Convergence Indo-Pacific NGO Blended Finance Accelerator

Enriched government · Found: 2026-03-14 20:40

Australian DFAT + Convergence. AUD 300K-840K grants for NGOs designing blended finance. Indonesia, Vietnam eligible. Q2 2026 intake tentative.

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

Funding Details

Funder

Australian DFAT + Convergence Blended Finance

Funding Goal

Support NGOs to design and scale blended finance solutions unlocking private capital for climate action in the Indo-Pacific

Funding Amount

Stage 1 (Scoping): up to AUD 300,000 (~USD 190,000); Stages 2-3 (PoC + Scale): up to AUD 840,000 (~USD 530,000) total

Deadline

Next intake Q2 2026 (tentative); First call EOI closed November 18, 2025 (periodic)

How to Apply

Via Convergence Blended Finance Accelerator portal at convergence.finance/accelerator/dfatngo. Prepare: NGO profile and governance documents, Concept Note for blended vehicle, Board/management approval letter, Budget for design phase. Stage 1 only; Stage 2-3 by invitation based on Stage 1 results.

Target Region

Indo-Pacific: Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Bangladesh, Pacific Island nations

Contact

Via Convergence Finance website

Last Checked

2026-03-14 20:42

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• NGO status (not private sector lead)
• Proposed blended finance vehicle targets one or more eligible Indo-Pacific countries
• Organisation has board/management approval for blended finance exploration

Project Scope

• Climate action framing (methane avoidance, adaptation, etc.)
• Concept for blended finance vehicle (e.g. waste collection facility fund + concessional loan + EPR offtake)
• Theory of change connecting plastic waste management to climate outcomes

Constraints

• Only Indo-Pacific countries eligible (Africa, Denmark, Baltic out of scope)
• Must demonstrate capacity to manage the design process
• Stage 1 only; Stage 2-3 by invitation based on Stage 1 results

Summary

The Indo-Pacific NGO Blended Finance Accelerator is a AUD 10 million, five-year programme funded by Australian DFAT and managed by Convergence. It is one of the few instruments that provides grants specifically for NGOs to design blended finance solutions — recognising that NGOs often lack the capital market expertise to structure transactions that combine grant, concessional, and commercial capital. For your organisation, the strategic value of this grant goes beyond the funding amount. Convergence's network includes development finance institutions (IFC, ADB, FMO), impact investors, and bilateral development agencies. Participating in the accelerator programme provides access to these networks, technical assistance from Convergence's team, and investor relationship-building support. A successfully structured blended finance vehicle for your Indonesia or Vietnam operations could mobilise 5-10x the grant amount in total capital. The key challenge is framing your plastic waste value chain work in terms that satisfy the climate action + gender equality criteria. This is achievable: plastic waste diversion from landfills generates methane avoidance carbon credits (climate); collection networks in developing countries often employ women waste workers (gender). A well-crafted concept note can authentically connect all three themes. Begin monitoring convergence.finance/accelerator/dfatngo from April 2026 for the Q2 2026 intake announcement.

Historical Context

Convergence launched the Indo-Pacific NGO Blended Finance Accelerator in partnership with Australian DFAT in 2025. The first call semi-finalists were announced shortly after the November 2025 deadline. The five-year programme structure (2025-2030 approximately) means multiple call cycles will be available. The broader Convergence design funding programme has been running since 2014 and has awarded $35M+ in design grants, mobilising over $14 billion in blended finance commitments.

Why it was added

grant-scan-2026-03-14-alternative-finance

Similar Programs

← Back to list