Bonn, 18 June 2025 – On the sidelines of the 62nd sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB62) of the UNFCCC, the Mitigation Action Facility and the NDC Partnership co-hosted a vibrant evening of collaboration, learning, and strategic exchange.
The event, titled “Connect & Co-Create: A Mitigation Action Facility x NDC Partnership Event”, brought together over 40 participants from partner countries, Applicant Support Partners (ASPs), Implementation Organisations (IOs), and other key stakeholders working on climate mitigation.
Held at the GOP theater in Bonn, the interactive networking session offered a creative and informal setting for country representatives and climate action practitioners to explore what makes a high-quality, transformational project idea. Participants shared their experiences and co-developed ideas aligned with national priorities and the Mitigation Action Facility’s funding criteria.
“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to turning NDCs into action. By connecting country needs with practical support, we can co-create scalable solutions with real impact.”
– Mariana Panuncio-Feldman, Country Engagement Director at the NDC Partnership
Peer learning, project design, and fresh ideas
The highlight of the evening was a hands-on “Collaborative Lab” session, where participants worked in small, facilitated groups to identify success factors for climate projects and brainstorm ideas for new mitigation actions. Using real-world examples and project summaries prepared by the Technical Support Unit (TSU) to the Mitigation Action Facility, the three sector groups tackled critical elements such as barrier analysis, technology selection, financial mechanisms, and business models.
“After a long day of negotiations at the SBs, this event was a welcome change of pace — an opportunity to reflect on concrete challenges in project design and explore how they might be solved.”
– Participant of the Transport sector working group
By focusing on ambition, feasibility, and long-term sustainability, the discussions helped build a stronger understanding of what it takes to develop bankable Project Concepts that align with updated NDCs and long-term low-emissions development strategies (LTS).
During the collaborative lab session, the participants were free to choose between the Facility’s three priority sectors – energy, transport, and industry.
Stronger pipelines, stronger partnerships
In the context of the upcoming COP30 and the urgency to accelerate implementation after the first Global Stocktake, the event underscored the importance of aligning project pipelines with country-driven needs and financing opportunities.
The networking portion of the evening allowed participants to deepen existing connections and form new ones helping to bridge gaps between idea and implementation.
Looking ahead
The joint event forms part of a broader set of bilateral exchanges and meetings between the Mitigation Action Facility and country and institutional partners taking place throughout the SB62 sessional period. Insights from the evening will feed into ongoing Technical Support Unit learning efforts and inform further development of project support tools and guidance.
“This is just the beginning – the creativity and commitment in the room tonight shows what’s possible when we bring people together to co-create climate solutions.”
– Rosa-Stella Mbulu, Lead of Strategic Partnerships at the TSU
