Validation workshop on climate resilience in NBGs. (Photo: Sebit Patrick/Eye Radio).
Implementing partners have secured $10 million from Global Environment Fund (GEF) as part of a $33-million climate resilience project that will benefit at least 75,000 people from Aweil East and Central of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state.
The five-year project dubbed “Watershed Approaches for Climate Resilience in Agro-Pastoral Landscape” was launched in May 2024.
It is being implemented by Christian organization World Vision and will be co-financed by the government’s environment ministry, UN development agency (UNDP) and GEF.
The initiative aimed at improving institutional capacity, livelihood options and natural resource management basis, was validated on Tuesday by partners to assess current dynamics and adjust to new situations.
Project manager Francis Harold Kasangu said one of the emerging factors that was discussed is the need to include thousands of returnees and refugees that have poured into the state.
Mr. Kasangu said the project will empower 75,000 people through rural savings amongst other livelihood options – with women to comprise 60 percent of the beneficiaries’ as the immediate victims to climate change.
“We are looking at the institutional capacities where we are looking at reviewing the policies, making sure that they are able to contribute towards the resilience building of the targeted communities,” he said.
“We are also looking at the livelihood options and how best we can build resilience to climate shocks, And we are using that through even the building of the better livelihood options.”
Mr. Kasangu said the program will also support mitigation for natural and man-made disasters including deforestations, floods and droughts.
“All these three key pillars have got the gender inclusion as the strategic cross-cutting thematic area that cuts across all those pillars. We are hoping that by the end of the five years, from 2024 to 2028, we will be able to reach out to at least 75,000 people.”
On his part, Wani Nelson, Senior Inspector at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, welcomed progress in the project, but added its impact should have sustainable impact on the people.
“After the end of the project, we want to make sure that the project continues beyond the grant period. The lifespan of the project should be like 20 years.”
“This is a recommendation that we are giving to the people, to our partners, to our communities that the project should not end with a grant.”
Daniel Kiir, Team Leader for Stabilization, Recovery and Resilient Unit at UNDP, called for commitment from implementing partners and the government for the success of the project.
“The leadership of the government has so far shown leadership in terms of leading the partners to deliver on this program, both at the national level and even at the state level.”
Mr. Kiir said the program’s success depends on the level of partnership between the development partners and the government through co-financing and providing the necessary resources.
The watershed project on climate resilience in agro-pastoral landscape is a government project funded by global environment facilities through the United Nation Development Fund, and implemented by the world vision international.
Since its launch in May 2024, the implementing partners have been engaged in assessment of the project viability.
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