery Challenge Fund, which launches in August 2020. Projects will need to
include at least one country that is identified as a priority under a GRCF funding window.
The focus of the GRCF funding windows and countries that are eligible to apply will be
announced soon. Please see the GRCF webpage for further information and to register for
updates.
Q. Must applications be submitted in English?
A. Yes, applications must be submitted in English. The grant agreement will also be in
English.
Q. What support will be provided by Palladium to applicants during the application
process?
A. Palladium will provide written guidance as part of the Call for Expressions of Interest.
There is also an opportunity to ask clarification questions for 5 working days after the Call
for Expressions of Interest is launched - UK PACT will endeavour to respond to all questions
within 5 working days. The same opportunity will be available for successful applicants

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preparing a full proposal. UK PACT may be able to offer further guidance during the
preparation of full proposals but this will be confirmed at a later date.
Q. Will UK PACT help in building consortia or match-making between parties?
A. UK PACT does not provide a consortium building service.

Q. Can skill-share and secondment proposals be combined with project proposals?

A. When you submit an EoI to the Country Programmes, the EoI must be about an eligible
technical assistance project only. However, there is a space within the EoI form to indicate
if any organisation involved in the proposed technical assistance project intends to apply to
the Skills-Shares and Secondments component of UK PACT. Organisations are eligible to
apply for both Country Programme and Skills-Share support.
Q. Who will the grant agreement be signed with?
A. The Grant Agreement will be signed with the Department for Business, Energy and
Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Palladium International will be named as a Grant Manager in the
Grant Agreement and will be the main point of contact for implementing partners.
Q. Is the contract a grant contract or commercial contract?
A. The agreement under which the funds will be distributed to implementing partners will be
a Grant Agreement.
Q. Will it be possible to extend projects beyond 12 months?
A. UK PACT’s current funding and timeframes only allow us to guarantee successful
applicants funding for 12-month projects. However, subject to approval of further funding for
the UK PACT programme in the future, we may subsequently be in a position to extend
funding to some of the projects selected in this funding round beyond the initial 12-month
funding period. In the EOI form we will include a question that will allow applicants to set out
briefly their long-term vision for what activities could be implemented beyond an initial 12
months.
However, please note that with the exception of this one question on the potential for
extension outlined above, your expression of interest form should be completed on the basis
of a 12-month project and, currently, we cannot guarantee any UK PACT funding from BEIS
beyond that 12-month period. We reserve the right to then extend some of the projects
selected through this application process beyond the initial 12 months. Please also note
that any extension is not guaranteed, and would be subject to satisfactory performance, a
detailed proposal for the subsequent phase and continued strategic fit with UK PACT
priorities, as well as BEIS approvals for further funding for UK PACT.
Q. Could you confirm Intellectual Property Rights terms under UK PACT?
A. Please refer to clause 25 of the Grant Agreement template for the full Intellectual Property
Rights terms.

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Q. Will there be an opportunity to ask more questions during the application process?
A. Following the launch of the Call for EoIs, there will be a period of 5 working days where
organisations are able to ask clarification questions. UK PACT will endeavour to respond to
all questions within 5 working days. The correct email address and deadline for this is
indicated in the Call for Expressions of Interest document for each country and the timelines
which can be found on the Country Programmes Opportunities Portal. To access the portal
please use the following link: https://www.ukpact.co.uk/apply-now

4. Eligibility criteria for applying to the Country Programmes

Q. Which types of organisations are eligible to apply for funding under the Country
Programmes?
A. For a list of organisations that are eligible to apply for funding, please refer to section 5
of the Call for Expressions of Interest for each country.
Q. Are past or current UK PACT grantees eligible to apply for funding again?
A. Yes, past and current UK PACT grantees are eligible to apply for UK PACT funding again.
The funding round for new UK PACT projects in 2020 will be run using an open and
competitive process. Therefore, there is no guarantee that existing or previous UK PACT
implementing partners will be successful or be allocated new funding and no advantage will
be given to existing or previous UK PACT implementing partners.
Q. Do organisations need to be locally registered in the country of implementation to
apply?
A. Organisations and consortia need to be sure that they are structured and registered in a
way that allows them to deliver the project they have proposed. We require organisations
and/or consortia to make sure they have confirmed their own ability to deliver their proposed
project in country.
Q. Do projects need to be submitted by consortia? Is it necessary to show cross-
organisational collaboration?
A. No, applicants do not need to form a consortium or work through other partners. Projects
can be submitted by one organisation.
Q. Do projects need to have a partner from the partner country?
A. The answer depends on the country of focus.
In China and South Africa there is an expectation that a Chinese or South African partner
will be included if a consortium is proposed.
In Colombia and Mexico it is not essential that consortia include a local partner. However,
there is an expectation that the organisation or consortia applying has strong networks and
experience in the UK PACT delivery country.
Q. Do projects need to have a UK partner?

