CAPE TOWN, South Africa (PAMACC News) - The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) has been re-launched in South Africa, with Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Royal Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs investing some US$ 9.2 million.
“My hope for the new CDKN is that the impacts will be felt mainly by vulnerable groups that are most impacted by climate change.” said Dr Shehnaaz Moosa, director of the new Dutch-Canadian supported CDKN, which was formally launched by Pamela Moore, Chargé d’Affaires of the High Commission of Canada to South Africa, and Henk Ovink, Special Envoy for International Water Affairs for the Kingdom of the Netherlands on 21 June.
The launch, which brought together partners new and old, included reflections on the first phase of the programme by former director Sam Bickersteth and highlighted the shift in focus for programme in its new form.
“It’s a really exciting moment to see CDKN move into a new phase which will build on the legacy of eight years of work, and to see it being led from the region to which it is delivering,” said Bickersteth, adding that Shehnaaz Moosa had been a “very steady hand on so much that CDKN has already done,” and an obvious choice to take the programme forward.
CDKN will now focus on providing developing countries with enhanced knowledge resources to support ambitious climate action, as well as boost climate leadership and learning on climate compatible development.
The network’s global and Africa programme is now led from South Africa, with Latin America and Asia regional hubs managed from Ecuador and India. Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Royal Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs will fund CDKN’s new chapter to the value of 9.2 million US$ (12 million Canadian dollars), and it will run from 2018-2021.
Speaking at the launch event in Cape Town, the Special Envoy said: “The Dutch development policy for the first time focuses on the interconnectedness of climate change and root causes of poverty, political instability, conflict and migration. The knowledge and experience of CDKN to support complex policy realities, to work in partnership with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders, and to connect human development ambitions and environmental sustainability is a very valuable asset in this strategy.”
Ms Pamela Moore said: “Climate change is a shared global challenge and Canada is committed to working together with partners around the world on climate action. Canada is pleased that a refreshed Climate and Development Knowledge Network is being launched. We are excited to be part of this global partnership for large-scale change that enables vulnerable communities adapt to climate change, mitigate its impacts, and transition to a low-carbon economy.”
CDKN will work to enrich decision-makers’ know-how and help them to accelerate climate action. “The challenge now for us is to navigate the great amount of climate information and find what’s most useful, adapt it and tailor it for developing countries’ needs,” said Dr Moosa. “Climate-vulnerable countries are eager to access and apply knowledge about ‘what works’ in climate-compatible development. That is exactly the challenge that CDKN’s new initiative aims to address.”
Knowledge for implementation
CDKN will be expanding its knowledge-sharing services. It will tailor the wealth of evidence and learning from the first eight years of CDKN and other international climate programmes to produce highly targeted knowledge and tools to support policy design and implementation. This could include best practices for building climate-resilient water infrastructure or approaches for integrating climate information into agricultural planning.
Facilitating climate leadership and learning
CDKN will continue to bring developing countries together to share their experiences on delivering climate action on the ground. It will facilitate South-South learning, helping to connect professionals who face similar climate and development challenges. Through targeted training on climate and development as well as mentoring and skill-building, CDKN aims to strengthen the capability of individuals in government, business, academia and other spheres to navigate the growing body of climate knowledge and experience, and further cultivate a new generation of climate champions.
“While the effects of climate change are increasingly evident in developing countries, the knowledge that is generated by these countries to adapt to change is becoming more relevant by the day. Therefore, we are happy to support CDKN's work to mobilise Southern knowledge and capacities to overcome climate-related development challenges,” said Robert Hofstede, Associate Director for Climate Change at IDRC.
The initiative will focus initially on the Andean countries of Latin America, parts of Africa and South Asia – with the possibility for collaboration with other countries to join its wider learning and exchange activities. From 2018, CDKN is managed by a new alliance led by non-profit organisation SouthSouthNorth, working with Fundación Futuro Latinoamericano, ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, South Asia, and the Overseas Development Institute (ODI).
