PACJA Builds capacity of African CSOs on REDD+

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia:  PACJA Builds capacity of African CSOs on REDD+

It’s twelve years now since the Conference of Parties adopted t unanimously the Warsaw Framework for REDD+ in Warsaw as guiding strategy to completely finance the implementation of REDD+ activities.

In the process of implementing REDD+ program, PACJA participated in the component of Capacity Building Program in selected countries by World Bank for REDD+ financing. For three years, PACJA supported countries to apply for subgrants with specific country’s context.

On February 12^th brought together African CSOs coalescing under Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) convened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the capacity building workshop where participants shared experiences and challenges on the implementation of Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest degradation known as REDD+.

Speaking to participants, Charles Mwangi, the PACJA Head of Programmes and Research, said that for three years PACJA has been building capacity of Civil society organizations in Africa to take part in holding governments accountable in the process of implementation of REDD+.

The program aims at implementing activities by national governments to reduce human pressure on forests that result in greenhouse gas emissions at the national level.

However, CSOs in Africa complain about the imbalance in financial resources that are set to assist countries to implement the program. Augustine Njamnshi, the Chair for Political and Technical Affairs in PACJA, said that debates around the carbon prices are still debatable and the that its implementation has triggered injustices.

“The issues of carbon prices are still contentious. There is a campaign going on to bring in injustices about the issues of carbon prices because there is imbalance when it comes to our countries in Africa where they get the minimum comparing to other countries from other continents,” said Augustine Njamnshi.

The UNFCC indicates that the implementation of REDD+ activities is not binding and depends on the national circumstances, capacities and capabilities of each developing country and the level of support received.

To Charles Mwangi, emphasized that the journey from three years ago was a success in the area of Capacity building of CSOs in Africa.  He said some global program may not appear as important  to Africa but engagement  becomes more important  to undertake influence at a certain level of  action.

“It’s important to understand where we come from. Think about NDCs which is may be understood as less important to Africa but we as CSOs are engaged in it because we know it will give us opportunity to transition from polluting energy to clean energy. For REDD+ may not be only about solutions but benefits because it is being included in national laws governing forest conservation,” said Charles   Mwangi.

Mainyoito Pastoralists Integrated Development Organization (MPIDO) is a Kenya-based organization among others benefiting from the   capacity building programme in Africa. Ann Samante, the Finance & Administrative Manager  for MPIDO, says that, in Kenya, the programme increased the community participation including women and youth who are now aware of REDD+.

She confirms the communities play a pivotal role with their contribution towards actions on the REDD+. She, however, highlights that indigenous people are still vulnerable to the Climate change and that women, children and elderly still suffer disproportionately from impact of Climate Change.

The forests in Africa have experienced a gradual decline owing to excessive deforestation for various reasons and more than half of the continent’s population rely directly or indirectly on forests for their livelihoods. It is estimated that 3.4 million hectares are lost annually (FAO, 2010); This figure has been on an upward trajectory. Small-scale agriculture and fuel wood collection are the main drivers of deforestation and forest degradation.

CSOs have been playing roles in holding government accountable in different phases of REDD+ Programme. As the case of an example, Dr. Lana from Madagascar says that civil society-built capacity of community members and through the capacity building programme they proved to the government that as CSOs can follow and monitor activities and ensure that the money dedicated to the implementation of the programme reach the end beneficiaries who are the community.