ANTALYA, November 12, 2026 – Bangladesh has been selected alongside four other countries for the first phase of a major international climate resilience investment programme, potentially opening the door to millions of dollars in concessional financing for projects aimed at strengthening the country’s ability to withstand climate change.
The Climate Investment Funds (CIF) has invited Bangladesh, Haiti, the Kyrgyz Republic, Morocco and Sierra Leone, together with a regional programme involving Malawi and Mozambique, to participate in the first phase of its Accelerating Resilience Investments and Innovations for Sustainable Economies (ARISE) initiative.
The selection reflects growing international efforts to channel climate finance into vulnerable economies and mobilise investment in sectors increasingly exposed to climate-related risks.
Under the programme, each selected country can work with its multilateral development bank (MDB) partners to prepare an investment plan seeking up to $30 million in ARISE financing. The Malawi-Mozambique regional programme may request up to $40 million.
The initiative has identified 25 expressions of interest representing more than $700 million in potential investment opportunities across participating countries and regions.
The proposed investments cover agriculture and food systems, water security, infrastructure, energy, coastal resilience, blue economies, natural resource management, financial services and adaptive social protection.
For Bangladesh, one of the countries particularly vulnerable to climate change, the programme could provide an opportunity to strengthen climate-resilient infrastructure, improve water security, protect agricultural livelihoods and develop adaptation projects capable of attracting further international investment.
ARISE is designed not merely to provide climate funding but also to use concessional finance to attract larger volumes of public and private capital. The approach aims to strengthen vulnerable economic sectors while protecting livelihoods and supporting sustainable long-term growth.
Launched at COP30 last year, the programme initially received more than $100 million in financial backing from Germany, Spain and Ireland.
The United Kingdom has recently confirmed additional support, pledging up to $128 million over the coming years through reflows from the CIF’s existing resilience programme.
The latest selection represents an important step in expanding international climate investment beyond traditional grant-based financing towards larger-scale investment programmes.