Agricultural Bank of Niger Becomes 27th National Implementing Entity of Adaptation Fund’s Pioneering Direct Access Modality

First Accreditation to Result from Adaptation Fund South-to-South Grant Programme, with Peer Support Provided to Niger from Senegal

Bonn, Germany (November 10, 2017) — In a decision that enhances access to climate finance for one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change, the Adaptation Fund Board accredited the Agricultural Bank of Niger (Banque Agricole du Niger, or BAGRI in French) as the 27th National Implementing Entity (NIE) under its pioneering Direct Access modality.

“We are honored to integrate into the large and beautiful Adaptation Fund family and we will spare no effort to honor the trust placed in us by the State of Niger and the Adaptation Fund Board,” said Abdoulaye Djadah, General Manager of BAGRI.

Direct Access empowers developing countries to design adaptation projects and access funds directly while building their own capacities to adapt to climate change through accredited NIEs.

The November 9 decision was the culmination of an application process in which the Agricultural Bank of Niger strengthened its policies and organizational capacity to effectively respond to the adaptation needs of vulnerable communities in Niger.

A landlocked country hampered by vast desert and severely threatened by drought and food insecurity, Niger is particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change and will benefit greatly from the accreditation of BAGRI – which is now eligible to develop and manage Adaptation Fund projects in the country. BAGRI has a history of focusing on the agricultural sector, utilizing financial, social and development objectives to fight food insecurity.

It is also marks the first accreditation to result from the Adaptation Fund’s South-to-South Grant Programme, which provides opportunities for developing countries seeking accreditation to receive peer support through the application process from an NIE that is already accredited with the Fund. In this case, the Centre de Suivi Ecologique (CSE) of Senegal – which was accredited as the Fund’s first NIE in 2010 and has since developed two coastal zone management projects in Senegal funded by the Adaptation Fund – provided peer support to BAGRI through a nearly US $50,000 south-to-south grant from the Fund.

This innovative support can greatly help developing countries navigate the accreditation process through exchange of experiences and knowledge, as well as potentially shorten the process and help build national capacity and sustainability for both applicant and peer.

CSE Director General Dr. Assize Toure expressed his congratulations to BAGRI, and gratitude to the Adaptation Fund for making CSE’s support to Niger possible through the grant. He also thanked National Designated Authority (NDA) of Niger Dr. Kamaye Maazou for entrusting CSE with the important challenge of supporting Niger’s accreditation process.

“The [Adaptation Fund’s] readiness programme has been a golden opportunity to demonstrate that Direct Access can be successful, and that it can be further extended through South-south collaboration,” said CSE Coordinator Déthié Soumaré Ndiaye. “It has been an exciting process through which CSE not only provided technical assistance to the NDA of Niger and to BAGRI, but also learned a lot from them. This marks a key turning point in African countries’ efforts to better access climate finance. It shows to countries that national institutions can be successful and provide them with an additional channel to access climate finance directly and take ownership of project implementation.”

CSE went beyond the call of duty, continuing to provide Niger with support even after grant funds were exhausted on related expenses.

“We are very pleased with this result. It reflects the dedication of BAGRI, CSE and the Adaptation Fund coming together to enhance adaptation capacity in the region, and are especially thrilled that this will open doors to climate finance for the most vulnerable communities in Niger to adapt and build resilience to climate change,” said Michael Kracht, Chair of the Adaptation Fund Board.

ABOUT the ADAPTATION FUND

Since 2010, the Adaptation Fund has committed US$ 462 million to support 73 countries, with almost 5.5 million direct beneficiaries.

Communications: Matthew Pueschel, mpueschel@adaptation-fund.org or +1-202-473-6743

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