African countries propose ambitious GCF pipeline at Cape Town Dialogue

The first Green Climate Fund Structured Dialogue with Africa concluded this week after three days of focused deliberations on helping countries map out their engagement with the Fund.

This vision cumulated in an ambitious project pipeline of some 130 initial low-emission and climate-resilient projects that were discussed between 24-26 October. Project concepts covered mitigation and adaptation needs equally across diverse sectors. This included access to clean energy; adaptation planning and climate information services; leveraging forest resources; resilient agriculture and livelihoods; coastal resilience; and water management.

“The GCF Structured Dialogue with Africa has raised the ambition that African countries hold for the Green Climate Fund,” said Mr. Zaheer Fakir, Co-Chair of the GCF Board (South Africa), representing the developing country constituency. “This meeting of countries has helped Africa develop country-owned and country-driven GCF portfolios.”

The dialogue provided GCF and Accredited Entities an opportunity to hear firsthand which investments countries are prioritising in their response to climate change. The diverse exchanges among participants highlighted a number of key themes, notably the opportunity for increased South-South and regional cooperation on developing impactful pipelines of investments for the Fund. It also underscored the strong commitment of countries, entities and other development partners to engage with GCF to advance their readiness and project preparation support requirements.

Commenting on the Cape Town meeting, the Chair of the African Group of Negotiators, Ambassador Hussein Alfa Nafo said, “an ambitious Africa pipeline of more than USD 4 billion is emerging from the work GCF is doing with countries and entities. The dialogue in Cape Town has set the stage for an accelerated development of these projects whilst ensuring strong country ownership.”

The first GCF Structured Dialogue with Africa brought together 103 officials from 48 African countries, several GCF Board Members, and representatives from 24 Accredited Entities and 18 other organisations, including delivery partners with GCF’s readiness and preparatory support programme. Country delegations varied in composition, many including National Designated Authorities (NDAs) or focal points, UNFCCC Focal Points, and officials from national ministries of finance, budget or planning.

In total, more than 200 participants attended the Cape Town dialogue, the largest country-focused gathering the Fund has organised to date. The organisation of Structured Dialogues is a priority for GCF, as articulated in the Fund’s Strategic Plan that the GCF Board adopted in March 2016.