SPECIAL CLIMATE CHANGE FUND FINANCES ADAPTATION PROJECTS
Innovative Projects Aim to Empower Local Communities
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Washington, DC, 18 December 2006, -- Poor communities in flood-prone Guyana and drought-stricken Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe will soon have a better chance at fighting the impacts of climate change, thanks to two innovative, multi-million dollar projects financed by the Global Environment Facility’s Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF).
These projects were approved at the first meeting of the LDCF/SCCF Council which was established to oversee the operations of two new funds managed by the GEF: The Least Developed Countries Fund and the Special Climate Change Fund. The establishment of the two funds was agreed by the UN Convention to Combat Climate Change in order to address, as a priority issue, the adverse impacts of climate change in developing countries. To date, the GEF has mobilized over $165 million for the two funds.
“By supporting adaptation efforts, these innovative projects allow communities to take charge and develop their own mechanisms for adapting to climate change,” said Monique Barbut, GEF CEO and Chairperson. “Such efforts are needed to reduce poor people’s vulnerability to climate change and maintain ecosystem resilience.”
“The projects take a learning-by-doing approach,” said Richard Hosier, leader of the GEF’s Climate and Chemicals team. “The lessons learned will be invaluable for Kenya and other countries as they go about developing their own adaptation strategies.”
Project Highlights
Guyana Conservancy Adaptation Project (SCCF grant of $3.8 million; overall project cost $20 million): Rainfall variability adversely impacts Guyana’s East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC), the country’s most important water system that is vital for agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods. Specific actions include a comprehensive analytical assessment for upgrading the conservancy and strengthening drainage capacity in the face of increased sea levels and more variable rainfall. The project will target vulnerable coastal communities who stand to lose their homes and livelihoods due to flooding.
More details of the project available online: http://www.gefonline.org/ProjectDocs/Climate Change/Guyana - Conservancy Adaptation Project/Guyana Conservancy Adaptation Project Brief Resubmission2 -- November 10.doc
Kenya Arid Lands Project (SCCF grant of $6.8 million; overall project cost $51.63 million): Failed rains and recurring droughts have parched Kenya’s agricultural landscape, decimating harvests and livestock which are the mainstay of the Kenyan economy. Future climate is expected to exacerbate an already difficult situation. The project, jointly implemented by UNDP and World Bank, takes a comprehensive climate risk management approach by supporting community-driven initiatives, improving information sharing at the national and sub-national level, and integrating long-term risks into district-level planning. The project also focuses on creating opportunities for economic diversification and creating alternative livelihoods.
More details of the project available online: http://www.gefonline.org/ProjectDocs/Climate Change/Kenya - Adaptation to CC in Arid Lands (KACCAL)/Project Document Final 11-10-06.doc
“Coping with Drought” in Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe (SCCF grant of $1 million in each country). These three projects aim to deal with risks to agricultural production and rural livelihoods brought on by the increased frequency and severity of drought expected to occur as a result of global warming. In each country, local stakeholders in a drought-prone district will design and implement a set of activities to make their farming practices more resilient and less vulnerable to the changing climate. This set of three MSPs—together with the Kenya full-size project—will provide a unique opportunity to compare and contrast the effectiveness of these locally differentiated responses to the adverse effects of climate change.
More details of the project available online: http://www.gefonline.org/ProjectDocs/Climate Change/Ethiopia - Coping with Drought and Climate Change/Resubmission Ethiopia CwD Nov 1(2).doc
Media Contacts:
Clare Fleming, Team Leader, Communications & Outreach, GEF +1.202.458.4679, cfleming@TheGEF.org