The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has mapped out strategies to facilitate the development of climate change projects and a pool of experts in Nigeria and other member states.
To this end, a four-day training for “national experts on the development of climate projects to access Green Climate Fund” began in Abuja, Nigeria on December 8, 2020, to promote, among others, sustainable management of resources for the improved regional economy while respecting the environment.
The ECOWAS Commission in a statement said besides supporting Nigeria through the training of a pool of experts on climate change projects development, the training also aims to facilitate the implementation of the initial activities of the regional climate change adaptation programme.
At the opening of the training, the ECOWAS’ Commission’s commissioner for agriculture, environment and water resources, Sekou Sangare, who spoke through the director, environment and natural resources, Johnson Boanuh, stated the importance of the training in assisting national experts to develop climate projects and access Green Climate Fund (GCF).
According to him, the adoption of the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015 marked an important turning point in the process of combating climate change. He, however, admitted the existence of challenges in accessing several funds.
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He said it was in order to assist countries to overcome the challenges that the ECOWAS Commission “initiated in 2015, several capacity building programmes for designated national authorities on procedures for accessing the funds, particularly the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund”.
He noted further that with the coming on board of a new approach, the workshop will make it possible for the ECOWAS’ member states to have a pool of experts who can support the designated national authorities in the coordination of projects and programmes development, with the various development actors aimed at mobilising resources from existing climate funds.
He expressed gratitude to the Swedish Cooperation and the European Union for their provision of financial and technical support in the conduct of the training in the ECOWAS countries.
Also speaking at the session on behalf of the Nigerian ministry of environment, Halima Bwari director, department of climate change, who was represented by Benny Ejiofor, noted among others, that the entire globe was at a defining moment in its history.
From changing weather patterns that threaten food security, to rising sea levels that increase the risk of cata
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