Supporting the National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change
Project description
Title: Supporting the National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU)
Country: Mali
Lead executing agency: Ministère de l'Environnement, de l'Assainissement et du Développement Durable
Overall term: 2014 to 2019
Context
Like other countries in the Sahel, Mali is suffering from the impact of climate change. According to forecasts, temperatures will continue to rise and the amount of rainfall will become more variable in the future, and extreme weather events such as droughts and heavy rainfall will increase. The impact of climate change is particularly hard on the poorest population groups, who depend directly on natural resources as a basis for their livelihoods.
A detailed policy framework for adaptation to climate change has been established, but there has so far been little progress in implementing it. The local population is aware of the impact of climate change but has no access to climate information or knowledge of possible adaptation measures that would enable them to take better-informed decisions in the light of the actual situation.
Governance in Mali is weak at present. This is causing international donors to hold back from investing in the national fund that was set up specifically for action on climate change. In addition, available funding cannot be drawn down and does not reach the local municipalities and communities.
Objective
Vulnerable regions of Mali are more resilient to the impacts of climate change thanks to the formulation of innovative, integrated approaches to climate change adaptation and improved resources and capacities among the stakeholders.
Approach
The project is working to improve the effective dovetailing of the policy framework at national level with local planning and implementation of measures. National guidelines for planners, coupled with the integration of climate change impacts into environmental assessments, are laying the foundation for a more climate-friendly development.
The project also supports Mali in the key international processes within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, such as the implementation of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the national adaptation planning.
An important task of the project is to support decentralised authorities in the planning, implementation and control of adaptation measures. To broaden the impact of this, training is being provided for the advisory services at various ministries to enable them to advise the local population on adaptation measures.
The targets determined for adaptation and mitigation cannot be achieved without additional commitment on the part of the private sector. The implementation of pilot measures also demonstrates to other actors that successful action can be taken. Documenting lessons learned on the ground in the project and publishing these for a national, regional and international audience contributes to wide dissemination of the innovative approaches used.
Results
In 2015, Mali submitted its NDCs. At the end of 2016, it became one of the first countries to join the NDC Partnership, a global climate partnership launched by Morocco and Germany for supporting developing countries in particular, in implementing the Paris Agreement. The Government of Mali launched the process of national adaptation planning for climate change in 2016 and adopted a roadmap for its implementation.
New laws and guidelines for Strategic Environmental Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment, and the Environmental Audit were adopted in December 2018. Employees in the relevant authorities have received training in these areas.
In the regions of Kayes, Koulikoro and Ségou, adaptation to climate change has now been integrated into the strategic regional development plans.
In 20 communities in the regions of Koulikoro and Ségou, adaptation to climate change has been integrated into the development plans, and the implementation of key measures is currently supported.
The investment plan for the Mali Climate Fund was adopted in October 2018 by the Steering Committee of the fund.
Fifteen trainers have been trained for carrying out vulnerability analyses of companies in the field of renewable energy in agriculture. The first analyses have already been carried out.