The Adaptation Fund (AF) was established by UNFCCC to finance concrete adaptation projects and programmes in developing countries. Since 2010; the AF has committed over USD 1 billion for climate change adaptation (CCA) and resilience projects and programmes; including 150 concrete; localized projects in the most vulnerable communities of developing countries around the world with over 38 million total beneficiaries. The Fund is financed largely by government and private contributors; and also from a 2% (two percent) share of proceeds of Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) issued under the UNFCCC Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism projects. The Technical Evaluation Reference Group of the Adaption Fund (AF-TERG) was established in 2018; as an independent evaluation advisory group accountable to the Adaptation Fund Board (the ‘AFB’ or the ‘AF Board’ or the ‘Board’); to ensure the independent implementation of the Fund’s evaluation framework; which was replaced by the new Evaluation Policy[1] <https://worldbankgroup-my.sharepoint.com/personal/varnaoudov_adaptation-fund_org/Documents/Desktop/Work%20on%20the%20plane/Request%20for%20Expressions%20of%20Interest%20%28Readiness%29.docx#_ftn1> in October 2023. To inform the development of the enhanced readiness programme; the Implementation Plan (IP) of the MTS II[2] <https://worldbankgroup-my.sharepoint.com/personal/varnaoudov_adaptation-fund_org/Documents/Desktop/Work%20on%20the%20plane/Request%20for%20Expressions%20of%20Interest%20%28Readiness%29.docx#_ftn2> suggests as an activity under the crosscutting theme enhancing access to climate finance and long-term institutional capacity an evaluation of the Readiness Programme by the AF-TERG to identify further gaps and recommendations for enhancing existing capacity-building instruments and grants (see page 36; paragraph 10). The MTS II IP has also identified a number of activities related to supporting and enhancing the capacity of National Implementation Entities (NIEs) and Designated Authorities (DAs) of the Fund. In line with the MTS II IP; this evaluation has been commissioned to initiate and provide direction for a comprehensive evaluation of the Readiness Programme under guidance from the AF-TERG. The findings of this evaluation will also inform the AFB Secretariat’s development of a revised strategy for an enhanced readiness programme; which is planned to be presented to the Adaptation Fund Board in March 2025. Therefore; the Adaptation Fund would like to seek the support of a qualified vendor to conduct this evaluation in line with the Evaluation Policy and the existing guidance notes.[1] <https://worldbankgroup-my.sharepoint.com/personal/varnaoudov_adaptation-fund_org/Documents/Desktop/Work%20on%20the%20plane/Request%20for%20Expressions%20of%20Interest%20%28Readiness%29.docx#_ftnref1> https://www.adaptation-fund.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/New-Design-Evaluation-Policy.pdf <https://www.adaptation-fund.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/New-Design-Evaluation-Policy.pdf> [2] <https://worldbankgroup-my.sharepoint.com/personal/varnaoudov_adaptation-fund_org/Documents/Desktop/Work%20on%20the%20plane/Request%20for%20Expressions%20of%20Interest%20%28Readiness%29.docx#_ftnref2> https://www.adaptation-fund.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AFB.B.40.5.Rev_.1_Draft_MTS_Implementation_-Plan.pdf <https://www.adaptation-fund.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AFB.B.40.5.Rev_.1_Draft_MTS_Implementation_-Plan.pdf>