Enhancing direct access for localized adaptation in Africa: A milestone workshop, Nairobi, Kenya, December 4-5, 2024

Enhancing direct access for locally led adaptation in Africa: A milestone workshop, Nairobi, Kenya, 4-5 December, 2024
The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), in partnership with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Adaptation Fund (AF), recently organized a two-day workshop aimed at enhancing Enhanced Direct Access (EDA) modalities to support localized adaptation initiatives in Africa. By bringing together experts, practitioners, and representatives from various African countries, the event laid the foundation for greater community participation in addressing the impacts of climate change.

The AF holds the distinction of being the first climate fund under the UN Climate Convention to fully operationalize Direct Access (DA) to climate finance. Towards enhancement, EDA, introduced by the GCF in 2015 and further strengthened by the AF in 2020, decentralizes decision-making regarding climate finance through nationally led funds. This innovative approach facilitates a more tailored response to the specific needs of local communities. The workshop addressed challenges such as intricate project submission processes and highlighted opportunities for integrating local governance into adaptation strategies.

Key presentations showcased impactful projects from Indonesia and South Africa, led by experts like Anju Sharma from the GCA and Benito Müller from Oxford Climate Policy. Steve Muhanji, representing the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS), unwrapped Angola’s CREW initiative, the inaugural GCF-funded project in Angola. This initiative focuses on empowering women to build resilience against the impacts of climate change. Regional case studies, such as Kenya’s FLoCCA program and Angola’s CREW initiative, provided valuable insights into successful locally led adaptation models.

The workshop concluded with bold recommendations, including simplifying funding processes, bolstering national capacity, and engaging Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and marginalized groups in adaptation projects. Institutionalizing localized approaches within national policies was also deemed crucial.

The findings will be shared with prominent climate funds and governments to promote the broader adoption of EDA. Follow-up sessions are planned to monitor progress and refine strategies, ensuring inclusive and sustainable adaptation efforts.