SOUTH-SOUTH Knowledge Exchange on Approaches
Towards Strengthening Country-Wide and Sector-Specific Strategies and
Cooperation and Coordination Among Actors in Accessing the GCF
and Climate Financing Overall

DATE: December 6-7, 2016
VENUE: Makati Diamond Residences, Makati City, Philippines

Introduction
2015 was a truly unprecedented year for the development paradigm as the whole world unified to adopt a new global agenda for sustainable development and a landmark agreement on climate change. The countries have set upon themselves the ambitious target of working towards reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and curb their emissions through committing through the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), both by 2030. In 2016, governments are turning their attention toward implementing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and integrating these goals and commitments into national-level planning processes and policies. They need to identify the gaps and barriers that stand in the way of successfully achieving their NDCs along with opportunities.

The Philippines’ NDC goal is a 70% reduction in emissions from the business as usual scenario by 2030, conditional on the provisions of finance and appropriate technology transfer. While there are numerous comprehensive development plans and policies institutionalized that affirm a low-carbon and sustainable future for the Philippines, the ministry-level and private sector responsiveness have been lagging far behind.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a testament to the changing dynamics of climate funds in that it significantly redistributes power, responsibility, and accountability between traditional contributor and recipient countries. A key design feature of the GCF is direct access – allowing national institutions to have access to climate finance. All entities, including regional, national and sub-national entities, can apply via the direct access track. Entities will need to accompany their application for accreditation with evidence of their nomination from the National Designated Authorities (NDA) or focal point (FP) designated from their country with their application for accreditation. Entities may be eligible to receive readiness and preparatory support in terms of capacity-building in order to meet the GCF’s accreditation requirements.

There is certainly more to do in helping countries achieve their NDC such as improving their institutional capacity and technical capabilities including assisting inter-ministerial, civil society, and private sector coordination. Further, it is essential to highlight how investment in climate change will fulfil development needs.

It is important to note that a South-South exchange encourages peer-to-peer learning on their approaches towards strengthening country-wide and sector-specific strategies and cooperation/coordination among actors in accessing the GCF and climate financing overall that is more relevant to developing nations to achieve economic growth and poverty reduction.

General Information
The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (iCSC), in partnership with the World Resources Institute (WRI), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) with the GIZ Climate Finance Readiness Programme and the bilateral GIZ SupportCCC II Project, intends to facilitate this South-South knowledge exchange between National Designated Authorities or Focal Points, ministries, resources partners, and both accredited and prospective implementing entities on their approaches towards strengthening country-wide and sector-specific strategies and cooperation/coordination among actors in accessing the GCF and climate financing overall. The task ahead is immense and will require no less than a transformation of economies and leapfrogging to cleaner, more resilient pathways of development.

This is no time for business-as-usual; new, catalytic approaches to development cooperation are called for that build critical capacities in developing countries for low-carbon and climate resilient development, spur commensurate action by state actors and non-state actors alike (e.g. businesses, financial institutions, cities), and at the same time strengthen the existing architecture for international climate action.

A. Overview
This is a knowledge sharing exchange between National Designated Authorities or Focal Points, ministries, resources partners, and both accredited and prospective implementing entities on their approaches towards strengthening country-wide and sector-specific strategies and cooperation/coordination among actors in accessing the GCF and climate financing overall.

B. Objective
By learning from other countries’ and agencies’ experiences, NDAs and prospective and accredited NIEs will expand their knowledge and increase coordination on how to engage with the Green Climate Fund.

C. Goals

  1. Integrate knowledge exchange into Country-wide and Sector-specific strategies.
  2. Connect governments, resource partners, and private actors.
  3. Share challenges and lessons learned so far.
  4. Understand each type of actors’ strengths and weaknesses to enhance collaboration.

D. Output

  1. Produce and disseminate document with key messages from countries to GCF
  2. Outline ways to continue knowledge exchange beyond this workshop.

Facilitators:

Renato Redentor Constantino, Executive Director, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities
Indira Massullo, Technical Expert, World Resource Institute

Related Documents and Presentations

Click on the links below to download PDF.