Launched at COP27, the Zero Emission Vehicle Rapid Response Facility (ZEV-RRF) is an initiative of the ZEV Transition Council (ZEVTC) aimed at providing targeted, short-term technical assistance to emerging markets and developing economy (EMDE) countries that are decarbonizing their road transportation sectors and transitioning to (ZEVs). ZEVs are vehicles, such as battery electric vehicles or hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, that produce zero exhaust emissions. The scope of the ZEV-RRF includes all light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles as well as their associated infrastructure and supply chains. Please see “How are requests evaluated?” for more details on project criteria.

The ZEV-RRF operates in a “Hub and Spoke” model in order to create a single point of entry for EMDE countries to access a large network of available support providers. The Secretariat of the ZEVTC, the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), is the Hub. The Spokes are partner organizations with technical expertise in topics related to the ZEV transition. The Hub collects requests from eligible countries and connects these country’s governments to the appropriate Spoke(s) who are able and willing to assist.

The ZEV-RRF aims to execute short-term (18 months or less), tangible projects developing and implementing strategies, policies, and regulations to advance the global ZEV transition. The platform is designed to provide technical assistance by e.g., conducting new research or sharing knowledge and existing resources in response to specific requests from EMDE countries.

The ZEV-RRF Spoke Network has a wide range of expertise and could assist EMDE countries with many different types of projects. Potential support could include research (data collection, analysis, modeling, projections, etc.), signposting (sharing existing resources that meet the needs of the requesting country and/or sharing relevant contacts for a country to reach out to), policy design support (formulation of quantitative targets or roadmaps, identification of best practices and procurement routes), project pipeline development (helping countries flesh out project proposals or larger bids for financial assistance from MDBs or similar entities), technical training (workshops or presentations to increase technical capacity on specific topics) and more.

Although the ZEV-RRF plans to expand its eligibility in the future, during its first year of operation (2023) the Facility is only accepting requests from EMDE countries that have signaled their ambition to quickly transition to ZEVs by signing – under paragraph 2A or 2B – the ZEV Declaration.

In this context, “EMDE countries,” or emerging markets and developing economy countries, refers to countries that are Official Development Assistance (ODA) eligible as defined by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC).

As of March 2023, countries that meet ZEV-RRF eligibility criteria (ODA eligibility and ZEV Declaration signatory status) are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cape Verde, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ghana, India, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Paraguay, Rwanda, Türkiye and Ukraine. This list could grow if more countries sign the ZEV Declaration this year.

Requests for ZEV-RRF support must be submitted entirely by or in direct partnership with a national government ministry and/or technical agency. The ZEV-RRF currently cannot accept requests from entities unaffiliated with the national government of an eligible country.

Eligible countries can submit a request by filling out the Country Request Form, located below. This form will ask for the contact information of people involved with the project and background information on the request. Please submit the completed form to [email protected].

Requests can be submitted at any time. The Facility reviews requests on a monthly schedule. In general, requests received during a given month will be assessed and presented to the Spoke network on the first week of the following month.

• Requests should be submitted either entirely by or in direct partnership with a government ministry or agency of one of the eligible EMDE countries.
• Requests should primarily seek technical assistance, although some financial assistance may be available from the Spoke Network, depending on the project. If funding is made available, it will primarily support the cost of carrying out the requested technical assistance. ZEV-RRF-coordinated financial assistance cannot cover costs for purchasing, upgrading, or repairing physical assets.
• Requests should focus on the road transport sector specifically and can encompass light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles as well as their associated infrastructure and supply chains.
• The targeted timeframe for completing requested projects should be 18 months or less from the start date.
• Requests’ scopes should be clear, specific and well-formulated, to the highest possible extent. It is suggested that requests indicate the targeted vehicle segment for electrification (e.g., 2-wheelers, buses, trucks), a short list of priority areas (no more than three priorities are recommended per request) and relevant background on the proposed project (e.g., past or ongoing projects related to the requested project).

Please note that additional criteria may apply on a case-by-case basis. Ultimately, requests will need to align with the Spoke Network’s expertise and its available resources.

Yes. Fill out the Country Request Form to the best of your ability, being sure to note topics you are unsure of or undecided on. Please submit the completed form to [email protected]. Once received, the Hub team may be able to assist you in refining or shaping your project, depending on its topic and scope.

The ZEV-RRF is intended to provide rapid assistance. All projects should be fully completed within 18 months. Applicants can expect to receive an initial response to their request, potentially including follow-up questions and relevant resources, no more than one month after the request submission date.

The ZEV-RRF is unique in its approach to global ZEV transition-related technical assistance. The Facility aims to:

• Make it easier for countries to quickly access the technical support they need when they need it, by providing a user-friendly single-entry point to a diverse Spoke Network of existing resources and expertise.
• Facilitate North-South and South-South dialogues between and amongst target EMDE countries and member governments of the ZEV Transition Council. If your country would like to find out more about what being a Spoke entails, please contact the Hub team.
• Support countries from the project proposals phase to the implementation and completion phases.
• Act as a flexible resource with a rapid turnaround time to fill strategically important gaps for EMDE countries’ ZEV transitions.
• Support countries, as/where requested, in securing access to longer-term and more systemic support, which can be provided through e.g., Multilateral Development Banks.
• Help strengthen coordination at the global and regional levels – across existing initiatives and programs – and better ensure the support being provided to countries is meeting their needs and requirements.