ZAMBIA RECEIVES USD 2.1 MILLION GRANT FROM THE GREEN CLIMATE FUND (GCF) FOR ITS NATIONAL ADAPATION PLAN (NAP)

Government of the Republic of Zambia
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: ZAMBIA RECEIVES USD 2.1 MILLION GRANT FROM THE GREEN CLIMATE FUND (GCF) FOR ITS NATIONAL ADAPATION PLAN (NAP)
Lusaka, Zambia, Monday 20TH April 2020 — The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has awarded the Government Of the Republic of Zambia a Grant Of USD 2,184,355 for the development Of a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) for Climate Resilience.
The Grant will enable the Government to formulate a medium to long-term climate adaptation plan, which will strengthen systems for integrating climate change adaptation into development planning and budget processes. The NAP will also facilitate the development of prioritized adaptation actions with financing strategies. This will enable Zambia to systematically advance the implementation of priority adaptation actions, contributing to the implementation of its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and the achievement of climate change goals under the 7th National Development Plan”. Gender will be an integral dimension in the NAP process, as guided by Zambia’s 2017 Climate Change Gender Action Plan ccGaP.
The Project will be implemented through the Ministry Of Lands and Natural Resources, with Global Water Partnership (GWP) of South Africa as a Delivery Partner which will provide technical support to the Zambian Government. GWP was equally instrumental during the proposal preparation stage and contributed immensely to ensuring that Zambia secures this support.
The funding is great news for the country as it comes at a time when the country is experiencing unpreceded climate risks with droughts having recently devastated parts of the country, while more recently, floods destroyed roads, bridges and other public infrastructure in the midst of the unprecedented global COVID-19 crisis. The funding will assist Zambia not only to develop a national climate change adaptation plan but also develop a comprehensive resource mobilization strategy for implementing the country’s climate commitments.
The resource mobilisation strategy will assist Zambia to mobilise the $50 billion required to implement the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), and contribute to low carbon and climate resilient economy by 2030.
The GCF Grant for Zambia’s NAP is part of the GCF Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme (the Readiness Programme), which supports country-driven initiatives by developing countries to strengthen their institutional capacities, governance mechanisms, and planning and programming frameworks towards a transformational long-term climate action agenda.
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Government of the Republic of Zambia
The preparation of this project required an effective collaboration between the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (the Focal Point for Climate Change), the Ministry of National Development Planning (the National Designated Authority for the GCF) and the GWP (the Delivery Partner).
Zambia’s NAP process, which will be coordinated by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, will be implemented in two phases. The first phase will focus on developing the overarching National NAP while a Water Sector NAP will be developed in Phase two.
Phase I will focus on building the capacity of key actors, providing clarity and coherence in the existing institutional structure, as well as strengthening the necessary national-level coordination mechanisms to enable a holistic approach to national adaptation planning, resource mobilization and implementation of adaptation activities. Phase 2, on the other hand, will focus on developing the Water Sector NAP, which will serve as an important pathway for building resilience and strengthening synergies with the water-sensitive sectoral plans in Zambia, such as health and agriculture.
Zambia is characterized by high climate variability, with frequent droughts, seasonal and flash floods, extreme temperatures and dry spells, all of which are expected to intensify with climate change. This rise will pose significant risks to Zambia’s economy, its people’s livelihoods, and the sustainability of its natural resources base. Zambia, therefore, considers building climate resilience as critical for inclusive and sustainable development.
On behalf of the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Hon. Jean Kapata, MP and indeed on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Zambia, I would like to thank the Green Climate Fund for this support to Zambia. I would also like to thank Global Water Partnership for the technical support and backstopping. Lastly, I wish to thank all those who were involved in this process and we are looking forward to a further strengthened collaboration for the effective implementation of the project.

Ndashe L. Yumba
PERMANENT SECRETARY
MINISTRY OF LANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCES
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