2025 Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

If invited to apply, please visit the GCF Application Page to access the Concept Note form. The deadline for submission is 5:00PM ET on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.  

As this is an invitation-only opportunity, our GCF Application Page is password protected. The password was provided in the invitation email to cities. City applicants can reach out to fund@mayorsmigrationcouncil.org if you are having difficulty accessing the GCF page. 

We do not anticipate making extensions. However, city applicants can reach out to fund@mayorsmigrationcouncil.org to share any issues leading to unexpected delays. 

Yes, cities can also access the Concept Note Template in French, Portuguese and Spanish by visiting our GCF Application Page.  

Concept Notes may be submitted in French, Portuguese or Spanish for translation into English by the MMC. All materials will be reviewed in English and, for selected grantees, all contracting will occur in English. Should additional translation support be required, please inquire with the MMC at fund@mayorsmigrationcouncil.org. 

Proposals will be evaluated by the MMC and an independent Steering Committee based on the criteria included in the GCF 2025 Overview (also available on the GCF Application Page). These include a set of “critical criteria” required for consideration, and a few “additional criteria” which are not a requirement but will help improve the competitiveness of a concept note. 

The MMC intends for cities to benefit from the GCF application process, irrespective of application outcome. All cities applying for this opportunity are eligible to receive feedback on their concept notes and strong concept notes not selected for 2025 funding may be eligible for funding in future rounds. To develop a strong concept note, we encourage you to review the GCF 2025 Overview on the GCF Application Page.

We encourage all cities to review the GCF 2025 Overview document. In addition, please feel free to explore the following resources for inspiration and best practices from trusted sources and fellow cities: 

• The Global Cities Fund 2023 Progress Report: shows how the GCF is helping cities meet the urgent needs of their migrant and displaced communities, while building a more sustainable future for all. 

• Call to Local Action for Migrants and Refugees: captures pledges from local and regional governments to implement pragmatic, principled, and people-centered approaches that spearhead and exceed the commitments of global frameworks such as the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, the Global Compact on Refugees, as well the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. 

• Municipal Finance for Migrants and Refugees – The State of Play: explores the municipal finance landscape for migration and displacement, discusses the barriers cities face when accessing resources and their mitigation strategies, and puts forward concrete recommendations to unlock a virtuous cycle for financing more inclusive cities. 

• C40-MMC Climate and Migration Task Force 2021-2024 Impact Report: demonstrates that when mayors unite, act and speak with one voice, they have the capacity to set the agenda for others to follow. Mayors can critically contribute with pragmatic solutions to complex policy issues: building resilience in the face of climate risks, welcoming and protecting those who are forced to move due to climate change, and fostering migrants’ and refugees’ economic inclusion, through a green and “just transition”.  

• Good Green Jobs and Labour Migration: Opportunities for Urban Leaders: explores the intersection between the green transition and labour migration, with a local perspective on good green jobs creation. The brief also showcases over 35 innovative city-led actions across five key areas of opportunity, wherein mayors are already leading by example, but where more national and international support is needed to bring positive solutions to scale. Summary for policymakers linked here. 

Once concept notes are submitted, the MMC and an independent Steering Committee will review individual submissions and advance applications based on the selection criteria and timeline described in the GCF 2025 Overview. A shortlist of cities will be notified in May and invited to submit a detailed proposal.  

The MMC regularly issues grants through the GCF. While we have limited funding for the 2025 cohort, we will consider strong concept notes for future funding rounds of the GCF.  

This is a competitive process. Dozens of cities are expected to apply with five to 10 cities expected as grantees. As mentioned, the MMC will consider strong concept notes for future funding rounds of the GCF and will provide feedback upon request to any city not shortlisted. 

Please refer to the GCF 2025 Overview for applicant eligibility criteria. If you received an email invitation from the MMC’s Director of City Practice, it is likely you are eligible. 

Yes, invited cities where leadership is up for re-election in August 2025 or before, but will serve through May 2027 if re-elected, are welcome to apply unless directly given an exemption by the MMC. To ensure continuity and ownership, we envision that only those cities where the mayor who proposed the project will still be in office through May 2027 will be chosen to receive the grant. In exceptional circumstances, if the incoming mayor demonstrates strong support to execute the project, the MMC will consider exceptions. 

