To implement its NDC, Togo will need additional financing over and above the cost of any national decisions and investments. Considering the vulnerability of its economic sectors and of the social and environmental consequences of the effects of climate change, Togo has defined its national priority as the development and implementation of an adaptation strategy and options that would have an impact on the mitigation scenarios, in terms of co-benefits. Togo confirms its commitment to contribute to the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping temperature rise limit to 2°C by 2030. The country has already implemented activities to reduce GHG emissions, especially in the energy, agriculture and land use, land-use change and forestry sectors. Subject to accessing necessary resources, Togo has confirmed that it is aiming for a more ambitious reduction target.

The Readiness Programme aims to enhance the capacity of national institutions to efficiently engage with GCF - the world’s largest dedicated fund helping developing countries reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and enhance their ability to respond to climate change. Thus, this grant is being requested to support the identification and nomination of a potential national direct access entity that will enable Togo to tap directly into GCF funding to implement the country’s climate actions; and working with the entity, develop a concept note for needed climate change project for submission to GCF. This grant will also support in identifying climate finance sources available for Togo as well as gaps to rationalize tapping into GCF funding, through the development of the climate finance strategy; and in improving the National Employers Council of Togo’s (CNP-TOGO) knowledge on climate change such as on employment opportunities, climate financing, green transport, green building standards and in developing the Council’s green policy to engage more private sector on sustainability and environmental management initiatives.

Togo has received Readiness grant that supported the establishment of an institutional framework for national coordination, development of no-objection manual and Country Programme, and completed the mapping which identified the barriers and enabling factors to facilitate private sector engagement in climate change adaptation.

Building on these, this grant will address the following remaining gaps to improve the country’s access to climate finance: Togo still has no national accredited entity with GCF, the project concept notes that were developed are either with regional or international accredited entities, and the need to develop climate finance strategy to identify financing options to implement climate actions.

This grant aims to enhance Togo’s direct access to the GCF through the (i) selection, nomination and accreditation application support for a potential national direct access entity (DAE); (ii) improving the National Employers Council of Togo’s (CNP-TOGO) knowledge on climate change such as on employment opportunities, climate financing, green transport, green building standards and in developing the Council’s green policy (iii) development of a Climate Finance Strategy including private sector engagement; and (iv) development of concept notes considering the capacity of the nominated national DAE. The assessment of potential national DAE will include state and commercial financial institutions which has the capacity to possibly implement small project size of up to USD50M. In line with the National Development Plan (2018–2022), the project concept notes to be developed could focus on agribusiness, infrastructure, and health.

The main grant beneficiaries include the Ministry of Environment/NDA, National Employers Council of Togo, potential national DAE and, in the identification of funding options for priority climate actions, key government agencies for NDC and Country Programme implementation.