EU-UNEP Africa LEDS Project sets pace for climate action on the continent

The little steps African countries are taking in transitioning to low emissions pathway are what will see the continent achieve climate compliance by 2030, as called for in the Paris Climate Agreement, says Dr. Richard Munang, UN Environment Africa Regional Climate Change Coordinator.
 

He believes countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in the areas of agriculture, energy and forestry can be combined to maximize bottom line emissions reduction and amplify socioeconomic benefits of income creation and job opportunities in ancillary sectors popular with engaging the youth, especially ICT.

Dr. Munang was addressing a peer learning and closeout meeting of the EU-UNEP Africa Low Emissions Development Strategies (Africa LEDS) Project in Accra, Ghana, under the theme: “Unlocking Socioeconomic Opportunities Through Low Emissions Development Actions”.

Emphasizing that “there is no beauty but the beauty of action”, Dr. Munang said there is the need for innovative paradigms and actions to accelerate the realization of socioeconomic and climate benefits for the people of Africa.

“The sustainability and longevity of climate actions in the continent depends on how well they demonstrate socio-economic value,” he said. “This is especially so considering that while Africa is negligible emitter, it stands out as the most vulnerable to climate change, with vulnerability driven primarily by the prevailing low levels of socioeconomic development”.

The implementation of the EU-UNEP Africa LEDS project has demonstrated through ground actions and investment support tools, that strategic implementation of NDC priorities aligned to key socioeconomic sectors can maximise both climate and priority socioeconomic benefits simultaneously.

The Project is urging governments in Africa to create an enabling environment for low emissions development strategies uptake, leveraging on strategic implementation of ambitious NDC commitments.

The seven project partner countries include Cameroon, DRC, Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique and Zambia.

Ghana, for instance, is of the firm belief that tacking climate change would help strengthen the resilience of the economy against shocks.

The current national development plan for Ghana, therefore, recognizes climate change as one of the developmental challenges and has developed policy interventions to address it in the medium-term.

“The policies set out in the national development plan informed the adaptation and mitigation actions that Ghana put forward in the first-round of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs),” said John Pwamang, Acting Executive Director of Ghana’s Environmental Protection Agency.

He observed that though Ghana’s share of global greenhouse gas emissions is low, the mitigation measures being implemented are aligned to the low emission trajectory of the EU-UNEP Africa LEDS Project.

The Project is premiering LEDS modeling as a direct enabler of socio-economic development with actions targeted at sectors that could unlock socioeconomic development opportunities alongside offsetting carbon.

Susana Martins, Programmes Officer, Infrastructure and Sustainable Development at European Union Delegation to Ghana, emphasized the commitment of the EU to finance climate change interventions in Africa.

“We are committed to the implementation of projects on climate change,” she said.

The Africa LEDS Project is a partnership between the European Commission, UNEP, the LEDS Global Partnership, Africa LEDS Partnership and seven collaborating countries. The project has enabled significant progress on low carbon transformation in Africa.

By Kofi Adu Domfeh

Ghana integrates Climate Change Action in its development agenda

Ghana’s President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says his government has taken the policy decision to integrate climate action into the country’s national development agenda – the Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies (2017- 2022).

According to him, the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13, which demands urgent action to combat climate change and its impact, are providing the framework for Ghana to forge ahead in this direction.

Speaking at the R20 Austrian World Summit on Climate Change, the President revealed all local assemblies in Ghana have been mandated to address climate change issues in their medium-term development plans.

Upon assuming office in January 2017, his Government decided to clamp down on the reprehensible activity of illegal mining that has been destroying the nations’ forests and water bodies.

A ban has also been imposed on the harvesting of rosewood timber as one of the measures to protect Ghana’s forests and endangered species.

Also through the “Youth in Afforestation” Programme, over 20,000 youth have been employed to plant 10 million trees across the country, as a way of increasing carbon sinks in the country.

Towards realizing Ghana’s international obligations under SDG 7, on access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy, as well as SDG 13, President Akufo-Addo reiterated Ghana’s commitment of promoting the deployment of renewable energy, in line with government’s policy target of 10% renewables in the energy mix from the current 1%.

To this end, in the course of this year, Jubilee House, the seat of the nation’s presidency, will be powered by solar energy, as an example to other public institutions. The target is to install 200 megawatts of distributed solar power by 2030 in both residential and non-residential facilities, and in state agencies.

President Akufo-Addo revealed further that he has engaged a select group of CEOs from the private sector to push forward Ghana’s “Green Agenda”, in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The response, the President stressed, has been very positive, with commitments to create a Green Fund, to be financed largely by the private sector, in place.

