Adaptation Fund Side Event: Empowering the Most Vulnerable; Women, Youth, Elderly, Indigenous Populations and Incorporating Local and Traditional Knowledge

Adaptation Fund National Implementing Entities (NIEs) discuss findings from projects that benefit and empower the most vulnerable communities such as women, youth, the elderly, and indigenous populations, and incorporate local and traditional knowledge

Monday, June 24, 2019
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Berlin Room, UNFCCC SB50 Climate Change Meetings

Live Webcast

When Parties decided at COP24 that the Adaptation Fund (AF) “shall serve” the Paris Agreement (PA), they recognized the wide recognition and demand for AF’s concrete, tailored adaptation actions to support the most vulnerable and its pioneering Direct Access modality that builds national capacities to adapt to climate change.

Since the Fund started serving the PA on January 1, 2019, it is helping to operationalize it. Even prior to that it was contributing to the goals of the Agreement through its concrete adaptation actions on the ground for the most vulnerable countries. Its 5-year strategy aligned with the PA & UN Sustainable Development Goals further accelerates action and fosters innovation, learning and sharing, while empowering the most vulnerable and promoting gender-responsiveness.

AF leaders, country implementers, governments and CSOs will provide concrete examples during the side event.

Agenda

Moderator: Ms. Cristina Dengel, Knowledge Management Officer, Adaptation Fund

18:35-18:40 – Mr. Ibila Djibril, Benin, Vice-Chair, Adaptation Fund Board

Provides brief update and overview of Adaptation Fund

18:40-18:50 –  Mr. Mikko Ollikainen, Manager, Adaptation Fund Board Secretariat

AF’s strategic focus on Action, Innovation and Learning & Sharing, cross-cutting actions that support most vulnerable groups, including youth and the elderly, advance gender equality, build national capacities, and complement other climate funds.

18:50-19:00 –  Ms. Marianella Feoli, Executive Director, Fundecooperación para el Desarrollo Sostenible, Costa Rica

Ms. Feoli will present findings from the AF-funded project in Costa Rica aimed at reducing vulnerability to climate change by focusing on critical sectors. It includes an award-winning component which produced manuals for indigenous populations aimed at strengthening sustainable traditional indigenous farming practices.

19:00-19:10 –  Mr. Faustin Munyazikwiye, Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA)

Innovative AF-funded project in Rwanda provides sustainable land/water management and farming methods and agricultural terracing to adapt to extreme rainfall, while advancing gender equality through a Green Village and empowering youth.

19:10-19:20 –  Ms. Mandy Barnett, Director, South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI)

Brief look at South Africa’s AF portfolio, innovative aspects of project and gender-inclusive actions.

19:20-19:30 –  Ms. Gitika Goswami, Sr. Programme Director, Development Alternatives, AF NGO Network

Role of CSOs in AF projects, gender-inclusive adaptation responses and empowerment of youth; 227-member Network’s role in capturing lessons of effective AF projects, raising awareness and providing localized input.

19:30-20:00 –  QUESTIONS and ANSWERS