Financial support for projects that seek certification
The sustainability fund to help hydropower developers and operators assess their environmental, social and government (ESG) performance is now open to projects that seek to get certification against the Hydropower Sustainability Standard.
Download the call for proposals
The Hydropower Sustainability ESG Assessment Fund will award a total of 1 million Swiss Francs (US$ 1.02m) to 40 or more hydropower projects over four years. Recipients will receive a grant to part sponsor the cost of commissioning an independent project assessment using the Hydropower Sustainability ESG Gap Analysis Tool (HESG).
Preference will be given to projects where the HESG assessment is intended to clear the way for access to climate/green bond financing with good chances to succeed and/or projects where the HESG assessment is intended to achieve certification against the Hydropower Sustainability Standard, provided they follow the harmonisation procedure.
Projects under preparation and development, as well as those already in operation, are all eligible for the grant. Applicants will need to demonstrate a strong track record or commitment to sustainability and show that their project aligns with national or regional development policies.
The initiative is managed by the International Hydropower Association (IHA)’s non-profit sustainability division and funded by the Swiss government’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
Project proponents can apply before 8 December 2021 deadline.
The additional call for proposals is now open to projects from the following countries: Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Burundi, Cambodia, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malawi, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Peru, Rwanda, Serbia, South Africa, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Note: The HESG Assessment fund co-finances only the assessment, not the subsequent certification process.
