Martin Endjala
The Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia has disbursed grants to the tune of N$88 300 000 under the ‘Building Resilience of Communities across Targeted eight landscapes threatened by climate change through an ecosystems-based adaptation approach’ initiative.
The project is funded by the Green Climate Fund and geared towards addressing communities threatened by climate change through an Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Approach in Namibia, particularly in the Kunene and Erongo regions.
The community projects are aimed at addressing climate change through ecosystem-based adaptation by recognising the inherent strength and resilience of the natural systems in adapting to changing climatic conditions.
The Ecosystem-based- Adaptation project grants were handed over to 34 community-based organizations.
According to the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Pohamb Shifeta during the grant handover ceremony for community projects on Monday, Namibia, with its diverse ecosystems and rich biodiversity, is acutely aware of the threats posed by climate change.
The country’s landscapes, from the breathtaking deserts to the vibrant savannahs, are not only sources of natural beauty but also crucial to the well-being and livelihoods of our communities.
However, climate change poses significant impacts and threats to ecosystem-based goods and services, which are vital for the well-being of both human societies and natural ecosystems.
Addressing these impacts and threats requires concerted efforts in climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The Minister highlighted that according to analysis from the German Climate Service Centre of 32 Global Climate Models, temperatures across Namibia are expected to increase by 1.7°C to 5.4°C by the 2080s with minimum night time temperatures expected to increase from 1.5°C to 4.9°C by the end of the century.
The duration of heat waves is expected to increase by six to 29 days by the 2080s; the number of cold days will significantly reduce.
Shifeta said that temperature shifts have a profound impact on agricultural production, household livelihood, ecosystem integrity, and overall economic growth.
“While recognizing this, we have embraced the concept of ecosystem-based adaptation as a powerful tool to combat the challenges ahead. Ecosystem-based adaptation recognizes the inherent strength and resilience of our natural systems in adapting to changing climatic conditions,” said the Minister.
Furthermore, their commitment to addressing these challenges is embedded in national priority programs such as the Nationally Determined Contribution, Integrated National Financing Framework, and the Harambee Prosperity Plan II among others.
These frameworks guide the efforts toward achieving sustainable development, economic growth, poverty eradication, and social progress. Ecosystem-based adaptation, with its emphasis on harnessing the resilience of the natural systems, offers a unique opportunity to integrate climate change considerations into these national agendas.
Shifeta said that these projects, driven by the passion and commitment of local individuals and organizations, embody the spirit of sustainability and community empowerment.
The grant projects are located in landscapes covering more than 200 000 square kilometres of land and home to 216 000 people, which is around 7.5 percent of Namibia’s total population.
Furthermore, with this funding, 3500 climate-resilient job opportunities will be created in rural areas across Namibia.
He noted that it is through collaborations and partnerships such as this that the Namibian government can address the critical challenges facing our planet and work towards a sustainable future.
Meanwhile, the EbA sister project, the CBNRM-EDA project funded by the Green Climate Fund, which ended last year in November 2022, had equally contributed to the national agenda of addressing climate change by awarding a total of 31 grantees to a total tune of N$112 million.
The Minister gave the assurance that the Ministry is committed to providing unwavering support to all environmental initiatives and policies that contribute to a shared vision of a sustainable world of which Namibia is part.
Therefore, beneficiaries of this project, are urged to ensure that these funds are utilized with the utmost diligence, transparency, and accountability as well as diligence which means more than just managing finances; it entails meticulous planning, effective implementation, and continuous monitoring and evaluation of your projects.
The conference was held under the theme “Improving Climate Financing Scale Through Strategic Collaboration”. The hosting of the conference was to inform, engage and source inputs from its stakeholders, beneficiaries and partners concerning its mandate, targeted interventions and new areas for possible engagement.
The conference was drawn on the historical background of the Fund, what it had done up to date, its impact at a glance, share lessons, and opportunities and share the outcome of its just-ended 2018-2022 strategic plan in terms of interventions in ensuring sustainability.