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A. No, projects do not need to have a UK partner. Consortia can be constructed from
organisations in any country. However, there is an expectation that the organisation or
consortia proposed has strong networks and experience in the UK PACT delivery country
and necessary expertise in proposed programme content.
In the case of China, it is however a requirement for projects to have an international partner.
Q. If a consortium is proposed, what partnerships agreements need to be in place?
A. At the EoI stage, any proposed partnership or sub-contracting arrangements should be
identified and reflected in a letter(s) signed by partners/sub-contractors. If shortlisted for full
proposal, specific guidance will be provided.
Q. Must the implementing team be able to speak English?
A. The project and the implementing team should be structured in a way and consist of the
skills needed to deliver the project. This includes being able to report to and hold meetings
with UK PACT in English and understand any communications circulated by UK PACT in
English. Where relevant and in cases where not all members of project teams speak English,
it may be necessary or preferential to include budget for translation.
Q. Are those receiving funding from other HMG programmes eligible to apply?
A. Yes, organisations receiving funding from other HMG projects are eligible to apply. Where
funding has been received for the same project, applicants must be able to clearly
distinguish between activities funded by UK PACT and those activities funded through other
sources, as well as any associated results achieved. Applicants must be prepared to
separately account for and report on spend against UK PACT funding. Applicants should be
able to demonstrate the need and additional impact of UK PACT funding.
Q. Can you provide more details on the due diligence requirements and process?
A. We will begin to register organisations for Due Diligence once they have been shortlisted
to prepare full proposals. At that stage, we will provide a checklist of items that are needed
to prepare for this process. Full due diligence will take place once final projects have been
selected and before Grant Agreements can be signed. For more information on what's
involved in due diligence, please refer to section 8 of the Call for Expressions of interest
document.

5. Budget and finance requirements

Q. What is the budget range for individual projects?
A. The budget range expected varies per UK PACT partner country.
For Colombia, projects are expected to cover a range from around £250,000 up to a
maximum ceiling of £500,000.
For China, Mexico and South Africa projects are expected to cover a range from around
£100,000 up to a maximum ceiling of £500,000.
Q. What costs are eligible to be included in the budget?

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A. Please see Section 6 of the Call for Expressions of Interest and Draft Grant Agreement
Annex on eligible expenditure.
Q. How will costs and budget be assessed and scored?
A. Costs will be reviewed for cost-reasonableness within the specific market. Proposals will
also be assessed against value for money criteria.
Q. Are there any guidelines, benchmarking or caps provided for costs, e.g. for
personnel rates, overheads, etc.?
A. Due to the large variety of types of organisations and sectors that UK PACT will cover,
we have not provided specific caps for personnel rates or overheads. However, value for
money is a large part of the assessment criteria for UK PACT projects. There will be an
expectation for organisations to be transparent in the way they have constructed budgets
and to be able to demonstrate how they are offering good value for money in project budgets.
UK PACT will expect that day rates are benchmarked and that this benchmarking can be
evidenced to determine that day rates are in line with market rates and competitive.
Q. What are considered 'reasonable' overheads and administrative costs?
A. Overheads are those costs incurred by an organisation that are not specific project costs
but that support the delivery of the project and other projects that the organisation is
delivering. For example, human resources, space and premises costs and other costs that
are not project specific, but which are required to keep the organisation functioning. We are
expecting applications from a wide variety of organisation types with different financial
structures, and therefore we have not fixed overhead percentages but will allow
organisations to submit budgets including overheads that are well constructed and represent
good value for money. This means that costs are reasonable, that costs which should be
included as direct project costs are not included in overheads, that overheads can be linked
back to an organisation’s financial accounts and that organisations are transparent in
demonstrating how overheads have been constructed. Contingency and exchange rate
fluctuations are not eligible overhead costs.
Q. Does local VAT need to be included in the budget?
A. Local VAT should be included in the budget where applicable. UK VAT should not be
included in the budget.
Q. Can exchange rate fluctuation variations be included in the budget to ensure
adequate funding of the activities as planned?
A. Applicants will be paid in GBP and must be prepared to manage the risk of exchange rate
fluctuations during the lifetime of the project. If exchange rate fluctuations become
unmanageable, i.e. could prevent the project from being able to complete activities and
deliver outputs within the agreed budget or agreed timeframes, this should be flagged to UK
PACT.
Q. How will payments be made?
A. Payments will be made by bank transfer to the lead organisation. Payments will be made
in GBP.

