Climate, Water and Food facility (CWF)

What is CWF?

CWF is a government-to-government (G2G) programme. The facility supports green and just transitions in over 30 partner countries. It works with public and private sector organisations, financial institutions, knowledge organisations and local communities. These communities include marginalised groups.

CWF aims to help Dutch and local partners to:

• increase climate and sustainability ambitions;
• carry out green actions faster, across high-impact sectors and themes;
• strengthen the enabling environment of these sectors through policy dialogue and practical solutions;
• create sustainable business opportunities and support green investments.

CWF builds on the experience gained from the Climate and Energy Response Facility (CERF). 

For whom?

CWF is a facility for Dutch embassies and consulates, so-called diplomatic missions. It supports green diplomacy efforts in partner countries, helping missions engage in policy dialogue. CWF also allows them to provide actions tailored to local needs by linking Dutch experts and investors with local partners.

Activities

CWF undertakes the following activities:

• Providing policy advice and supporting dialogue;
• Facilitating knowledge exchange between Dutch and local stakeholders;
• Connecting Dutch companies with local governments and businesses;
• Enhancing the capacity of local stakeholders.

For these purposes, CWF hosts customised activities, including studies, multi-stakeholder sessions, events, hackathons, seminars and study visits.

Sectors and themes

The facility supports climate change mitigation and adaptation across high-impact areas. CWF sectors and themes include:

• Water
• Food security
• Renewable energy
• Circular economy
• Biodiversity
• Critical raw materials
• Nature-based solutions.

CWF connects these sectors, recognising that actions in one area influence outcomes in others. This integrated approach, known as the water-energy-food nexus, strengthens climate action, resilience, sustainability and economic development.

Partner countries

CWF provides long-term support to focus countries and short-term, demand-driven support to so-called flex countries. For an overview of partner countries, see the table below. 

*In flex countries, CWF supports short-term, project-based collaborations.

How CWF works

CWF focuses on climate change mitigation, climate adaptation and greening. Gender equality and biodiversity are incorporated in all activities. As a result, this approach ensures sustainable and inclusive projects and supports global climate and development goals. Building on this integrated focus, CWF provides support to Dutch diplomatic missions, tailored to their goals and requests. 

In focus countries, missions design long-term, sector-specific collaboration plans. In flex countries, CWF supports short-term, project-based collaborations. In each partner country, CWF funds activities that help improve the enabling environment for a green transition in the chosen theme or sector. To this end, CWF helps mobilise experts, financiers and stakeholders from various disciplines. 

Finally, all CWF activities align with the missions' multi-annual country strategies. RVO supports the missions in designing and implementing these activities, ensuring coherence and effectiveness.