EIF Hosts NAM-RS-006 Inception Meeting
The support for accreditation of direct access entities in Namibia programme on the 7th September 2023 led by the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia as the implementing entity, convened an inception meeting. The programme is funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to a tune of Three Hundred Twenty-Six Thousand, Five Hundred Forty-Two dollars USD (326,542.00 USD).
The one-day inception meeting overall objective was to create awareness on the readiness and preparatory support programme while communicating the implementation arrangements and familiarizing stakeholders with the project objectives, intended activities and governance. It also served as a platform for the relevant stakeholder’s analysis and for them to provide inputs to the envisaged approach. The meeting further sought to strengthen institutional coordination.
The Readiness and Preparatory is a Support programme funded by the GCF with an objective of is to increasing countries entities access to climate finance for funding of its NDC ambitions. In Namibia this can also be achieved through strengthening capacities of local institutions that are able to serve as Direct Access Entities for Green Climate Fund and enhancing country ownership. As such, national institutions, namely the Agricultural Bank of Namibia (Agri- Bank), Development Bank of Namibia (DBN), Bank Windhoek (BW) and Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF) were nominated for accreditation as direct access entities the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism is to serve as a Delivery Partner (DP). All the nominated entities are at varying stages of readiness due to different institutional capacities, mainly.
The rationale for nominating the Four (4) DAEs was to assist as many Namibian entities Accredited by the GCF and enhance the potential of accessing financing for investment in larger climate change infrastructure investments such as renewable energy and resilient infrastructures.
This programme is also intended to increase private sector visibility in climate change financing and as such, if accredited the Bank Windhoek would potentially access funds from the GCF’s Private Sector Facility for on-lending purposes. While the Agricultural Bank of Namibia (Agribank) would potentially access funds for on-lending too but with focus on the agricultural sector. The Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF), one of the oldest environmental NGOs in Namibia would take up access to fund ecosystem management related projects. EIF will provide the support to the Executing Entity through the implementation duration which is expected to last for at least 18 months.
The recently held inception workshop that took place on the 07th September 2023 in Windhoek was attended by government officials, Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia representatives and officials of the nominated entities for accreditation.
Presentations at the inception meeting ranged from overview of the Green Climate Fund, NDA role in Readiness Programmes, Introduction of the Readiness Programme, Logical Framework & Implementation arrangements and Workplan, budget plan and procurement plan and procedures.
More information on the support for accreditation of direct access entities in Namibia programme project can be accessed at https://www4.unfccc.int/sites/NAPC/Support/Pages/GCF.aspx