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Q. In case of consortia, do all finances flow through the lead organisation?
A. Yes. Payments will be made to the lead organisation, which will be responsible for
reporting on activities and budget quarterly. The proposed activity budget should identify
which organisations are involved with delivery of each underlying activity. Lead
organisations must be able to report on how the project funding will be allocated between
the consortium members.
Q. Are advance payments possible?
A. Our default position is to pay in arrears. Only in exceptional circumstances (for example
where upfront investment is required which would be unaffordable for the recipient
organisation to manage) if organisations request a payment in advance we may be able to
accommodate this. We will manage any payments in advance on a case by case basis and
a robust rationale would be required for any payments in advance to be considered. Any
such requests should be flagged at full proposal stage.
Q. Are monthly milestone payments possible?
A. Our default is to make payments quarterly in alignment with a quarterly reporting
schedule. Where demonstrably critical to the project we can consider monthly payments and
reporting, however, there would need to be a strong rationale for this. Requests for monthly
payments should be flagged at full proposal stage.
Q. Do the budgets for the EOI need to match exactly the budgets sent during the full
proposal stage?
A. The proposed projects should not vary substantially between the accepted EoI and the
final proposal. It is expected that the level of detail and accuracy of the workplans and
associated activity budgets will be further developed during the full proposal stage.
Q. What type or level of match funding or co-financing is expected? Will this provide
any competitive advantage?
There are no requirements for match or co-financing to be eligible for UK PACT support.
However, if it is demonstrated that co-financing would contribute to the sustainability of the
proposed activities or leverage further climate mitigation activities, this would be considered
under relevant selection criteria, e.g. sustainability. The proposal should also clearly outline
how UK PACT financing is additional and identify a discrete budget of activities not covered
by other sources of funding. For more guidance on co-funding please see section 6 of the
Call for Expressions of Interest document.

6. Selection criteria and process

Q. Who will be involved in proposal review and selection? Are partner government
representatives involved?
A. At EOI stage, screening and Technical Review Panels comprised of UK PACT staff
(Palladium staff) and sector experts, who are independent technical assessors, and will
conduct the screening, scoring and shortlisting of project proposals. Selected projects will

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be presented in a recommendation paper to an approval panel including BEIS and UK
Embassy representatives prior to final approval of selection. A similar process will be
repeated at full proposal stage and more details will be shared with successful EOI
applicants in due course.
Q. Which selection criteria are most important and what are the relative weightings?
How will the final selection of projects be made?
A. EOIs that pass eligibility checks will be scored and ranked according to eight selection
criteria covering: Strategic Fit; Political Will and Local Ownership, Beneficiary and
stakeholder engagement; Project Coherence; Leverage: Incentivising further action;
Sustainability; Gender equality, social inclusion and poverty alleviation; Knowledge, skills
and experience within the consortium; Delivery risks and mitigation planning; and Budget
and budget construction. Proposals that meet minimum scoring requirements will be
shortlisted, contingent on funding availability and balancing priorities within the portfolio.
More details on the relative weightings and scoring mechanism used in the selection process
can be found in section 9 of the Call for Expressions of Interest document.
Q. How will the emissions reduction potential of proposals be assessed? Will this
involve a specific methodology or criteria?
A. Given the diversity of sectors and contexts within which UK PACT projects will operate,
there is no single methodology prescribed for measuring emissions reduction potential.
Assessment of emissions reduction potential will be made based on the level of strategic fit
of project proposals (priority sectors in each country have been identified in part due to their
emissions reduction potential) and applicants' responses to how their projects align with and
are expected to contribute to the achievement of NDC targets. Applicants will be asked to
present clearly outlined activities, outputs and intermediary outcomes in their project plans,
including a clear logic of how proposed outputs will lead to enhanced capacities and
capabilities amongst target stakeholders, and how this in turn will contribute to enhanced
and sustained action on emissions reductions.
Q. What type of impact is expected within a 12-month project?
The focus of UK PACT is to provide technical assistance that builds capacities, capabilities
and knowledge within key institutions to support low carbon transitions and emissions
reductions. At the EoI stage, applicants will be expected to demonstrate a basic outline of
the expected project plan. If shortlisted, further detail including a detailed project plan, which
identifies outputs and intermediate outcomes, and the indicators that will be used to measure
them, will be requested. Applicants will be asked to present what outputs will be delivered
by when and a clear logic of how proposed outputs will lead to enhanced capacities and
capabilities amongst target stakeholders, and how this in turn will contribute to the impact of
enhanced and sustained action on emissions reductions.
Applicants are also asked to provide details on how their projects may incentivise further
action from wider stakeholders; what pathways for further scaling or replication of project
activities exist; how lessons learned will be disseminated and shared; and how projects aim
to create impact beyond the period of UK PACT funding.

