Cape Town, 15 March 2017- The GEF-funded project Ecosystem-based Adaptation through South-South Cooperation (EbA South) held an Interregional Writing Workshop from March 6 - 11, 2017, with an aim to review global and regional strategies, funding opportunities and generate concept notes for the continuation and upscaling of EbA implementation started within EbA South.
The workshop brought together the project core team: Project Management Unit (PMU) and other technical experts from UNEP-IEMP, Technical Advisor team, Task Manager and representatives of the country teams.
It provided a comprehensive overview of funding opportunities for EbA through different funding programmes, such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Adaptation Fund and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The workshop further provided an in-depth training on how to compile concept notes and funding proposals for GCF projects. Presentations, group exercises and several plenary discussions were also organised during the workshop.
Silvia Cazzetta, Programme Manager of UNEP-IEMP and EbA South Project Manager, summarised the experiences and lessons learnt from EbA South, and suggested that the continuation and upscaling of project interventions should build on these experiences, particularly in the context of South-South cooperation.
She also highlighted the possibility of integrating the second phase of EbA South with UNEP-IEMP’s flagship programme on Climate, Ecosystems, and Livelihoods (CEL).
Dr Anthony Mills, CEO of C4EcoSolutions and EbA South Chief Technical Advisor, delivered a lecture on several concepts that are important for GCF proposals, such as bringing about a transformative change, overcoming barriers, stakeholder consultations and theory of change.
Participants were divided into three groups and prepared ‘idea notes’ for developing new EbA projects in the three pilot countries, using the GCF concept note template.
The following activities are proposed in the idea notes:
- Seychelles– focussing on creating climate-resilient artificial reefs where natural reefs are degrading;
- Nepal– using EbA to restore degraded watersheds for safeguarding hydroelectricity production;
- Mauritania– establishing agro-forestry landscapes using multi drought-tolerant plant species, with the view to climate-proof livelihoods of local communities.
The workshop also featured a Q&A session with Atifa Kassam, EbA South Task Manager, UN Environment. She provided an overview of GCF’s role and highlighted the strengths of UN Environment as an Accredited Entity to channel GCF resources to projects and programmes.
She further gave detailed advice on the idea notes, in the context of implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