This Fund, he added, would be used to drive the nation’s Agenda of ensuring access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy for all in the country.

President Akufo-Addo stressed that “what we do in Ghana affects the people of Nepal, or Mozambique or Austria. That is why we need concerted Global action to tackle this menace. Success in addressing climate change will be one of the greatest legacies that our generation can give to the next.”

Private sector gets $1m climate change investments in Africa

The governments of Japan and Austria have approved a $1 million fund to strengthen the participation of the private sector in combating climate change.

The funding will be channeled to the Africa Private Sector Assistance (FAPA) grant, which aims to expand the role of the private sector in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of African countries. NDCs are national efforts to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions and form part of the Paris Agreement on climate change.

The project will be implemented by the Climate Change and Green Growth Department of the African Development Bank. It is intended to engage the private sector, especially SMEs, in improving the integration of climate change measures in their investment decisions.

The Regional Member Countries (RMCs) selected for the implementation of the project are Egypt, Angola, Mozambique, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa.

The project is expected to contribute to green and inclusive economic growth in the target RMCs and enhance the capacity of SMEs, project developers and sponsors to scale up green investments that support NDCs. 

It will also help increase private sector investments that facilitate the implementation of NDCs in target countries. The project will address constraints to attracting climate finance, including lack of enterprise knowledge, and insufficient capacity in preparing green bankable projects.

FAPA is a multi-donor thematic trust that provides grant funding for technical assistance, as part of the Bank’s Private Sector Development Strategy.

The governments of Japan and Austria and the African Development Bank are active contributors to the fund, which to date has provided over $68.58 million to 79 projects in 38 countries across the African continent.

The FAPA portfolio includes regional and national projects that improve the business environment, strengthen financial systems, build private sector infrastructure, promote trade, and the development of micro, small and medium enterprises.

Entrepreneurs in climate and clean energy innovations and agri-business development in Africa get support

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote inclusive and sustainable industrial development in Africa.

Under this MoU, the two organizations will support the development and growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs that are involved in climate and sustainable energy technologies and business, agri-business and food security as well as youth and women economic empowerment.

In today’s economic landscape, resource constraints and climate concerns are no longer externalities but rather opportunities for new and sustainable business models, technology innovations to drive economic growth. SMEs and entrepreneurs in developing and post-conflict countries could be the driver for economic development and inclusive and sustainable industrial development.

“Under the agreement, we will work together to boost local SMEs and entrepreneurs in the delivery of climate and clean energy solutions in Africa, focusing on sustainable energy and agri-business sector,” said LI Yong, UNIDO Director General. “Through our joint activities, UNIDO and AECF will unlock the ingenuity of SMEs and entrepreneurs who are the drivers of the transition to low-carbon and climate resilient industries in the partner countries and create jobs”.

Global trends and experiences have shown the catalytic potential of technology innovation in addressing the challenges of climate change mitigation and adaptation. Climate change also offers opportunities for economic growth through the creation of new industries and business models.

The agility of SMEs and start-ups allows them to be key players providing innovative technology solutions and products that address local challenges. Despite this, SMEs and start-ups in developing countries that have clean technological and business model innovations are not systematically supported as the innovation ecosystems in the countries are often weak.

“At AECF, we believe that a thriving and robust private sector will drive inclusivity and sustainability that leads to a green economic growth trajectory,” said Lord Paul Boateng, AECF Board Chair.

Both UNIDO and AECF recognize the central role of the private sector – specifically SMEs and entrepreneurs in promoting inclusive and sustainable industrial development that can deliver local technology innovation to address the energy, food, environmental and economic challenges of today.

The partnership between UNIDO and AECF will build on what UNIDO has been doing under its Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP), the Private Financing Advisory Network (PFAN) and under agri-business development.

Ghana gets support to address impacts from artisanal mining and logging

Rural communities in four regions of Ghana currently affected by the environmental damage and pollution associated with destructive artisanal mining and logging practices are to benefit from a scale up of the Ghana Forest Investment Program.

An additional financing of $19.39 million was approved by the World Bank Board of Executives Directors today. It is based on two tranches of a grant and loan of $9.89 million for Artisanal Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) in Forest Landscapes and $9.50 million to build private sector engagement in plantation activities in the Brong-Ahafo, Ashanti, Eastern and Western regions of Ghana.

“The additional financing operation is fully consistent with the World Bank Group's goals to end extreme poverty and to promote shared prosperity with environmental, social, and fiscal sustainability. It is also aligned with the recent Systematic Country Diagnostic which prioritized the need for taking immediate measures, including implementing the ‘Cocoa Forest Mosaic Landscape’ and control and mitigation of artisanal mining, to stop deforestation and degradation,” said Henry Kerali, World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone. 

