The Republic of Moldova could benefit from new opportunities to finance projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, for climate change mitigation and increase resilience through adaptation. The support could be provided by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the world's largest fund that supports developing countries in climate change adaptation and mitigation practices. To this end, the central authorities have organized an inter-ministerial consultation, in Chisinau, to promote engagement with GCF, discuss its funding priorities, to identify the country's objectives in obtaining financial sources and to determine the responsibilities and main actions of the stakeholders in engaging with GCF. The event was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment (GCF National Designated Authority) with the support of the Climate Change Office, within the project "Support to Republic of Moldova in establishment and strengthening the National Designated Authorities, development of strategic framework, and preparation of country programme " financed by the Green Climate Fund through Readiness Window.
At the beginning of the event, the head of the Soil and Subsoil Protection Service Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment, Mr. Victor Găluşcă, said that the Ministry will provide the necessary support to develop the knowledge and to obtain the necessary experience for our country to efficiently engage with GCF in order to benefit of a higher number of projects financed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
"The capacity building of the MARDE /NDA will allow effective communication with the GCF Secretariat, including effective management of the GCF's operational process, as well as the elaboration of the strategic framework of our country that will facilitate access to the Fund's financial resources. Developing a Country Program in the area of climate change adaptation and mitigation is now the first upmost priority step to get funds. All institutions managing climate change affected areas will be involved in the process, to promote new funding opportunities and to make cooperation and collaboration more effective in developing the Country Program and build up a pipeline of project proposals "said Victor Găluşcă.
In the context of potential beneficiaries' access to available financial sources from the GCF, Vasile Scorpan, the Project Manager (Climate Change Office Manager), said that only accredited institutions can access the funding.
" Agencies that want to benefit from funds for climate change mitigation and adaptation projects from the GCF must meet Fund's accreditation requirements. In our country, the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment is the National Designated Authority for the GCF, an institution responsible for establishing, at national level, a strategic framework to engage with GCF in the area of mitigation and adaptation, contribute to the development of structured dialog with national stakeholders and GCF, involving public authorities, private and non-governmental sectors. GCF is available to offer Projects of various sizes and categories, depending on the country's needs starting with several thousand USD and going to hundreds of millions of USD. To obtain financial support under the Fund, the country must demonstrate that it has the capacities to develop, promote and implement such projects. After two years of consultations and training, we hope that the NDA of the Republic of Moldova will have such capacity ", underlined Vasile Scorpan, the Climate Change Office manager.
In turn, Ala Druţă, the team leader of the project "Support to Republic of Moldova in establishment and strengthening the National Designated Authorities, development of strategic framework, and preparation of country programme ", talked about access to Fund resources and types of eligible projects.
"Micro, small, medium and large projects will be funded. GCF applies a variety of financial instruments grants, loans, equities or guarantees. In order to be eligible, the Projects have to meet national mitigation and adaptation priorities and show climate additionality, which means he projects must contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increase country's resilience via adaptation. The total amount that the Republic of Moldova can benefit from the GCF is not limited, but the country must have the capacity to implement such projects, "Ala Druţă said.
It should be noted that the Green Climate Fund is a multilateral fund established by industrialized countries that are parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The Fund's activity is to support the effort of the countries to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius by providing financial support to developing countries in order to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to climate change. Through this support, our country could achieve its climate change mitigation and adaptation goals.
The inter-ministerial consultation meeting was attended by experts from the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment, national consultants in the field of climate change adaptation and mitigation, as well as representatives of the Climate Change Office.
The 30st of March 2018
Media Information and communication service, Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment
