Niue is taking the lead to build a community of practice for National Designated Authorities (NDAs) from Pacific countries to share, learn from each other and build confidence to strengthen engagement with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and accredited entities for climate action. 

Representatives from the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Niue, Palau, Republic of Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and the Maldives are gathering at the scenic Matavai Resort for a two-day Pacific Regional Cohort Workshop. 

The Prime Minister of Niue, Dalton Tagelagi, welcomed all the participants and reminded that as Pacific countries, there is value in working together. 

“Pacific Island countries are at the frontlines of climate change. The impacts of climate change are already being felt across the region, impacts are being felt in our land, freshwater, and our environment,” said Tagelagi.

“This is a very important gathering for us here because we are here to learn from each other. This cohort of countries can share a common voice at the regional level and work together on regional priorities.”

Niue has a GCF portfolio of USD$9.5 million through the Enhancing Climate Information and Knowledge Services for resilience five island project, and USD 1.3 Million through Readiness activities.

“We have through GCF support completed our Strategic Framework Country Programme that outlines our climate change priorities in sectors. This will inform concept notes for national projects,” said Tagelagi.

“The regional climate information services project will provide Niue with improved early warning systems with accurate live data to reduce disaster risk, enable early action and save lives.”

The Prime Minister also challenged the Cohort to use the two days to develop effective climate change projects that will make a real difference in the lives of Pacific communities. 

“Niue, like most Pacific communities want action that we can see. I encourage you all to use this opportunity to discuss, share experiences and come up with an easier way for our Pacific countries to access climate finance and funds we need for a resilient Pacific community.”

The Pacific Cohort workshop is organised by the Government of Niue and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) as delivery partner, and funded by the GCF’s Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme. 

SPREP has been instrumental in supporting Niue, and other Pacific countries, to navigate the GCF processes and assist with the implementation of their Readiness programmes bringing in expertise from the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) as well.

SPREP’s Deputy Director General, Easter Chu Shing said the workshop in Niue is a great opportunity to find solutions through collective experiences and successes. She acknowledged the GCF for having confidence in Niue’s approach to create a regional community of practice and an enabling environment and space for Readiness development.

“As a Delivery Partner, our approach is based on one where the country leads and drives the planning and implementation of your Readiness projects. You know what your priorities are, including challenges and gaps, and how best to approach these based on your respective country context,” said Chu Shing. 

“Our role is to assist you by providing policy advice and technical assistance from project design, proposal development and right throughout implementation. We also help to connect you with other experts from around the region and beyond. Being in the driver’s seat is critical for capacity building, maintaining and sustaining efforts of readiness for the GCF and other climate donors, not only in systems and processes but also knowledge and learning.”

GCF’s Readiness Programme supports country-driven initiatives to strengthen their institutional capacities, governance mechanisms, and planning and programming frameworks towards a transformational long-term climate action agenda. It provides grants and technical assistance to NDAs to enhance the capacity of national institutions to efficiently engage with GCF. 

Dedicated readiness funding may also assist countries in undertaking adaptation planning and developing strategic frameworks to build their programming with GCF.

GCF’s Regional Officer, Division of Country Programming, Samantha Rabine said GCF is embracing a whole-of-fund reforms to be as responsive as possible to countries who are on the frontlines of the climate crisis.

“Nearly a year ago, our Executive Director announced a new vision for GCF. Realising the Fund’s maximum potential requires positioning it to manage a larger pool of resources much more efficiently and with greater impact. Our target is USD 50 billion by 2030, and to achieve our “50 by 30” vision, we are embracing whole-of-Fund reforms,” Rabine said. 

“This cohort was born out of a bottom-up process and has continued to thrive. You all are shining example of how knowledge sharing and learning across peers has been harnessed through the GCF Readiness Programme.”

All developing country Parties to the UNFCCC can access the Readiness Programme. GCF aims at least 50 percent of the readiness support goes to particularly vulnerable countries, including Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and African States.

This story was originally published at SPREP on 19 September 2024, reposted via PACNEWS.