QUEZON CITY, November 30, 2023 – The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) and World Vision Development Foundation, Inc. (WVDF) have partnered to collaborate on a local simplified approval process (SAP) proposal for submission to the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
The proposal, which is currently in development, will aim to support water resources and watershed management in the Philippines through indigenous, ecosystem-based, locally-driven action. Specifically, it will focus on ensuring water resilience in coastal and small island communities, which regularly experience climate-induced or climate-aggravated water supply and quality issues.
Originally called the “Haiyan Project,” ICSC submitted an initial version of the proposal to the GCF in 2019, and has been working with LandBank of the Philippines—one of the country’s accredited Direct Access Entities under the GCF—to address the comments following the Fund’s initial project review. WVDF also reached out to LandBank earlier this year for a similar proposal on forest rehabilitation for sustainable watershed management in Bohol. All involved organizations aim to submit the proposal to the Fund in 2024.
Representatives from both organizations formalized the partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding on Tuesday, November 14, at the Park Inn by Radisson North Edsa in Quezon City. The signing follows a local consultation meeting with other stakeholders—including World Vision Korea, the Philippine Association of Water Districts (PAWD), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Finance (DOF), and Climate Change Commission (CCC)—on the proposed GCF project.
This event was organized by WVDF and supported by the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI).
Photos by Jhian Aranas/ICSC
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