The Ghana Forest Investment Program is already implementing activities focusing on agricultural drivers of deforestation by working with cocoa farmers and communities to rehabilitate and protect forest reserves.

The additional financing operation aims at complementing these activities by piloting approaches to and benefits of reclamation of mining sites, which will reduce erosion currently polluting public water courses and engage the private sector in plantation development to reduce pressure on natural forests and to meet the construction, housing and furniture needs of Ghana’s growing economy.  

Under the original project, women have significantly engaged and benefitted from project activities, particularly in enrichment planting and plant nurseries.  This will continue and be further enhanced under this additional financing operation. Plantation establishment in nearby areas will further help to create jobs for community members, contribute to knowledge sharing and uptake, increase awareness of sustainable forestry management practices, and increase opportunities for promoting positive private sector contributions to Ghana’s overall REDD+ effort.

“Community members engaged in Artisanal Small-Scale Mining, including women, will gain access to new skills and economic opportunities through rehabilitation activities at inactive mining sites, including opportunities created by tree planting and plantation establishment,” said Asferachew Abate Abebe, World Bank Task Team Leader of the Forest Investment Program.

The proposed activities will contribute to reducing pressure on high biodiversity areas. Through replication and scaling up of lessons from pilot sites, communities, landowners, farmers and cocoa growers could gain through reduced impact of mining activities on production systems, as well as improvement of their local environment.

Other stakeholders, including the private sector and civil society, will benefit through improved stewardship of land. The implementing agencies charged with forest, landscape and mining management, will also benefit from clarified policies and guidance, capacity development programs, and outreach programs. 

This operation also aligns with the Ghana Sustainable Growth Development Agenda (GSGDA-II, 2014-2017), which seeks to achieve socio-economic transformation to create a significant number of quality jobs to raise average incomes.

AfDB seeks rice self-sufficiency in rice production through technologies

As at 2014, rice consumption in sub-Saharan Africa was estimated to be approximately 26 million metric tons (MT). Out of this figure, 13 million MT which represents about one-third of what is traded on the world market, came into Africa via imports.

Rice consumption in Africa is projected to reach 34.9 million tons by 2025. Out of this figure, 12.6 million MT will be imported at a cost of about US$5.5 billion annually.

The demand for rice in Africa is growing as a result of population growth, increased per capita consumption, and a shifting preference toward ‘premium’ rice linked to increased urbanization.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) reckons that the rice sector has the potential to become an engine for economic growth across the continent. To achieve self-sufficiency in rice by 2025, Africa requires the production of nearly 13 million additional tons of premium rice per year.

This will then improve the livelihood of at least 3 million producers and lead to economic gains of about US$5.5 billion per year among African countries.

However, to attain this feat, Africa requires holistic mechanisms which include widespread distribution and commercial adoption of high-yielding, climate-resilient rice varieties, accompanying technologies, and innovations.

It is in this light that the AfDB is supporting the Post-harvest, Processing and Value Addition Equipment Fabrication and Standardization Workshop which began today in Porto Novo, Benin Republic.

The one-week workshop brings together equipment fabricators from Benin, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, and Senegal to improve the quality of locally fabricated rice processing equipment to respond to consumer preferences.

Organized by the Rice Compact of Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) in collaboration with AfricaRice and Technique de Construction Mecano Soudé (TCMS), the workshop is expected to harmonise the type and specifications of locally fabricated rice processing equipment earmarked under TAAT.

Funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB), TAAT’s main objective is to improve the business of agriculture across Africa by raising agricultural productivity, mitigating risks and promoting diversification and processing in 18 agricultural value chains within eight Priority Intervention Areas (PIA).

The programme increases agricultural productivity through the deployment of proven and high-performance agricultural technologies at scale along selected value chains which include rice.

Dr. Sidi Sanyang, TAAT Rice Compact Coordinator says the workshop will, in the course of one week, galvanise small and medium scale equipment manufacturers to build and install rice husk-fueled GEM systems and other equipment in TAAT target countries and elsewhere.

“Already, TCMS in Benin has signed a contract of FCFA19.5 million to manufacture and install rice husk-fueled GEM systems in six communities in the Glazoue rice hub in Benin,” Dr. Sanyang added.

While speaking on behalf of the rice equipment fabricators at the workshop, Charles Frimpong, Managing Director of Hanigha Ltd says the increased collaboration between local fabricators in Africa, facilitated by the workshop, will not only enhance knowledge sharing but lead to uuniformity in type and quality of equipment out-scaled under TAAT.

