12th November 2018 The Government of Nauru is committed to strengthening its engagement with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and building the capacity of national stakeholders to access more resources from the GCF. This was the key message from the national GCF Readiness Inception Meeting convened at the Meneng Hotel in Nauru last week.
The inception meeting was organised by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. It brought together representatives from government, civil society, private sector, faith-based organisations, and development partners.
Participants learned more about the GCF and shared their experiences and perspectives on an inclusive process for engaging with the Fund.
In opening the meeting, the GCF National Designated Authority and Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr Michael Aroi said “the Government of Nauru values its relationship with the GCF and assures stakeholders that the Government will take an inclusive approach to engaging with the Fund.”
Stakeholders were informed about the national plans and project pipeline for Nauru. Also covered was the global climate finance landscape, strengthening Nauru’s engagement with the GCF, lessons learnt and challenges of accessing climate finance, GCF programs in Nauru and implementation arrangements, and opportunities for improved access and management of GCF and other climate funding resources.
The Green Climate Fund is the principal global climate fund supporting vulnerable developing countries, such as Pacific island countries, to implement their national adaptation and mitigation priorities. It serves as an operating entity of the financial mechanism of the Paris Agreement.
At present, eleven Pacific island countries have had projects approved, and ten have accessed readiness grants from the GCF. Nauru currently has two approved GCF programs – the Sustainable and Climate Resilient Connectivity for Nauru (port development) Project worth USD 27 million with the Asian Development Bank, and a readiness support program worth USD 330,250 with the Forum Secretariat.
