Convergence Blended Finance — Accelerator Design Grants

Enriched multilateral · Found: 2026-03-14 20:15

Design grants up to USD 500K to structure innovative blended finance vehicles. Blue Economy eligible. Asia Climate Solutions window covers Indonesia, Vietnam, India.

Source: https://www.convergence.finance/accelerator

Funding Details

Funder

Convergence Blended Finance

Funding Goal

Provide early-stage grant funding (feasibility study, proof-of-concept, and expansion grants) to support the design, structuring, and launch of innovative blended finance vehicles that unlock private capital for sustainable development in emerging markets, including climate mitigation and adaptation, gender equality, and economic development in least-developed and lower middle-income countries.

Funding Amount

Grant amounts vary by stage (feasibility study, proof-of-concept, expansion) and by initiative window. Past awards totalled USD 4.6 million across 19 solutions (SDG Impact Finance Initiative).

Deadline

Varies by initiative window. Indo-Pacific NGO Blended Finance Accelerator: second call launching June 1, 2026. A4FM Fund Managers: May 25, 2026. Asia Climate Solutions: date TBA. Catalytic Climate Finance Facility: date TBA. (periodic)

How to Apply

Apply through the specific initiative page at convergence.finance/accelerator. Each initiative has separate eligibility criteria and application instructions. Solutions can only be submitted to one initiative. Rejected solutions may apply to other initiatives.

Target Region

Emerging markets globally, with specific windows focused on: Indo-Pacific region (NGO window), Asia (ACS climate window), Africa and Asia (A4FM fund managers). Least-developed countries (LDCs) and lower middle-income countries (LMICs) are prioritized.

Last Checked

2026-04-21 07:57

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Must be a formal organization with proof of incorporation and prior-year financial statements
• Multilateral organizations and development banks cannot be direct grant recipients (may participate in consortia)

Project Scope

• Project must aim to design or scale a blended finance vehicle that unlocks private capital
• Check which window (A4FM, ACS, Indo-Pacific NGO, CC Facility) is currently open and matches your profile
• Grant stage must match: feasibility study (early), proof-of-concept (design complete), or expansion (already launched)
• The blended finance solution must target emerging or developing markets
• Results must demonstrate potential to mobilize private capital at scale

Constraints

• Each solution can only be submitted to one initiative at a time

Summary

The Convergence Blended Finance Accelerator (formerly the Design Funding program) is a market acceleration program managed by Convergence, a global network for blended finance. The program supports early-stage blended finance practitioners with grant funding, acceleration support, and market intelligence to scope, structure, and launch new blended finance solutions that unlock commercial investment for sustainable development in emerging markets. Thematic scope varies across initiatives: the Indo-Pacific NGO Blended Finance Accelerator focuses on transformative development projects in the Indo-Pacific region including climate and gender equality; the Asia Climate Solutions (ACS) Design Grant targets high-impact climate financing in Asia including climate mitigation and adaptation; the Blended Finance Accelerator for Fund Managers (A4FM) focuses on fund and asset managers entering emerging and developing economies; and the Catalytic Climate Finance Facility (CC Facility) targets sustainable climate finance in under-financed sectors in developing countries. Eligible activities include feasibility studies (assessing investability, market scoping, vehicle structure development), proof-of-concept work (finalizing capital structure, legal structure, key documentation), and expansion grants (scaling already-launched vehicles, fundraising support, pipeline due diligence). The program explicitly targets blended finance vehicles — structures that combine concessional or catalytic capital with commercial investment. Geographic focus is on emerging markets broadly, with specific windows targeting the Indo-Pacific, Asia, Africa, and least-developed or lower middle-income countries. The program works across the Global South. Eligible applicants include asset managers, financial intermediaries, advisory firms, NGOs, foundations, and social enterprises. Consortia are permitted. Multilateral organizations and development banks cannot be direct grant recipients. Lead applicants must demonstrate incorporation and financial standing. NGOs are explicitly eligible under the Indo-Pacific NGO window. Grant sizes and durations vary by initiative and stage of development. The Accelerator provides three types of grants: feasibility study grants, proof-of-concept grants, and expansion grants. Multiple active windows accept applications at any given time, with rolling or periodic intake cycles.

Historical Context

Previously known as the Design Funding program. From 2022-2024, the SDG Impact Finance Initiative Innovation Window awarded USD 4.6 million to 19 solutions. Past windows include Asia Natural Capital, Indo-Pacific Design Funding, Global Emerging Markets, and Tertiary Education Financing Competition. Convergence operates multiple initiatives simultaneously with different thematic and geographic targets.

Why it was added

grant-scan-2026-03-14-family-offices

Sources

• https://www.convergence.finance/accelerator

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