African National Designated Authorities trained on mechanisms to access Climate Finance in Scale

On the sidelines  of Ninth Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-9)  taking  place in  Niamey, Niger,  PACJA  in partnership with AFDAN held a  capacity building  session for African GCF-DNAs on Mechanisms to Access Climate Finance in Scale.  The  event  brought together National Designated Authorities (NDAs), academia , government representatives and  CSOs  to  discuss matters  regarding adequate access to GCF  funds in Africa.

Dr. Mithika Mwenda,  explained  that access to funds from GCF  has been a dream for african  countries but it has become much complicated for  countries to access these funds. He criticizes  the bureaucratic  management of funds processing urging that climate finance  should be a quick  intervention for communities at the frontline of the climate crisis.

Linking the main purpose of  the training with  discussions  from  partcipants, PACJA  and AFDAN were able to  build the knowledge of partcipants  in accelarating  the mobilization of climate  finance  in  scale in Africa  with the aim  to adapt  to  the impacts  of Climate change.  It was observed that african countries are facing challenges in addressing building the resilience of communities and adapting to the  the impacts of climate related disasters

Peter Odhengo  the Coordinator of AFDAN  said that there is  an urgent need for African GCF NDA/FPs and DAEs to come together to  hold dialogue and learn from each other  and consolidate African voices to one united voice on how to accelerate flow of climate finance at the continental level. He reminded participants that the NDA is an insititution whose main mandate is to provide broad strategic oversight of the GCF’s activities in the country and communicate the country’s priorities for financing low-emission and climate-resilient development and its role must therefore be amplified  to address challenges countries are facing in accessing climate  finance.

“We must  be prepared  and come together as a continent. We must request  that funds trickle  down to the  continent and local level.  We must be prepared for another journey with the  support of partners. The will  and mechanisms are there what  we need from  you as NDAs is commitment” reiterated Peter Odhengo.

He advised participants that  the  flow of funds would require the joint commitments and speaking in one voice while negotiating with  funders.  He said that other continents have  put in place  mechanisms that  aid in mobilizing  funds and pointed out that Africa is  the only one  lagging behind. “If  we fail in  negotiations of funds  we  shall definetely  fail in  climate diplomacy because  other continents  have made their way to  the solution” warned Odhengo.

Currently, 148 countries worldwide have  set  DNA  institutiions in  place  and according  to Green Fund  47 countries have successfully put in place  DNA institutions.