The Eswatini Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness Project was aimed at strengthening the NDA’s institutional and technical capacity to mobilise gender-responsive climate finance for Eswatini. It was initiated in June 2022 and run up to December 2023.
The direct beneficiaries were the Climate Change Focal Point/NDA (the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, and the National Climate Change Committee), the sectoral ministries that are most vulnerable to climate change (water, agriculture, health, mining, energy, tourism, wildlife), and non-state actors, including the private sector, that have a role in climate change actions in water-related areas and the Gender Coordination Unit at the Deputy Prime Minister’s office.
Eswatini has been experiencing the impacts of climate change. Increasing recurrence and magnitude of droughts, increases in flash flooding resulting in landslides and accelerated erosion, and changes in rainfall patterns are some of the impacts. These impacts are affecting the people of Eswatini by increasing food insecurity and poverty levels and affecting the supply of water and energy. The frequency and intensity of extreme climate events is expected to rise, posing significant risks to Eswatini’s economy, its people’s livelihoods, and the sustainability of its natural resources base.
Water is the main channel through which Eswatini’s people, environment, and overall development processes experience the impacts of climate change – hence the need for investments in water-related projects for building climate resilience in the country.
To address these challenges, the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs (MTEA) and the Global Water Partnership (GWP) as the implementing partner through this readiness project implemented the project to strengthen the capacity of institutions for prioritising and developing project ideas and concept notes to access climate finance. This enabled Eswatini to systematically advance the preparation of bankable investment funding proposals that support the country in building a climate-resilient and green economy with a focus on the water sector. Importantly, by introducing gender-mainstreaming for climate action at the national policy level, this readiness project introduced a paradigm shift towards more equal climate resilience planning and programming, thereby contributing to sustained resilience in Eswatini’s populations, the ecosystems that their livelihoods depend upon, and the country’s overall economy.
Key Outcomes of the Project
- Capacities of the Climate NDA (MTEA) enhanced: this was achieved through the development of a private sector engagement strategy that ensures that the role of the private sector in building climate resilient and low-emission economy in Eswatini is well considered. In addition to this, a gender action framework was developed to enable the NDA in making sure that climate finance investments are inclusive and contribute to addressing gender inequalities in the country.
- Areas for water-related climate investment prioritised: a financing strategy and implementation roadmap was developed for climate technologies that contribute to water use efficiency and build climate resilience in Eswatini.
- 3 high-quality water-related concept notes developed and submitted to GCF.
- Knowledge management and sharing experience mechanism strengthened: this was achieved through the preparation of project development guidance notes that capture best practices and lessons.
For an overview of the Eswatini Green Climate Fund Project, please watch this video:
For further deliberations from Eswatini on financing for water-related climate technology, please watch this video:
