Summary
IISD Reporting Services is providing coverage of selected IDRC events at COP 22, including written, digital and video coverage.
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Improving Service Efficiency and Resilience in Urban Areas of Francophone Countries to Efficiently Implement the Paris Agreement and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
Organized by the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF)
This event was moderated by Cheikh Mbow, System Training for Research and Analysis for Global Environmental Change (START). He said the panel would explore ideas and lessons that lead to better planning in urban areas to increase resilience to climate change, decrease socio-economic vulnerability, develop sustainable services for the poor, and reduce emission.
Michele Leone, International Development Research Center (IDRC), presented on the Center’s services and research projects related to climate change adaptation in Africa over the past decade. He noted that IDRC has invested nearly US$190million since 2006 for climate adaption research with 150 projects in 70 countries.
Myriam Leblanc, Econoler, explained how her company helps implement energy efficiency in urban management projects in 140 countries. She presented initiatives that Econoler has participated in, such as the development of building codes, standards and labels in countries of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UMEOA).
Peter Storey, Global Coordinator, Private Financing Advisory Network (PFAN), explained how PFAN has helped small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to find financing for 360 projects. He highlighted the “Platform for Change” project in Zambia in collaboration with Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) to electrify rural and semi-urban households with solar technology and thermal cooking solutions.
Nafissatou Balde Sou, Consortium pour la Recherche Économique et Sociales (CRES), presented on waste and flood management projects in Dakar, Senegal. She highlighted the importance of institutional capacity building for local communities; and pilot testing with local populations. She highlighted an initiative where the mayor supported urban waste removal by mechanizing its removal.
Noting that SMEs can represent up to 80% of the economy in some African countries, Martin Hiller, Director-General, REEEP, presented examples of projects and funds from a business perspective on micro enterprise financing. He underscored that investment is often information-driven rather and money-driven.
Noting that Ouagadougou has experienced 11 floods in past 15 years, Abdoulaye Diarra, 2iE, presented on flood management projects in West Africa.
In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, inter alia: methodologies for gender inclusion and waste valorization; financial and environmental sustainability criteria for mobilized public and private financing for climate adaption projects; and importance of co-designing climate projects with local communities.
(L-R) Cheikh Mbow, START; Myriam Leblanc, Econoler; Nafissatou Balde Sou, CRES; Abdoulaye Diarra, 2iE; Martin Hiller, Director-General, REEEP; and Peter Storey, Global Coordinator, PFAN
Referencing her company’s participation with various energy efficiency projects for public buildings in Morocco and Canada that rely exclusively on private funding, Myriam Leblanc, Econoler, said that such examples could easily be exported to Western Africa
Abdoulaye Diarra, 2iE, deplored that sub-regional governments in West Africa often do not have the financial or institution capacity to integrate climate change into urban planning
Nafissatou Balde Sou, CRES
Cheikh Mbow, START, noted that unplanned cities in developing countries are the most vulnerable to climate change
Noting that cities in developing countries are hotspots of climate vulnerability, Michele Leone, IDRC, highlighted research projects in Africa that address governance, natural resource management and human mobility and migration flows
Martin Hiller, Director-General, REEEP
A participant asks a question to panelists
Contact:
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Cheikh Mbow (Coordinator)
| cmbow@start.org