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7. Scope and focus of the current Country Programmes
funding rounds
Q. What is the total funding allocation for this round of projects?
A. Total allocations vary per UK PACT partner country.
For Colombia, up to £7 million will be allocated in this funding round, covering projects
costing from £250,000 up to a maximum individual ceiling of £500,000.
For Mexico, up to £4.5 million will be allocated in this funding round, covering projects
costing from £100,000 up to a maximum individual ceiling of £500,000.
For South Africa, up to £3 million will be allocated in this funding round, covering projects
costing from £100,000 up to a maximum individual ceiling of £500,000.
For China, up to £2.3 million will be allocated in this funding round, covering projects costing
from £100,000 up to a maximum individual ceiling of £500,000.
All country allocations are indicative and subject to final decisions by BEIS – allocations may
increase or decrease significantly.
Q. Which sectors are eligible for inclusion in project proposals?
A. Priority sectors of greatest emissions reduction potential and where UK PACT can provide
the most relevant capacity building support have been identified through an exercise of
stakeholder consultations and demand scoping with key beneficiaries in each partner
country.
Priority sectors for each UK PACT partner country are described in section 2 of the relevant
Call for Expressions of Interest document.
Q. Which stakeholders have been consulted by UK PACT in the development of the
funding round?
A. Since UK PACT initiated activities in each partner country, a series of consultations and
technical scoping meetings have been held to identify the key priorities and opportunities
where UK PACT could most effectively provide support. This will allow UK PACT to provide
climate finance and technical assistance that is demand-led, responsive and effectively
supports each partner country to implement and increase their ambitions for carbon
emissions reductions. The outcomes of these consultations have informed the identification
of the priority sectors for inclusion in the current UK PACT Calls for Proposals. More details
on the process followed in each country is included in section 2 of the Call for Expressions
of Interest document for that country.
Q. Is UK PACT open to suggestions to projects in other sectors than those mentioned
in the Call for Expressions of Interest?
A. Only projects that align with priority sectors in each country will be eligible for inclusion in
this funding round. This will be assessed through the 'strategic fit' criterion. Importantly, we
expect grant applicants to clearly demonstrate and evidence in their proposals how they
have themselves identified and tested demand for proposed interventions, as well as built
relationships that secure necessary buy-in from primary beneficiaries.

