Belgium funds for Mozambique and Uganda bring LoCAL total mobilisation to US$ 125M
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Belgium showed support for locally led adaptation with new financial commitments worth close to US$ 13 million announced at COP26. The funds are to be distributed to Mozambique for national roll out of the LoCAL Facility and to Uganda, where LoCAL projects are currently in the design phase. The new commitments bring the total funds mobilised by the LoCAL Facility to date to US $125 millon.
At a special ceremony on the LLA Hub at COP26, Hon. Meryame Kitir, Minister of Development Cooperation in Belgium exchanged commitment letters with Hon. Albertina MacDonald, High Commissioner to the UK, Mozambique, to fund national roll out of LoCAL in that country with a commitment of 4.5 million euros.
At the same evening event on Monday, Ms Kitir, on behalf of the Government of Belgium made a commitment to fund the launch of LoCAL project activities in Uganda worth 6.5 million. This action follows funding from the European Union and Sweden, in the spirit of a Team Europe initiative.
“Addressing climate change is not only a matter for government, it is for each and every one of us to take action. We can act and transform climate change into a real opportunity - only by working together,” said Ms Kitir as she noted that Belgium would be significantly increasing its commitment to climate finance to 112.5 million euro by next year, mainly focusing on adaptation in Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
LoCAL is an internationally recognised mechanism for channelling climate finance to the local level, operating through country systems across Africa, Asia, the Pacific and Caribbean. Some 27 of the world’s most climate-impacted countries are implementing or designing their LoCAL actions, with 22 of these countries classed as LDCs. Over 11.5 million people have benefitted from LoCAL adaptation actions with the potential to reach 500 million people with nation-wide implementation in existing LoCAL countries. To date, with commitments from Belgium, LoCAL has mobilised over US$ 125 million for locally led adaptation.
At a special ceremony on the LLA Hub at COP26, Hon. Meryame Kitir, Minister of Development Cooperation in Belgium exchanged signed papers with Hon. Albertina MacDonald, High Commissioner to the UK, Mozambique, symbolically sealing a recent agreement to fund national roll out of LoCAL in that country with a commitment of 4.5 million euros.
“Addressing climate change is not only a matter for government, it is for each and every one of us to take action. We can act and transform climate change into a real opportunity - only by working together,” said Ms Kitir
“We would like to thank the Government of Belgium for their support that will enable us to roll out LoCAL over the coming three years and we are committed to do more so that the LoCAL mechanism can be consolidated and we can do more for our country,” said Hon. Beatrice Anywar Atim, Minister of State for Environment, Uganda.
“Communities must be at the core of our work and resources need to be accessible and reach the local level in a systematic sizable and sustainable manner,” she added..
Mozambique, which has suffered severe and devastating climate change related cyclones in recent years, said that while climate change had negated some of the country’s recent economic gains they remained committed to building long-term resilience.
“In Mozambique we are doing our part,” said Ms MacDonald representing the government of Mozambique. “We are working to be resilient. This resilience is what makes development sustainable, we believe, and we aim to realise our commitments to the Paris Agreement by putting communities and local governments at the centre of it.”
Climate finance is one of the hot topics at COP26 where negotiations are ongoing. Representatives of developing and LDCs are asking for more finance for adaptation and resilience building. While public declarations of support have been welcomed, some meeting insiders are concerned that the grand-standing is not being met with concrete deals for action behind closed doors.
COP26 is ongoing through Friday 12th November.
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