OPINION
NAIROBI, Kenya (PAMACC News) - The next few days and weeks are arguably historic in the emerging sector of climate finance. On June 23-29th, Green Environment Fund (GEF) is holding the Sixth GEF Assembly in Vietnam. The GEF was established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit to help tackle our planet’s most pressing environmental problems. Since then, GEF has provided over $17.9billion in grants and mobilized another $93.2billion in co-financing for over 450 projects in 170countries. One of the global environmental challenges in question is climate change. This meeting in Da Nang, Vietnam paves way for its 7th funding cycle, commonly called GEF-7.
During the same week, 1st to 5th July, The Green Climate Fund(GCF), the most capitalized, hence the largest international environment fund (focused on climate change), has historic events lined up. The 20thquarterly GCF Board Meeting (dubbed B.20) will be in the Korean smart city of Songdo. The Board Approves applications for funding made by both public and private entities seeking to safeguard sectors and entire economies from adverse impacts of a changing climate.
A third fund, also created under the Kyoto Protocol of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) like GCF and GEF, is the Adaptation Fund. It helps countries build resilience and adapt to climate change. It has so far committed US$477million in 76countries since 2010.
Basics
Why should we even be talking about climate finance? Why is it becoming such a central topic in today’s global economy? It is because the climate has and is actually changing. What is causing this change is often open to debate. That the climate is changing is undisputed. Farmers are devastated by either too much rain or insufficient rain. Countries are unable to feed themselves because crops and livestock are failing year in year out. New diseases are developing and old ones spreading to geographical locations they never existed.
Sabotaged Development
So, countries often called developing or least developed(all African states fall under this) need to factor in the elusive climate risks. Kenya spent anunplanned KES245.3 billion (USD 2.45 Billion)in 2017 on foodstuff imports to address a food crisis because the country faced severe drought. In 2018, the country has faced the worst floods in 60years according to the Climate Change Resource Centre. What follows is famine because crops were destroyed. The infrastructure swept away will cost fortunes to fix and/repair. These resources would have gone to other development needs but have to be diverted to tackle these climate events and impacts leaving a big gap in financing national development like universal healthcare, manufacturing or education. So, climate change directly sabotages development. This financing gap is filled by climate finance.
The GCF
The GCF is now valued at USD 13billion. Applications for financial support can be made to the Fund, to implement transformational changes in their economies. For instance, most African states depend immensely on rainfed agriculture. The 2016 Climate Change Exposure Index (CCEI) by VeriskMaplecroft, a risk analytics firm, show that relying on rainfall posed “high” or “extreme” risks- up to 85 per cent. These risks mean economic shocks. Countries may therefore miss the sustainable development goals and national aspirations unless they mobilise sufficient climate finance to safeguard the economies.
GCF and Africa
To date, the GCF has 76 projects under implementation valued at USD1.4 billion. That is an average project size of USD 18.4million. Of these 76, only 28 (36.8%) are in Africa. Some African states have several projects funded. They include Egypt, Namibia, Morocco, Senegal, and Zambia with more than 10projects among themselves. Which leaves just 18 projects for the other over 45countries of Africa.
Since GCF is fairly new, the understanding and capacity in Africa to interact with the Fund remains acutely limited. The traditional methodologies of relying on external international entities such as UN Agencies and International Development Banks will not sufficiently deliver the urgent changes required to protect these fragile African economies from devastation. And GCF recognizes this. That is why they have a strong emphasis on Direct Access Entities, which are local institutions being accredited to help the country to directly access GCF resources. There is just a handful in Africa so far. Overall, the pace is wanting.
Current Players
There are organisations in Africa playing a crucial role of offering support to both countries and to accredited entities to access GCF and other climate finance. Dr.Aliou Diouf, head of Climate Finance at Africa Sustainability Centre (ASCENT) says, “GCF recognizes the work we do;currently supporting over a dozen countries in Africa to understand and access GCF funds. We also support Direct Access Entities and others like UNEP and IFAD to better support countries.
