GCF National Project Launch
Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 22nd , 2020 (ZIZ News): In efforts to enhance civil society’s capacity and partnerships with the public and private sector to improve access to climate finance and delivery of climate change adaptation and mitigation in the Caribbean, a Green Climate Fund (GCF) readiness project was launched on Thursday.
The project “Enhancing Caribbean Civil Society’s Access and Readiness to Climate Finance” is being facilitated by “The Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) and the Department of Economic Affairs and Public Sector Investment Programme.
CANARI Senior Technical Officer & Project Manager Dr. Ainka Granderson in speaking at the launch outlined the aim of the project.
This project’s goal is to address these challenges and enhance civil society’s capacity including the knowledge, skills and organizational structures of National NGOs, non profits and Community based organizations and networks to access and deliver climate finance in the Caribbean. It seeks to enhance the enebling institutions so that civil society has voice and can actively participate in adaptation and mitigation and building resilience nationally and regionally.”
She outlined the focus of the four components of the project.
“There are four key components to the project, focused on (1) strengthening mechanisms for civil society engagement and consultation in decision making at the national and regional level; (2) increasing uptake of innovative climate change solutions among civil society organizations and their partners to scale up impact with a focus on community based and ecosystem based solutions that build socioeconomic and ecological resilience; (3) strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations to directly access and deliver climate finance through the GCF and other funds and (4) enhancing awareness and actions to integrate civil society led interventions and strengthen the overall pipeline of the projects to the GCF.”
Also making presentations at the launch were National Coordinator & Civil Society Liason Terry Morris, Director in the Department of Environment June Hughes and Senior Policy Analyst in the Department of Economic Affairs Auren Manners.
The Green Climate Fund readiness project is being implemented from 2020-2022 by CANARI as the delivery partner in partnership with national designated authorities across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States, with targeted activities in Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Suriname.
It is funded by a US$1.29 million grant from the Green Climate Fund’s Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme.
The project was launched ahead of International Day of Climate Action which is observed on October 24th.