Asmara, September 15 to 18, 2025
Eritrea has taken a significant step in advancing its climate agenda with the official launch of the Readiness Eritrea project in Asmara. As a member country of the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS), Eritrea also strengthens its collaboration with the organization in pursuing its climate commitments. A training workshop brought together more than thirty experts representing various ministries and national institutions. Together, they shared a common goal: to better understand climate change, its impacts, and above all, to learn how to access international financing, particularly from the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
This workshop marks a crucial first step. It is not only about strengthening the knowledge of national stakeholders, particularly the NDA, on the financial mechanisms available, but also about equipping them with concrete tools to develop strong projects aligned with the GCF’s criteria. Participants were introduced to the scientific basics of climate change, the GCF’s rules and key policies, as well as practical tools such as the theory of change and the climate rationale, both essential to designing bankable projects.
Beyond technical presentations, the meeting also offered an opportunity for exchange and collective learning. Representatives from ministries such as Agriculture, Marine Resources, Energy and Mines, Health, and Transport, along with organizations such as the National Union of Eritrean Women and the National Union of Youth and Students, worked side by side. This diversity of actors enriched the discussions and strengthened the spirit of collaboration around a common challenge: enabling Eritrea to better mobilize climate finance in order to implement its agenda and national priorities.
The workshop was also an opportunity for the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS), the project’s delivery partner, to share its experience in supporting African countries in their engagement with the GCF. OSS experts recalled the concrete objectives of this project: to develop a country programme for the GCF, to prepare and submit two high-quality concept notes, and to identify national entities capable of directly accessing the funds.
By bringing together so many national stakeholders around the same table, this training opens new perspectives. It demonstrates that Eritrea has strong human and institutional potential to take on the challenge of climate change. Beyond the skills acquired, a dynamic of trust and cooperation is taking shape, paving the way for promising progress in the implementation of the country’s climate agenda and in its access to critical financing for resilience and sustainable development.