Project

Project Reference Profiles – Colombia(CO2) Green growth governance – GGGI Green Growth Project (2017-2019)

At a Glance

Strategic Outcomes SO1 Reduced GHG emission
Start Date Q2  20170724
End Date q4 20191231
Funding Source Earmarked
Actual Budget (USD) 1,480,129
Budget Percentage 100%
Actual Expenditure (USD) 1,477,393
Status Complete
GGGI Share (USD) 0
Poverty and Gender Policy Markers poverty
Name of Client (Lead/Prime implementer if GGGI is part of a consortium) The Government of Colombia represented through mainly Ministries of Environment and the National Planning Department (DNP), and the High Council for Post conflict (ACPC) along with the Presidential Agency for International Cooperation (APC)
Participating Organization (Funding/donor) Government of Norway
Name of consortium members, if any The Ministries of Agriculture and Finance who have joined towards the end through additional work. Likewise, at the subnational level, the state governors of Nariño, Meta and Antioquia
Thematic Area
  • Cross Cutting
GGGI Project Code :
Project Manager and Staff +

Project context, objectives and description

The health and sustainability of Colombia’s forest ecosystems are critical to the long-term sustainability of this hotspot of biodiversity. However, deforestation is a significant problem. Key deforestation drivers include agriculture (and illegal cropping), livestock grazing, infrastructure development, mining, illegal wood extraction activities and forest fires. Incompatible land use that which is inappropriate to its classified suitability is common and often exacerbates environmental degradation and deforestation. A case in point is the agricultural / livestock sector. While pastures for cattle grazing extend to over 35 million hectares, only 15 million hectares are considered to be suitable for this purpose. Extensive cattle breeding is a major contributor to land degradation, deforestation, greenhouse gas (GHG emissions, excessive water use and pollution). Total agricultural activities, on the other hand, are limited to only 5.3 million hectares — an amount below the 22.3 million hectares with agricultural potential.

The project objective is to support the Colombian government in its transition towards a green growth pathway that ensures environmental sustainability and social equity and inclusion in the long run and this project is aligned to IO1. Strengthened national, sub-national and local green growth planning, financing and institutional frameworks and IO3. Improved multi-directional knowledge sharing and learning to empower local and external agents necessary to drive green growth processes in partner governments.

The program will adopt a multi-pronged approach with three main outcomes:

  • Strengthening national, subnational and local green growth planning;
  • Financing and institutional frameworks and increasing green investment flows; and
  • Generating South-South and South-North-South knowledge sharing and learning.

Type of services provided, and results achieved

Impact: To deploy green growth investments in priority areas and reduce deforestation, thereby contributing to Colombia’s SDG and NDC commitments.

Outcome:

  • Strengthened enabling policy and public budgeting framework for green growth adopted by government entities
  • Amazon Vision and DoI Programs increase investments in high value projects key for promoting green growth through more efficient use of natural resources and forest protection.

Project Outputs completed in 2019:

i. Green Growth Policies:

1. Policy Assignment (5):

  • The GGPA of Meta shed light on 5 strategic areas for steering environmental policy for the Department. These areas reflect the need to fight against deforestation, to conserve biodiversity, to promote changes in technology and innovation for increasing productivity, to support the transition toward renewable energy and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • The GGPA of Nariño underlined 5 key priorities for boosting green growth in Nariño for the upcoming years which are deforestation and biodiversity preservation, agricultural productivity, water quality and productivity, renewable energy production and use, and recycling and solid waste management.
  • The sustainable livestock policy draft has advised the government on converting unproductive, extensive livestock areas into sustainable landscapes, leading to a reduction in deforestation and unlocking pastures for forestry, agroforestry and productive restauration.
  • GGGI through the GGP has been actively engaging and working with the MHCP through the proposal and drafting of a new Clean Growth and Sustainable Development Law.
  • Official roadmap developed for an inclusive and environmentally conscious manner.

2. Policies Adopted (5):

  • Sustainable Livestock Policy.
  • Nature-based tourism (NBT) strategy for Nariño advised the Nariño Governor´s office on legal framework guidelines for beginning NBT activities. This strategy has been passed over to the Governor of Nariño and has the backing from the Tourism Director Office and the Secretariat of Environment and Green Growth of the Government of Nariño.
  • FINAGRO has adjusted its administrative procedures in terms of Environmental and Social risks Management System (ESMS) to allocate credit, with the approval of the same by the board of directors.
  • The GGPAs and the associated political advocacy conducted by GGGI in Meta and Nariño both played a role in shaping the 4-year period Development Plans for these Departments.
  • Publication of PES guidelines for MADS and the DNP, with the aim of implementing the PES law, CONPES 3934, contributing to the implementation of JDI milestones 30-31 and securing subnational funds for sustainable development.

ii. Green Investments:

  • Advisory outputs for inform NFVs, bankable projects or investment proposals:

i) NFV : The GGP has proposed a national financing vehicle with the MHCP through the creation of FONCLIMA under the approval of the Clean Growth and Sustainable Development Law. The aim of FONCLIMA (a public fund/NFV) is to channel funds through the carbon tax´s expansion towards deforestation reduction, mitigation and adaptation activities

ii) Bankable project: has been structured to promote non-forest timber products in Meta, such a sacha-inchi and achiote, and the GGP is currently working with Campo Capital to find investors. The impact of this bankable project will be to indirectly reduce deforestation through boosting agro-forestry production systems of non-timber forest products (NFTPs). So far, two investors have expressed interest and are likely to sign an LOI in December.

iii) Investment Proposals(3): The international cooperation strategy for the MADR targets specifically a comprehensive approach to fundraising efforts from international donors, in order to promote and scale up sustainable agricultural practices 1)The proposal of FONCLIMA/Green Taxes 2)The agroforestry project in Meta 3)The international cooperation strategy

  • Advisory outputs that aim to create enabling environment:

i) Green Growth Potential Assessments conducted sub-nationally in Meta, Nariño and Antioquia, set the ground for improved decision making, including investments.

ii) NBT strategy for Nariño is a tool that contains an investment plan with several public-private projects, and 4 wow factor projects to promote this kind of tourism, which give the new governor of Nariño, and other potential investors, a solid input to make green investment decisions that can create an income and employment based out of forests and ecosystems protection for this region.

  • Green investments catalyzed: 20.76M USD committed for a biomass and biogas cogeneration plants with an overall installed capacity of 8.3MW, if certain conditions are met.

iii. Capacity Building and Knowledge Products:

  • Total of 11 capacity development activities in the form of workshops and consultations
  • Total of 2 knowledge products, GGPAs for Meta, Nariño and Antioquia and Sustainable Livestock Guidelines.

 

Number of staff provided

Project Manager: Carolina Jaramillo

Camilo Ortega, Miguel Londono, Mario Londoño, Monica Parra, David Ardila, Maria Clemencia Castellanos, Javier Ortiz, Diana Pineda and Nataly Pinzon