26 July 2017: Recent capacity-building initiatives contributed to the development of climate information services (CIS) and improved access to climate finance. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) designated its Regional Climate Center (RCC) for the Caribbean, while USAID conducted CIS trainings in Senegal. In other news, the Climate & Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) published a toolkit for accessing Green Climate Fund (GCF) funding, and the Nepalese Parliament pledged to help vulnerable communities access global climate funds.

The Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) received its official designation as the WMO RCC for the Caribbean, helping implement the UN-supported and WMO-led Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS). The GFCS recognizes that climate information and services are critical for improving livelihoods, especially in developing countries, small island developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Based in Barbados, CIMH is the first institution in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, and the first SIDS, to host an RCC. WMO-designated RCCs generate and deliver regionally-focused climate information and prediction products, along with training and capacity building services. [WMO Press Release] [CIMH Website]

Based in Barbados, CIMH is the first institution in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, and the first SIDS, to host an RCC.

The ‘Climate Information Service for Increasing Resilience and Productivity in Senegal’ project of the USAID mission in Senegal (USAID/CINSERE) conducted a number of intensive trainings on climate change and the role of CIS in different localities in the country from 20-22 June 2017. Held prior to the onset of the rainy season, the trainings aimed to optimize the efficient use of the diffused CIS. USAID-Senegal provides support to the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) to help develop a CIS provision and diffusion project in Senegal. [CCAFS Press Release]

The CDKN report titled, ‘Green Climate Fund Proposal Toolkit 2017: Toolkit to develop a project proposal for the GCF,’ provides step-by-step guidance to help governments and project developers to navigate the GCF’s requirements when developing funding proposals. [Green Climate Fund Proposal Toolkit 2017: Toolkit to Develop a Project Proposal for the GCF] [CDKN Press Release] [WeADAPT Press Release]

During a parliamentary exchange, organized with support from the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Parliament Support Project (PSP), parliamentarians in Nepal pledged to closely monitor the use of climate finance and to help improve the national system for accessing global funds available for communities vulnerable to climate change impacts. [UNDP Press Release] [UNDP PSP Webpage]