Koudougou, Burkina Faso –  On June 17 -24, GGGI in collaboration with the Green Climate Fund National Designated Authority organized consultation to raise national stakeholders’ awareness on climate finance opportunities, facilitate the ownership of the accreditation process of direct access entities to the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

These sessions were held within the framework of the implementation of the Readiness preparatory program “Support for accreditation of direct access entities, pipeline development and private sector mobilization in Burkina Faso” implemented by GGGI and financed by GCF.

During these national consultations, a diverse audience contributed to the discussions following the communications provided by NDA and GGGI teams. The attendees were composed of Parliamentarians, Government officials, Government Institutions, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Private Sector, Non-Government Organizations, as well as Academics and Research institutions.

Communications provided to the participants covered the following topics:

• Some concepts on climate change (definitions, GHG, challenges…);
• Adaptation and mitigation planning in Burkina Faso (UNFCCC, Paris Agreement, NDC, NAP etc.);
• Climate Finance (definition, main instruments, …);
• General information on the Green Climate Fund: Impact areas and investment criteria;
• Role of actors in the mobilization of climate finance (choosing the right partner, Focus on the role of the DNA & Importance of accreditation);
• Direct Access Entity accreditation process : Role of GGGI, Fonds d’Intervention sur l’Environnement (FIE) & Coris Bank International;
• Presentation of concept note summaries developed under this Readiness Program for submission to GCF.

The consultations achieved the following results:

• Sharing of the main achievements of the readiness program “support to the accreditation of direct access entities, pipeline development and private sector mobilization in Burkina Faso with the various stakeholders;
• Ownership by national stakeholders of the status of the accreditation process of the Environmental Intervention Fund (FIE) and Coris Bank International (CBI);
• Validation of the concept notes to the various stakeholders and collection of additional relevant information to improve their quality;
• Sensitization of parliamentarians on climate finance and their contribution to the mobilization of climate finance;
• Increasing of the private sector mobilizing and engaging in climate finance;
• Actors Capacity building on the mobilization of climate finance.

According to the Designated National Authority, Mr. Issaka Ouedraogo, several actors might get financed by accredited entities to implement climate-based investments, hence raising awareness among them. He affirms: “I encourage the local authorities, the public administrations, the private sector, NGOs and associations to use the entities when they will be accredited to develop and implement climate projects to strengthen local communities climate resilience and significantly contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions”.

The consultations offered the opportunity to validate four projects concept notes developed in the frame of the readiness program in partnership with both entities for accreditation (FIE and CBI) and other international accredited entities namely BOAD and ONUDI. These concept notes are relative to the following topics:  (i) scaling up of 200 climate smart ecovillages; (ii) Promoting low-carbon technologies and the rational use of tree for medicinal and energy purposes; (iii) Improving women’s resilience in the shea sector through improved adaptation and sustainable management of shea parks, (iv) Private Sector Financing for Resilience and Carbon Reduction Program in Burkina Faso.

Overall participants were satisfied of the quality of information sharing and discussions during the national consultations. For them, they receive