OPEC Fund launches Green-Blue Connect Accelerator and advances water resilience at Climate Solutions Week 2026

April 8, 2026: The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) has launched the Green-Blue Connect Accelerator, a new pre-investment platform designed to move climate-resilient water and urban initiatives from early-stage concepts to bankable operations. The launch concluded the second Climate Solutions Week, which focused on advancing water resilience and brought together governments, international organization and experts.

The Accelerator supports project preparation through diagnostics, climate risk analytics, feasibility studies and institutional design, helping to unlock financing and strengthen pipelines for downstream investment. It connects upstream research, technical preparation, implementation and partnerships, addressing critical gaps in data, project preparation and institutional capacity. More information is available here: https://bit.ly/3PVdMqo

OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said:

"Water is where climate change becomes real for people, through droughts, floods and growing water scarcity. Addressing this challenge requires turning ambition into projects, securing financing and scaling innovative solutions to deliver results for those who need them most."

To date, the OPEC Fund has committed around US$1.4 billion to water sector projects, supporting access, infrastructure and climate-resilient systems across partner countries. Building on this experience, the Accelerator represents an important step in expanding this approach by better connecting upstream preparation with implementation and financing.

The second edition of Climate Solutions Week, the OPEC Fund's flagship climate action event, featured a high-level water roundtable co-organized with the World Bank, as well as project clinics and a pitch session. It also convened partners of the Nature Solutions Finance Hub, in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank and the South-South Knowledge Hub, to strengthen knowledge exchange and promote partnerships.

About the OPEC Fund

The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is the only globally mandated development institution that provides financing from member countries to non-member countries exclusively. The organization works in cooperation with developing country partners and the international development community to stimulate economic growth and social progress in low- and middle-income countries around the world. The OPEC Fund was established in 1976 with a distinct purpose: to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people. Our work is people-centered, focusing on financing projects that meet essential needs, such as food, energy, infrastructure, employment (particularly relating to MSMEs), clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education. To date, the OPEC Fund has committed more than US$32 billion to development projects in over 125 countries with an estimated total project cost of more than US$240 billion. The OPEC Fund is rated AA+/Outlook Stable by Fitch and AA+, Outlook Stable by S&P. Our vision is a world where sustainable development is a reality for all.