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Q. Are projects focussed on resilience and adaptation eligible?
A. UK PACT is a climate mitigation programme, and all project proposals will be assessed
on their potential to contribute to emissions reductions targets. Activities that deliver
resilience and adaptation impacts can be included within projects, so long as the primary
objective and impact of the project is focussed on climate mitigation and emissions
reductions.
Q. Is it possible to put in a proposal that covers multiple priority sectors?
A. Yes, there is no restriction on the number of priority sectors which a proposal can address,
however, the project must form one coherent intervention.
Q. Are there any geographical priority areas within each partner country?
There are no specific geographical priority areas. We welcome projects that operate at both
the national and sub-national (regional, district and municipal - cities and towns) levels, as
long as these clearly demonstrate impact potential and verified demand from beneficiaries.
In many cases, capacity building needs and implementation support is most needed at the
subnational level.
For China, we encourage applications under the pillar of domestic capacity building which
focus on the sub-national level to support the practical implementation of China’s
national green finance policies.
Q. Who can the primary beneficiaries of technical assistance be? Can a project have
more than one beneficiary?
A. UK PACT is a demand-led programme. In order to demonstrate that the project will be
successful, applicants will need to identify primary beneficiaries who will be the direct
recipients of the project’s outputs.
For the most part, primary beneficiaries of UK PACT projects will be national or subnational
government institutions and bodies, state-owned enterprises and other state funded
agencies, regulatory bodies and policy centres. There may however also be secondary
beneficiaries of project outputs, depending on the scope and focus of each individual project.
These may include other types of stakeholders in addition to government and public sector
institutions and bodies, such as industry associations and bodies, NGOs, community-based
organisations, private sector enterprises, businesses and research and academic
institutions. More details on expected beneficiaries can be found in section 2 of each
country's Call for Expressions of Interest document.
Q. Do projects need to demonstrate support from government? Do you expect to see
MOUs or letters of commitment from beneficiaries for the project and the
implementing partner?
A. As a demand-led programme, demonstrating strong beneficiary relationships and buy-in
is key. At the EoI stage, applicants will be asked to identify primary beneficiary partnerships
and additional stakeholders. Applicants can attach supporting evidence of that partnership
(i.e. a letter or email), but this is not mandatory. At the full proposal stage, shortlisted
applicants will be asked to provide evidence of stakeholder and beneficiary engagement
that has already occurred and to develop a proposed engagement plan with beneficiaries

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as appropriate to their project. This could include: informing beneficiaries through regular
communications, establishing joint working groups, or even agreeing to more specific project
Terms of Reference if appropriate.
Q. Will UK PACT provide any support in engaging beneficiaries or establishing
relationships?
A. If shortlisted and invited to develop a full proposal, UK PACT will provide guidance to
applicants on development of the stakeholder engagement plan and may participate in direct
discussions with beneficiaries as appropriate to the specific project in order to confirm
demand for projects. UK PACT will not, however, be able to facilitate or directly advocate
for partnerships between applicants and beneficiaries during the application stage.

8. Country specific questions

8.1. China

No specific additional questions.

8.2. Colombia
Q. Where can we find more details about the energy transformation plan of the
Colombian government?
More information on the Mission for Energy Transformation can be found on the Colombian
government website at: https://energiaevoluciona.org/transformacion
Q. How does UK PACT’s Green Finance sector focus align with the Climate Finance
Accelerator programme in Colombia?
The Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) is a technical assistance programme which supports
countries to improve the in-country supply chain of bankable, low-carbon projects. It does
this by convening policymakers and project developers with capital market practitioners in
workshops, which focus on mobilising finance for ‘real world’ projects, and providing
associated support. The CFA can help improve our understanding of some of the technical
and policy blockers to NDC implementation and project finance, some of which could be
addressed by other ICF programmes, such as UK PACT, especially under the 'Greening
Finance' pillar. A next phase of the CFA is expected to commence in Colombia later in the
year.

8.3. Mexico

Q. What other climate finance programming does the UK have in Mexico?

A. Mexico receives one of the largest amounts of UK climate finance contributions in Latin
America - around $300m as of March 2020. UK PACT is just one of a portfolio of
programmes being funded by the UK in Mexico, covering a range of priority economic
sectors including green finance, mobility, energy and forests and land use. More information

Frequently Asked Questions

July 2020
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on UK International Climate Finance can be found on the government website at
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/international-climate-finance

8.4. South Africa

Q. Can UK PACT projects extend to the rest of the African region?

A. Projects should address priorities identified in the Call for Expressions of Interest for
South Africa. Projects should be designed to be implemented in South Africa and be in line
with priorities of the South African government in the sectors highlighted for this funding
round.
Q. How does UK PACT relate to other emission reduction programmes in South
Africa, for example the C40 programme?
As a demand-led programme, applicants should demonstrate a strong understanding of the
context in the areas in which proposals are submitted, including other emission reduction
programmes. Through the Strategic Fit, Additionality, and Sustainability criteria, proposals
will be assessed against how they demonstrate how UK PACT funding can be deployed
most effectively to compliment, extend, replicate or provide demonstration for other
initiatives.
Q. If you are funding NBI for business pathways for a just transition, how will you
similarly empower other social partners without which a just transition cannot be
enacted
Further opportunities for funding for Just Energy Transition are a priority under this Call for
EoIs.

Frequently Asked Questions

July 2020