“It will also increase the availability of spare parts for locally fabricated rice processing equipment thereby, improving the quality of locally produced rice which will ultimately lead to increased consumer satisfaction.” Frimpong said.

Led by AfricaRice, a member of the Global Rice Science Partnership that includes experience from Asia and Latin America, the TAAT Rice Compact is already engaging the private sector with a view to achieving rice expansion and intensification in Africa through quality rice seed production, marketing, and mechanization, fortification, packaging and branding.

Ghanaian journalists take action for sustainable environment

In commemoration of 2019 World Press Freedom Day, some journalists in Ghana’s Ashanti region joined hands in a tree planting exercise to help protect the environment and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Spearheaded by the regional chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), the initiative has the goal of fostering sustainable environmental sanitation in line with the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation, and 13 – Climate Action.

According to Regional GJA Chair, Kingsley E. Hope, the SDGs can only be met by 2030 when all individuals, groups and organizations get involved in protecting, restoring and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystem, sustainable land and forest management, combating desertification and halting unusual land degradation.

“The media has a unique role to play in accelerating climate action, combat climate change and environmental degradation by creating awareness to the general public through advocacy and education,” he noted. 

The journalists planted 40 hybrid coconut seedlings at Danyame, a suburb of the Kumasi Metropolis.

Climate Change Advovate, Kofi Adu Domfeh, who joined in the planting, commended the journalists for the effort in taking climate action to help protect the environment. 

“Climate Change is everyone’s business,” he said. “We cannot combat global warming outright unless everybody joins the chain through environment sanitation and environment protection, especially in pushing for policy implementation”.

According to Mr. Domfeh, a lot of human activities contribute to climate change, hence the need for increased advocacy against burning of fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

He touted the importance of tree planting for carbon sequestration, providing shade, good quality air and healthy environment for living.

“Such environmental exercises are important to conserve water, preserve the soil, reduce flooding, provide food and support biodiversity,” he said.

The city authority has been tasked to ward off encroachment on the wetland where the coconuts were planted.

The GJA will constantly monitor and nurture the planted economic trees to ensure their survival.

AFF celebrates a decade’s work on African forestry

The African Forest Forum (AFF) is commemorating a decade of its work on African forestry.

On May 22, 2019 a celebration, including a launch of eight training compendiums on various aspects of climate change in forestry, as well as a book titled, “The State of Forestry in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges” will take place in Nairobi Kenya.

The event is organized by AFF in collaboration with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI).

Since its establishment, the African Forest Forum (AFF) has provided a bridge between science-based knowledge and good policies to support sustainable forest management; effectively working within a science-policy-management framework.

As awareness has grown on the role of forests and trees in national economic development, livelihoods and environmental stability, AFF has steadily gained membership and capacity to work on these and other related issues.

As a contribution to this effort, AFF has leveraged on the distinct expertise and comparative advantage of its character to influence and facilitate organizations and people to take actions that could better situate forestry in the path of sustainable development of African nations.

The institution, along with its partners, has worked on several key fronts over the past ten years to cultivate shifts in perceptions, priorities, values, capacities and skills to bear on subsequent impact on forestry and related decisions and practices.

The interventions leading to this have included convenings on specific issues, advocacy, partnerships and collaborative activities, knowledge brokerage, facilitating capacity and skills development, research and development activities.

The goal has been to initiate a process through which local communities are seen and treated as critical stakeholders (participants and beneficiaries), while strategies for harnessing the potential of forest and tree resources to support livelihoods today, some of which employ these interventions, are given as much attention as the sustainable management and wise use of these resources for the benefit of future generations.

Viewed in this context, AFF is providing a platform that facilitates change in the forestry sector. It is this special character that gives the institution the ability to continually adjust to the ever-changing environment that affects forests and trees and their roles, the people who depend on these resources and actors in forestry business.

“We started this journey on December 06, 2007 when AFF was registered as a not-for-profit NGO in Nairobi Kenya, and with a grant from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) in 2008, which helped us, among other things, to set up AFF as a platform that could support African forestry stakeholders to discuss and mobilise resources for improved management and use of their forest and tree resources. A second grant from the Swiss Development Cooperation Agency (SDC), has strengthened AFF as an institution that is gradually being recognized and respected as another key actor on the African forestry scene,” said Prof Godwin Kowero, Executive Secretary-CEO at AFF.

Africa’s current forest cover of 624 million hectares (23% of land area) represents natural capital that supports rural livelihoods, national economies, and has considerable potential in the global economy.