Climate funding: Zim gets helping hand

Innocent Ruwende in BONN, Germany
The Climate Technology Centre (CTCN) and Network has pledged to assist Zimbabwe access the Green Climate Fund, which assists developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change. As of September 2017, the Green Climate Fund had raised $10,3 billion for initiatives which promote low-emission and climate-resilient development.

CTCN is the operational arm of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO). The Zimbabwe delegation here led by Ministry of Water Resources Development and Climate Secretary Mr Prince Mupazviriho met with CTCN network capacity building manager Rajiv Garg and climate technology manager Federico Campbell. Mr Garg said although CTCN objectives limit it to readiness funds, it could assist Zimbabwe in accessing the much needed Green Climate Fund.

“We have limited funding as CTCN, not that we are broke, but we are slowing down. We are only looking at the readiness fund. We are, however, 100 percent committed to helping you access the Green Climate Fund,” he said.

“We are open to serve you, especially considering the relationship we have so far. CTCN has no mandate to impose ideas on you, but if you have ideas, we will be happy to assist you if you share them with us. We are more keen to work with you in areas of adaptation and mitigation.”

Mr Mupazviriho said mitigation and adaptation were two important components which the parties could work together on. Climate Change Management Department director Mr Washington Zhakata said Zimbabwe had various projects which required GCF funding.

“We are ready to work with you. We have already submitted a readiness proposal of $300 000, which we submitted and has been approved. We have also completed a climate change adaptation proposal for the southern parts of Zimbabwe looking at irrigation. We are requesting $50 million from GCF. GCF requires co-funding so we have been discussing with various ministries on the issue. Our ministry has already said it will put in some funds. We are now waiting for the co-financing to be approved before submitting our proposal,” he said.

Mr Elisha Moyo of Zimbabwe National Designated Entity (NDE), said Zimbabwe had various strategies and policies to address its climate vulnerability and attain Low Emission Development (LED). He said Zimbabwe requires funds to attain resilience in the agriculture sector and have a low carbon pathway in the energy sector.