The UNDP-hosted Center will focus on initiatives linked to climate action (SDG 13), climate-smart agriculture (SDG 2), access to water (SDG 6), clean energy generation (SDG 7), and gender equality (SDG 5).
The Center will support African countries in accessing international funds for initiatives linked to its focal areas.
28 January 2019: The UN Development Programme (UNDP), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the Government of Italy have launched the ‘Africa Centre for Climate and Sustainable Development’ to help African countries access resources that support policies, initiatives, and best practices on climate change, food security, water access, and clean energy, and accelerate progress on the SDGs on the continent.
The Center, to be hosted by UNDP, is a response to a declaration endorsed by the G7 Meeting of the Environment Ministers in 2017, which recognized the need for a hub for the promotion of sustainable development in Africa, with a focus on initiatives linked to climate action (SDG 13), climate-smart agriculture (CSA) (SDG 2), access to water (SDG 6), clean energy generation (SDG 7), and gender equality (SDG 5).
The Center has identified its “core functions” as supporting African countries in accessing international funds for initiatives linked to its focal areas, identifying and evaluating projects, and enhancing the involvement of resources from the private sector in programmes.
Speaking at the launch, Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator, identified Africa as “a continent of many opportunities.” “With its youthful population and numerous natural resources, the next frontier of development is certainly on this continent,” he said.
The Government of Italy has set up a trust fund for the Center. [UNDP Press Release] [FAO Press Release]