Angola Secures First Single-Country Project Funded by the Green Climate Fund

During the 40th session of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board meeting held on October 22, 2024, a landmark decision was made to approve Angola’s first single-country funded project under the Green Climate Fund. This project, named "CREW Angola: Empowering Women Groups to Build Resilience to Climate Impacts in the Province of Cunene in Southwest Angola," will receive a global funding of approximately 10 million dollars for a period of five years.

The CREW Angola project, implemented by the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) as the Regional Accredited Entity to the Fund, will be executed in partnership with ADPP Angola and the Ministry of Environment of Angola. The initiative will directly benefit 120,000 people and indirectly benefit an additional 180,000, with a significant focus on empowering women. Sixty percent of the beneficiaries will be women, aligning with the project’s gender-transformative approach.

The CREW project’s overarching goal is to build climate resilience in targeted rural communities across all six municipalities in Cunene, one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change impacts. In addition to addressing key sectors such as agriculture, environment, water, and nutrition, the project will integrate critical enabling factors such as financial literacy, education, and the promotion of improved farming technologies. By focusing on these areas, the project aims to sustainably improve the living conditions of local populations while ensuring women’s empowerment remains central to its efforts.

One of the project’s core pillars is its gender-transformative approach. Women in Cunene, who are disproportionately affected by climate change, will be equipped with tools to not only improve their livelihoods but to also take leadership roles in the fight against climate change. By strengthening financial literacy and promoting agricultural and technological skills, the CREW Angola project will ensure women’s voices are at the forefront of climate resilience initiatives.

The project is set to officially launch in the first quarter of 2025, marking an important step forward for climate resilience and women’s empowerment in Angola. This initiative is also a testament to the growing partnership between Angola and international climate funding mechanisms like the Green Climate Fund, as well as the Sahara and Sahel Observatory’s commitment to fostering sustainable development in climate-vulnerable regions.

The CREW Angola project is expected to serve as a model for other climate-resilience projects in Africa, particularly those that prioritize vulnerable communities and focus on gender equity. It stands as a vital step towards building a sustainable and inclusive future for the people of Cunene and Angola as a whole.