Zeph Kivungi is a Senior Programme Officer at the Africa Sustainability Centre (ASCENT).
OPINION
NAIROBI, Kenya (PAMACC News) - The next few days and weeks are arguably historic in the emerging sector of climate finance. On June 23-29th, Green Environment Fund (GEF) is holding the Sixth GEF Assembly in Vietnam. The GEF was established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit to help tackle our planet’s most pressing environmental problems. Since then, GEF has provided over $17.9billion in grants and mobilized another $93.2billion in co-financing for over 450 projects in 170countries. One of the global environmental challenges in question is climate change. This meeting in Da Nang, Vietnam paves way for its 7th funding cycle, commonly called GEF-7.
During the same week, 1st to 5th July, The Green Climate Fund(GCF), the most capitalized, hence the largest international environment fund (focused on climate change), has historic events lined up. The 20thquarterly GCF Board Meeting (dubbed B.20) will be in the Korean smart city of Songdo. The Board Approves applications for funding made by both public and private entities seeking to safeguard sectors and entire economies from adverse impacts of a changing climate.
A third fund, also created under the Kyoto Protocol of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) like GCF and GEF, is the Adaptation Fund. It helps countries build resilience and adapt to climate change. It has so far committed US$477million in 76countries since 2010.
Basics
Why should we even be talking about climate finance? Why is it becoming such a central topic in today’s global economy? It is because the climate has and is actually changing. What is causing this change is often open to debate. That the climate is changing is undisputed. Farmers are devastated by either too much rain or insufficient rain. Countries are unable to feed themselves because crops and livestock are failing year in year out. New diseases are developing and old ones spreading to geographical locations they never existed.
Sabotaged Development
So, countries often called developing or least developed(all African states fall under this) need to factor in the elusive climate risks. Kenya spent anunplanned KES245.3 billion (USD 2.45 Billion)in 2017 on foodstuff imports to address a food crisis because the country faced severe drought. In 2018, the country has faced the worst floods in 60years according to the Climate Change Resource Centre. What follows is famine because crops were destroyed. The infrastructure swept away will cost fortunes to fix and/repair. These resources would have gone to other development needs but have to be diverted to tackle these climate events and impacts leaving a big gap in financing national development like universal healthcare, manufacturing or education. So, climate change directly sabotages development. This financing gap is filled by climate finance.
The GCF
The GCF is now valued at USD 13billion. Applications for financial support can be made to the Fund, to implement transformational changes in their economies. For instance, most African states depend immensely on rainfed agriculture. The 2016 Climate Change Exposure Index (CCEI) by VeriskMaplecroft, a risk analytics firm, show that relying on rainfall posed “high” or “extreme” risks- up to 85 per cent. These risks mean economic shocks. Countries may therefore miss the sustainable development goals and national aspirations unless they mobilise sufficient climate finance to safeguard the economies.
GCF and Africa
To date, the GCF has 76 projects under implementation valued at USD1.4 billion. That is an average project size of USD 18.4million. Of these 76, only 28 (36.8%) are in Africa. Some African states have several projects funded. They include Egypt, Namibia, Morocco, Senegal, and Zambia with more than 10projects among themselves. Which leaves just 18 projects for the other over 45countries of Africa.
Since GCF is fairly new, the understanding and capacity in Africa to interact with the Fund remains acutely limited. The traditional methodologies of relying on external international entities such as UN Agencies and International Development Banks will not sufficiently deliver the urgent changes required to protect these fragile African economies from devastation. And GCF recognizes this. That is why they have a strong emphasis on Direct Access Entities, which are local institutions being accredited to help the country to directly access GCF resources. There is just a handful in Africa so far. Overall, the pace is wanting.
