Climate Adaptation Financing
By Mekonnen Teshome
(Addis Ababa, October 2, 2023):- A regional programming and strategy workshop of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) today, October 2, 2023, opened in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.
According to a joint statement of the GEF and Ethiopiaโs Planning and Development Ministry, the four-day workshop with its associated technical clinic series is meant to address some of the key challenges faced by the 46 least developed countries (LDCs) in accessing finance for climate change adaptation.
In his opening remark, Ethiopiaโs Planning and Development State Minister Sandokan Debebe underscores that the meeting would help building the capacity of prioritizing and programming LDCF and SCCF resources for optimal project concept development in our respective countries.
The State Minister highlighted that environmental degradation remains a paramount global concern, especially for Africa and other LDCs.
โThe African continent bears the brunt of climate change’s impacts, despite contributing minimally to its causes. Irresponsible exploitation of natural resources has led to a rapid loss of biodiversity, and Africa’s limited capacity to combat environmental pollution further exacerbates the issue,โ he added.
โAfrica is at the forefront of experiencing the adverse effects of climate change and biodiversity loss. We are committed to addressing these challenges through national strategies and initiatives. Our continent faces consecutive droughts, floods, and locust infestations, endangering lives and livelihoods, hindering development gains, and impeding progress towards sustainable development goals,โ Sandokan told participants.
He told participants that the Green Legacy Initiative launched in 2019 by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed that aims to plant billions of seedlings in cities and rural areas, contributing to Ethiopia’s and Africa’s prosperity exceeded expectations in its first phase, with 25 billion seedlings planted, creating over 700,000 green jobs and significantly reducing carbon emissions.
โThe second phase, launched in 2023, targets 25 billion more seedlings by 2026, with plans to plant 6.5 billion this year alone, which is also successfully achieved above the target. We encourage development partners and fellow African states to join us in scaling up these best practices.โ
Global Environment Facility CEO and Chairperson Carlos Manuel Rodrรญguez, in his virtual Key Note address to participants in Addis also pointed out that the regional workshop is part of a new corporate dedicated program under the GEF Programming Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change.
He indicated that the meeting will look into the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) for the GEF-8 Period of July 2022 to June 2026 to ensure that all 46 LDCs have access to enhanced support during the GEF-8 period.
Rodrรญguez said the regional meeting is expected to create awareness and develop enhanced skills and knowledge for preparing and supervising the implementation of projects/programs and strengthen capacity and skills of the participants.
It will provide insights on the LDCF project development process through interactive sessions. Country participants will discuss potential project concept ideas that may be considered for submission to the LDCF and SCCF in the GEF-8 period, he added.
Mr. Daniele Violetti, Senior Director of the Programmes Coordination and Director of the Means of Implementation Division, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, was also the other virtual key note speaker who said that GEF manages a fund dedicated to supporting climate adaptation priorities of 46 LDCs, as part of the financial mechanism for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The GEF secretariat is collaborating with the LDC Group for the UNFCCC process under the auspices of the Senegal Chairmanship, to organize these workshops in Francophone Africa, Anglophone Africa, Asia, Pacific and Caribbean LDCs. Dedicated regional workshops will also be held for non-LDC SIDS, to enhance access to the SCCF.
It was indicated that the sub-regional regional workshop for LDCs is hosted by the Government of Ethiopia and organized by the GEF secretariat for Angola, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Lesotho, Liberia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, and Zambia.
The Global Environment Facility has a unique governing structure organized around an Assembly, the Council, the Secretariat, 18 agencies, a Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel, and the Evaluation Office.
The initial country allocation for the GEF-8 period has doubled to $20 million per LDC from the GEF-7 period.