The AU-AIP Multi-country GCF Readiness Project aims to accelerate gender-responsive climate resilience investment in Africa, by advancing direct access and developing national investment programmes for climate-resilient water resources management. Central African Republic is one of the fifteen countries benefitting from the first phase of this program. The overall goal of the project is for all participating countries to have strengthened capacities for climate-resilient planning for the water sector specifically. Under the AU-AIP GCF Readiness project, CAR will update its water sector documents in relation to climate adaptation, boost climate finance access, and develop a Water Investment Programme.
The workshop brought together key stakeholders of the project Technical Committee, sectoral focal points, partner institutions, and technical and financial partners. Opening the workshop, Mr. Barnabé Falibaï, Chair of the GWP-CAR, highlighted the importance of the project for CAR. He was joined by Sarra Touzi, GWP Water and Climate expert, who highlighted the five strategic pillars of the project. The representative of the minister of environment, Mme. AMADOU Mariam, said, “this GCF financing will enable crucial actions not only in water management but also in climate change adaptation”.
Five technical sessions on climate-resilient water investment programs, project governance arrangements, and a preliminary situational analysis of the water sector in CAR were presented in the plenary session. Resource mobilization, private sector involvement, and broadening the engagement to sectors such as meteorology, urban planning, and SMEs were also discussed.
Among the key findings was the need for a paradigm shift in financing, away from a heavy emphasis on technical and financial partners to creating incentives for private sector investment in climate-resilient water systems. The situational analysis also identified priority areas of investment and stressed the alignment of projects with GCF eligibility.
In his closing speech, Mr. Falibaï thanked all participants and reaffirmed CAR's commitment to fostering climate-resilient development. The workshop marked a giant step towards increasing African countries' readiness to access and utilize the Green Climate Fund finance effectively.