Current Players
There are organisations in Africa playing a crucial role of offering support to both countries and to accredited entities to access GCF and other climate finance. Dr.Aliou Diouf, head of Climate Finance at Africa Sustainability Centre (ASCENT) says, “GCF recognizes the work we do;currently supporting over a dozen countries in Africa to understand and access GCF funds. We also support Direct Access Entities and others like UNEP and IFAD to better support countries.
Zeph Kivungi is a Senior Programme Officer at the Africa Sustainability Centre (ASCENT).
YAOUNDE, Cameroon (PAMACC News) - Cameroon journalists have been enjoined to take interest in reporting climate information data and services, cardinal instruments in development planning for policymakers and other stakeholders.
The call was made by officials of the African Climate Policy Center (ACPC) of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Advanced School of Mass Communication, ASMAC Yaounde , at a two day workshop, June 25-26,2018 to enhance the reporting skills of communicators on the use of climate information services in development planning.
“The media has an important role to play in informing policymakers and end users on the use of climate services and data to better address environmental challenges,” says Professor Nana Nzepa, head of the Information technology department, ASMAC.
The overarching goal of enhancing the uptake of Climate Information Services (CIS) is geared at providing people and organizations with reliable, timely, user-friendly information tailored to reduce climate risks related losses as well as in capitalizing on emerging opportunities for development noted ACPC.
“Hence, factoring CIS into policy, planning and practices are crucial for Africa to achieve its development aspirations for enhanced trade competitiveness, reduced poverty and sustainable economic growth,” Journalists were told.
According to Charles Muraya, Information Management Officer ACPC, the uptake and use of climate info of CIS in Africa is influenced by the lack of reliable historical observations, coarse scale of future climate projections, weak coordinated CIS delivery, among others. On the side of the users, the main obstacles for poor uptake and utilization of CIS include limited awareness about the existence of specific climate information, poor data accessibility, and lack of capacity to use climate information in decision making processes.
“The media has not been very proactive in providing the correct information and in time for decision making. Engaging media in climate information dissemination is therefore an important step in ensuring that climate information is packaged in a form that can easily be understood and that it is also received in a timely manner,” he said.
It is against this backdrop that the training of over 30 journalists in Cameroon was organised under the theme" the use of the e-learning platform on climate information and services mainstreaming in the planning and economic development processes".
Participants were empowered using teaching tools and skills in the dissemination of climate information and services and the need to mainstream climate information in their different media content and programmes to better inform policymakers and end users.
“We expect you communicators to better advocate and sensitize legislators, decision-makers, the private sector, investors and other stakeholders on the issue and role of Climate Information Services (CIS) in development planning processes,” says Professor Nana Nzepa.
“But to do this you must first of all understand the basic notion of climate information services and data,” he said.
The different participants from community radio, national and private newspapers, radio and television appreciated the training, acknowledging its importance amidst growing climate threats.
“ It is time for the voices of Journalists to be heard in the fight against climate change, thanks to the two days training I now know the importance of climate information services,” notes Jean Didier Ayisi, journalist and workshop participant.
Cameroon just like many African countries today suffer from the effects of climate change with many economic and social sectors increasingly vulnerable to floods, droughts, heavy winds among other calamities.
Environment experts say the dissemination of climate information services by the media for the benefit of specific users remains essential to support Africa's response to climate change.
“The fight against climate change can only be effective if decision makers and especially the population have ample climate related information,” says Augustine Njamnshi of Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, PACJA Cameroon.
Development actors say innovative ways of delivering CIS initiatives that provide science-informed solutions is vital for the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement, Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Africa.
Thus investment in the deployment of robust climate information and services delivery system for the effective implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and associated mechanisms established through the global climate governance processes is crucial according to ACPC.
The Weather and Climate Information Services for Africa (WISER) was designed by the UK Department for International Development (DfiD) in 2015 to facilitate the uptake of climate information by policymakers and vulnerable groups especially young people and women. Its pan-African component is led by the African Center for Climate Policy (ACPC), which is a hub for demand led knowledge on climate change in Africa.
