Buchanan, Grand Bassa – The Environmental Protection Agency-EPA along with the United Nations Development Program-UNDP, the European Union-EU, Conservation International-CI and the Nationally Determined Contributions-NDC Partnerships last week conducted a two-day training for national experts on the different processes and strategies on the submission of budget allotment for unconditional NDC commitments.
Giving an overview of the NDC, the Coordinator of all NDC related activities in the country, John F. Kannah highlighted that Liberia is in the final stages of NDC Revision and has been holding a number ‘of significant’ workshops/training to gather the most needed inputs across the country from all sectors, Civil society, Government Agencies, the private sectors among others.
Kannah added that Liberia initiated a process for reviewing its NDC to prepare and communicate an updated version to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change-UNFCCC secretariat.
He, however, stressed the need for multi-sectoral and transdisciplinary collaborations to help strengthen NDC revision for more and an all-inclusive climate mitigation actions by integration of all data, views, inputs, and technical ideas.
“In these final stages, there is an opportunity to update all sectors from agriculture, coastal zone, energy, fisheries, forestry, health, green corridors, SLCPs, transport & infrastructure and wastes with inputs from CSOs/NGOs coalition, youth and gender groups, academia and other national experts for increased resilience of,” he stressed.
Giving remarks, the Team Leader of the LTTA-EU supports the EPA in Energy, Waste and Transport at the European Union, Manuel A. Fuentes, emphasized that it is clear that Liberia’s contribution to climate change is somehow still little.
“Because you signed onto the Paris Agreement, it is bounding on you to make the contributions. This training
very important because it will establish the baseline for those playing technical roles in helping to stop emissions,” stated Mr. Fuentes.
Meanwhile, the objective of the training was to discuss all NDC sectors including the Natural Capital Accounting (NCA) analysis, and the NDC Costing Cost-Benefit Analysis and Financial strategy. It is further envisioned to recommend updated climate mitigation and adaptation targets, policies, and measures for all existing and new NDC sectors, as well as economy-wide targets and measures as appropriate, in order to ensure a cohesive and multidisciplinary vision towards the final NDC revision document for Liberia’s climate action amongst others.
Representing the former UN Focal point of the National Medium Term Expenditure Budgeting at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, J. Barchue Wellington reaffirmed the commitment of the Ministry of Financing in supporting the revision process of the NDC that is at its final stages.
“You can count on us and we will always be prepared to listen to you and make our contributions giving available resources in ensuring that we achieve the objectives of our NDC,” he affirmed.
Also speaking, the Country Director of CI, Peter G. Mulbah stressed that having a financial plan strategy will help Liberia as a country to implement the NDC at the same time helping development partners to have quick access to information for the raising of funds.
“Liberia being a least developed country, we as international organization in country are obligated or called to solicit resources to support the government initiative; of course everything cannot come from donor, some will be in the national budget but the two can complement in making sure we achieve,” averred Mr. Mulbah.
The event brought together several participant who were mainly technicians (planning, technical experts, budgeting, and monitoring and evaluation officers) from all sectors of government Ministries and Agencies, CSOs, NGOs, the private sector (inclusive of coastal and zonal companies), women groups, youth, and new sectors of national importance.
The overall goal of the training was to strengthen information dissemination on climate change and mitigation actions about the NDC revision process and ensure that all sectors are on board for collective actions programs and implementation.
Also, the major expected output is expected to be a draft document outlining transdisciplinary views and concerns by all sectors for a final joint draft paper for inclusion to the NDC Revision process.