admin
By Ange de la Victoire DUSABEMUNGU
The Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) and AKADEMIYA2063 have launched on Thursday, 12th January 2023, a panafrican partnership initiative that will support Rwanda and other African Countries in meeting their commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change.
TOP AFRICA NEWS Media has learnt that the project will provide technical expertise to Rwanda throughout the implementation of the Country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Nationally Adaptation Plans (NAPs).
Funded by the United States International Development Agency (USAID) and implemented in partnership with the AU, Michigan State University, AKADEMIYA2063, and the African Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ANAPRI, formerly ReNAPRI), the Comprehensive Africa Climate Change Initiative (CACCI) which was launched in Kigali will provide the capacity and expertise to develop the measurement, reporting, and verification mechanisms (MRV) for targeted countries.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Ousmane Badiane, AKADEMIYA2063 Executive Chairperson explained that “The collaboration that we are here to launch today with REMA and that we’re very proud of is the entry point to develop partnerships, and the collaborative work streams with the broader community of experts in Rwanda.”
AKADEMIYA2063 is an African-based non-profit research organization with headquarters in Kigali, Rwanda and a regional office in Dakar, Senegal. Its mission is to provide data, policy analysis, and capacity-strengthening support to enable African countries to achieve the African Union’s Agenda 2063 goals of inclusive and sustainable development and economic prosperity.
“In line with our own vision, which is to create a mobilized expertise across Africa to meet the data in analytical needs for better outcomes for the realization of their ambitions and vision, we intend to work hand in hand with our partners, program and others in Rwanda, to provide the necessary evidence to increase the efficiency of government agencies and others who are trying to find a way of adapting and dealing with climate change.” Dr. Ousmane Badiane said.
From this launch of CACCI Project, Dr. Ousmane Badiane added that “The time has come for African organizations to harness emerging technologies, to develop expertise, not just to apply best practice from the globe, but also to live and innovate.”
Commenting on the initiative, Faustin Munyazikwiye, the Deputy Director General of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) said that “this Comprehensive Africa Climate Change Initiative is a project that we expect to contribute to ongoing interventions aimed at strengthening technical expertise and institutional capacities for the effective implementation of National Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans in line with the Paris Agreement.”
He reminded that in 2020, Rwanda submitted the Nationally Determined Contributions which has an overall target of reducing 38% of emissions compared to the business as usual scenario by 2030.
However, he adds, “to be able to achieve this ambitious target, capacity is needed, and also financial support is needed.”
Munyazikwiye noted that “In order to participate effectively in NDC implementation from various sectors which are contributing to NDC be it agriculture sector and others, It is paramount we to track progress and reporting.”
He added that Rwanda measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) requires mobilization of stakeholders and capacity building on data collection and computation.
“So, as you all know, implementing our contribution is one thing. But gathering data to justify and track the progress is very important… So, collecting data, processing data and reporting the progress will help us to inform decision makers so that we can take the route which is sure to make us reach our destination.” He said.
“The need to build the capacity and need for disaggregated and predictive evidence to support response measures cannot be over emphasized.” He added.
Munyazikwiye explained that “The partnership between REMA and AKADEMIYA2063 is a major step in the right direction. As Dr. Osman highlighted, this is just an Entry point. But we want to make this journey, a journey which will help us to achieve for this nation as I said, capacity building and fund mobilization.”
“We need the technical know-how. But also we need committed people from different angles, from government, from civil society, from private sector, so that we can move together on the same page. The CACCI project to focus on strengthening technical expertise and institutional capacities for climate data and analytics and infrastructures is timely launched and presents a great opportunity to complement the national efforts in climate change adaptation and mitigation, as well as mobilizing climate finance.” Munyazikwiye added.
According to Dr. Getaw Tadesse, AKADEMIYA2063 Director of Operational Support “The initial CACCI will be implemented in four selected countries in Africa, namely Rwanda, Senegal, Ghana, and Zambia.”
“So, AKADEMIYA2063 will be coordinating the project in Rwanda and Senegal. ANAPRI formerly ReNAPRI will be coordinating for Ghana and Zambia.” he added.
“So the whole idea is for the coming five years, we want to cover 25 countries in Africa as a whole. And depending on how successful we are in Rwanda and Senegal, this will be the proof of an approach to expand. And as I said before, we want to make it local or country specific interventions. And we want to support the local initiatives, and through data and analytics” Dr. Getaw Tadesse explained.
