BOGOTA – September 19, 2017 – GGGI Director-General, Frank Rijsberman, officially launched the 2017-2019 GGGI-Government of Colombia program in Bogota together with Johan Vibe, Norway Ambassador and Carlos Alberto Botero, Deputy-Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development. The reception, hosted by GGGI, held nearly 50 participants of other Embassies, cooperation agencies, government agencies, and NGOs.

The main objective of the program, that amounts to USD 3.2 million, is to support the government in its transition towards a greener growth path that is socially inclusive and contributes to the medium-term sustainable development agenda. The expected impact of the program is a greater capacity to mainstream green growth objectives into development planning and investment in priority sectors that are crucial to Colombia’s future green growth.

Carolina Jaramillo, GGGI-Colombia Country Representative highlighted the main outcomes, needed to achieve impact with the program adopting a multidimensional approach:

• Strengthening the institutional and policy framework at the national and subnational levels, promoting an environment conducive to investments in green growth and instruments to accelerate the transition in this direction.
• Increase investments in key projects to promote green growth through more efficient use of natural resources and protection of natural capital, particularly in areas with forest cover subject to significant transformation over the medium term. This second objective will also seek to integrate these goals of greenhouse gas mitigation and sustainable economic development with the implementation of post-conflict actions that seek to contribute to the construction of peace in prioritized territories.

Director General Frank Rijsberman, mentioned the importance of this partnership, that encourages collaboration between the Environment, Post-conflict, and Agricultural Ministries, the National Planning Department and local governments to accelerate Colombia´s transition to a greener and more inclusive pathway.

About GGGI

Based in Seoul, GGGI is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization founded to support and promote green growth. The organization partners with countries to help them build economies that grow strongly, are more efficient and sustainable in the use of natural resources, less carbon intensive, and more resilient to climate change. GGGI works with countries around the world, building their capacity and working collaboratively on green growth policies that can impact the lives of millions. To learn more about GGGI, see https://gggi.org and visit us on Facebook and Twitter.