United Kingdom (Commonwealth Union)_ The International Climate Initiative (IKI) of Germany, known as the Internationale Klimaschutzinitiative, has recently granted approval for two transformative projects aimed at addressing climate change in Zambia and Namibia with a strong focus on empowering the youth. These initiatives represent an extraordinary demonstration of collaboration and commitment to empowering Africa’s future, with the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub contributing significantly to the development of both.
The first project, called the Zambia Education Programme for Climate Action (ZEPCA), is headed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The goal of ZEPCA is to establish a climate education program to empower citizens and garner support for achieving Zambia’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement. The project has received a substantial IKI Medium Grant of US$19,097,246, which will be utilized to develop tailored educational materials, improve institutional and human capacity for a green transition, and enhance non-formal education through clubs and civil society organizations. The project also incorporates GIS-based monitoring and a replicable behavioral science approach to address climate challenges not only in Zambia but also beyond its borders.
Dr. Othniel Yila, the Commonwealth National Climate Finance Adviser (CNCFA) for Zambia, played a significant role in the project’s development and proposal submission. He highlighted that ZEPCA has the potential to enhance Zambia’s capacity to address climate change effectively by supporting climate-smart agriculture, promoting sustainable forest and land management, adopting renewable energy sources, and following sustainable food and energy consumption behaviors, all of which are crucial for achieving Zambia’s NDC targets.
The second initiative, named “Locally Manufactured e-Bikes with Rental System for Peri-Urban Communities in Namibia,” has been valued at US$78,186. The funding for this IKI Small Grants project was granted to the social enterprise, Suncycles Electrics Namibia (EBIKES4AFRICA). The objective of this project is to launch solar-powered e-bikes and e-cargo bikes to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector. It also involves training young people to establish hubs and manufacture 24 e-bikes, thereby providing sustainable transport solutions to impoverished communities.
From its inception, the project was designed with a focus on engaging and empowering the youth, with the help of the efforts of Carol Mwape, the former Commonwealth National Climate Finance Adviser for Namibia, who encouraged young people to participate in the early stages. Mwape stressed that the project not only facilitates local production of e-bikes but also equips youth from local universities with technical and entrepreneurial skills, creating awareness of green job opportunities in the context of climate change. She stated, “The project will not only enable local manufacturing of e-bikes but will empower youth from local universities with technical and entrepreneurial skills that will create an awareness of green jobs in climate change circles.”
Unnikrishnan Nair, the Head of Climate Change at the Commonwealth Secretariat, lauded the commitment of the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH) to integrating youth perspectives and actively involving them in driving accelerated climate action. He also emphasized the Secretariat’s unwavering support for the Commonwealth Year of Youth. He said, “The increasing contribution of the Commonwealth Climate Change Program towards supporting member countries to adapt and mitigate climate change also demonstrates the Secretariat’s unwavering support for the Commonwealth Year of Youth.”
The Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub at present comprises 12 Commonwealth National Climate Finance Advisers working in different countries. As of June 2023, it has assisted countries in mobilizing a total of US$276.21 million in climate finance, which includes US$2.9 million in co-financing for 73 projects. This highlights the significant contributions and impact of the CCFAH in supporting member countries to adapt and mitigate climate change challenges.
