Published Saturday, 14 November 2026 · Source: Climate Investment Funds, International Monetary Fund
Mozambique and Malawi, two countries in southern Africa, were selected for a new climate-adaptation programme this week. The Climate Investment Funds (CIF), a multilateral body that channels climate finance to developing countries, announced the choice on Thursday, 12 November 2026, at COP31, the United Nations climate summit, in Antalya, Türkiye.
The two countries share a programme that may request up to US$40 million to build an investment plan with a development-bank partner. That matters to foreign readers because it shows where adaptation money may flow in Mozambique, a country the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a global lender to governments, says still faces fiscal and debt vulnerabilities.
Key Facts
- Who. The CIF picked Malawi and Mozambique for ARISE, its new climate-adaptation programme.
- Amount. Up to US$40 million may be requested to prepare an investment plan; no allocation is confirmed.
- When. Announced Thursday, 12 November 2026, at COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye.
- Demand. 25 expressions of interest (early applications to take part), worth over US$700 million in investment-ready projects.
- Unknown. No project list, grant-loan split or start date has been published.
In plain English
The CIF is a fund that channels climate money to developing countries, and ARISE is its new programme to help them adapt to climate change. A development bank partner helps each government turn the preparation money into a costed investment plan.
Which Countries the Fund Picked
The CIF named five countries and one regional programme for the first phase of ARISE, short for Accelerating Resilience Investments and Innovations for Sustainable Economies. The five are Bangladesh, the Kyrgyz Republic, Haiti, Morocco and Sierra Leone, and the regional programme joins Malawi and Mozambique.
ARISE was launched at last year’s UN climate summit, COP30, and the Malawi-Mozambique programme may request up to US$40 million. Single countries are invited to prepare a plan for up to US$30 million each, the CIF said on 12 November.
The African Development Bank (AfDB), a development lender focused on Africa, is a partner bank for the Malawi-Mozambique programme and for Sierra Leone. Patricia Wiskes, Malawi’s Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change, said in the CIF release: “For us, this is more than a regional project.”
Why It Matters
The US$40 million is a ceiling, the most the two countries may request while preparing an investment plan with their development-bank partner. The CIF has not said how or when any money would be paid out.
The CIF said on 12 November that it received 25 expressions of interest, meaning early applications to take part, together representing more than US$700 million in investment-ready opportunities. They span agriculture and food, water security, infrastructure, energy, coastal economies, natural resources, financial services and social protection.
CIF chief executive Tariye Gbadegesin said: “Developing countries have put forward over US$700 million in investment-ready opportunities.” Germany, Spain and Ireland gave ARISE initial backing of over US$100 million, the CIF said.
The United Kingdom confirmed up to US$128 million over the coming years, according to the CIF’s 12 November release. That money comes from reflows, meaning money returned to the fund from earlier lending, of the CIF’s existing resilience programme.
The Debt Question
The IMF said on 12 June 2026, after a staff visit to Maputo, the capital, from 8 to 12 June, that fiscal and debt vulnerabilities persist in Mozambique. It added that fiscal imbalances narrowed in 2025 but external imbalances widened.
Mozambique has asked for an IMF-supported programme, and IMF staff will return to Maputo in the coming months. For background on who shapes the economy, see our guide to Mozambique’s economic key players.
What to Watch
No date has been published for an investment plan, a project list or the next ARISE phase. The IMF has said only that its staff will return to Maputo in the coming months, with no date published.
Morocco is also in the first cohort, alongside Mozambique, as the CIF named it among its first countries; see our earlier report on Morocco’s World Bank financing. Earlier coverage of Mozambique’s climate and poverty risks gives background.
What Is Not Known
No investment plan, project list, split between grants and loans, or start date has been published. The CIF has not said when any money would be paid out.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money could Mozambique and Malawi get?
The shared programme may request up to US$40 million, the CIF said on 12 November 2026. That is a ceiling, not an allocation.
What is ARISE?
ARISE is the CIF’s new climate-adaptation programme, launched at COP30. Its first phase covers five countries and one regional programme.
Who is the partner bank?
The African Development Bank is the partner for the Malawi-Mozambique programme and for Sierra Leone. It works with each government on the investment plan.
Sources: Climate Investment Funds press release, “CIF Selects Five Inaugural Countries and One Regional Program to Scale Climate Adaptation and Resilience Investments”, 12 November 2026 (cif.org); International Monetary Fund press release No. 26/199, 12 June 2026 (imf.org).
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