Yes, city governments should be the lead applicant. A fiscal agent such as a city-affiliated not-for- profit or local community-based organization is only suggested if the city is unable to receive direct funding due to local regulations. Even if a fiscal agent is used, the city should submit the application. 

Out of fairness, the MMC is not able to review draft concept notes and offer feedback for applicants in advance of the deadline.

The 2025 GCF theme of economic inclusion aims to A) support city-led projects that advance access to decent, sustainable, and meaningful livelihood opportunities for migrants, refugees, and IDPs, particularly in the green transition and B) strengthen city government capacity to implement economic inclusion projects.  

While projects should center on economic inclusion, successful concept notes will also address one or more of MMC’s priority themes. 

The MMC’s mayoral priority themes include children, climate, health, housing, gender, and pathways. These are themes prioritized for action by the MMC’s Leadership Board of Mayors.  

Yes. The MMC understands that cities do not exist in silos bound to geographic lines. So long as the project fulfills the criteria outlined in the GCF 2025 Overview and benefits migrants and/or displaced people within the city, we encourage collaboration and far-reaching projects that are attentive to the realities of the movement of people beyond municipal boundaries. 

The maximum word counts are only a suggestion so that cities do not feel obligated to provide exceedingly lengthy responses. There is no penalty for using a smaller or larger number of words for a particular response, though we encourage you to keep your answers clear and direct. 

Joint applications should be submitted with one city identified as the designated and agreed upon focal point for communication at this stage. Please include additional information about the other cities involved in the project description. Should your joint application advance, the MMC will work with you to select the most appropriate granting structures, including issuing two separate grants to two cities to implement the proposed project. The joint application’s requested grant amount should not exceed $500,000 USD. 

While the signature of the mayor or equivalent local government executive is preferred, a representative can sign on their behalf so long as the letter specifies that the signatory has the legal authority to sign on behalf of the mayor or equivalent and the commitment is coming from the mayor or equivalent. 

We do not have a specific preferred format or template for the Mayor’s (or equivalent city leader’s) letter of support, which should be submitted as an email attachment along with your Concept Note submission. The letter can be brief but should demonstrate the personal commitment of the city administration to your proposed project’s goals and approach.  

Yes. Cities can submit more than one project outlined in a single concept note so long as the projects reinforce each other and stay within the maximum grant award of $500,000 USD. The city applicant should demonstrate its capacity to implement and commitment to sustain the project(s). 

Yes, the organization responsible for receiving and administering the funds may be different than the city government or agency owning the project and implementing the grant. If local regulations prevent a city government from receiving funds directly, the grant may be administered by a local non-government organization (LNGO) or community-based organization (CBO) affiliated with the city. Overhead for city governments should not exceed 20% of the total grant. Overhead for financial and administrative costs of a LNGO or CBO should not exceed 15% of the total grant.  

In case a city government cannot (or prefers not to) receive funds directly, we recommend selecting a LNGO, CBO, university, or local foundation as the fiscal agent, as these organizations help build local capacity. However, if there are no alternatives available, it is permissible to partner with an international organization as the fiscal agent. The objective of the GCF is to support local efforts, so we require that international organizations keep their overhead for financial or administrative costs to a maximum of 10%. 

It is not required that the fiscal agent play a technical role on the project. While the city agency should be closely overseeing implementation and driving the effort, personnel at the project’s fiscal sponsor can assist in executing implementation, given programmatic skills of the fiscal agent and/or constraints on the city’s capacity. 

Grant funds may be used to cover expenses for a range of purposes, including: 

• Design and/or program operations of a new initiative. 

• Expansion or replication of an existing initiative with proven impact. 

• Direct costs, such as tools, equipment or cash assistance. 

• Specialized staff implementing or coordinating the project. 

• Outreach and communications, including translation into multiple languages. 

• Research, monitoring and evaluation to assess impact and improve implementation. 

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have further questions about whether a particular cost would be eligible for coverage.