As part of Africa Climate Week 2019, the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) organized its annual forum for Nationally Designated Entities (NDEs) from the region. The forum brought together NDEs, Nationally Designated Authorities to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), CTCN Network members, representatives of financial institutions and other government officials.
“Africa needs technologies to realize true transformation in our economies while avoiding the impacts of climate change. Our poverty gap is a technology gap”, said Mr. Ebenezer Appah Sampong, the Acting Executive Director of the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency, who opened the meeting on behalf of the government.
The main objectives of the forum were to present the latest developments in CTCN services; share national and regional experiences and best practices from CTCN technical assistance in the region; and strengthen linkages between CTCN support and other support mechanisms available under the UNFCCC to help countries achieve their Nationally Determined Contributions. For example, focal points from Algeria, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda and Zimbabwe presented success stories from the region.
"It is very important to have a dialogue and share our experiences, this can help us to find the best solutions", said the National Designated Entity of Mali, Mr. Birama Diarra.
The Africa Climate Week is a unique initiative aiming to raise awareness and support for developing countries at the regional level to achieve global climate neutrality by mid-century, as enshrined in the Paris Agreement. Over 2,500 delegates have gathered in Accra, Ghana, for this purpose. Ministers, policymakers, and non-Party stakeholders — from businesses to NGOs and from financial institutions to cities and academia —discussed ways to advance climate action.