NES attends UNCCD workshop on resource mobilization

Representatives from National Environment Service (NES) and Ministry of Finance & Economic Management – Development Coordination Division (MFEM-DCD) recently attended a workshop for the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

UNCCD aims to address the causes and impacts of drought, land degradation and desertification (the process in which fertile land becomes arid). The workshop was held in Songdo, Korea from 29th November to 1st December and was attended by Ms Hayley Weeks from NES and Ms Tessa Vaetoru from MFEM-DCD.

The aim of the workshop was to provide capacity building to Asia-Pacific Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in mobilising financial and non-financial resources to support the implementation of the UNCCD. Various types of potential resources were explored, including: multilateral funds, such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Green Climate Fund (GCF) and Adaptation Fund (AF); bilateral funding opportunities from regional partner countries, such as New Zealand, Australia and Japan; innovative financial mechanisms, such as Debt for Nature Swaps; and other resources available through private sector engagement and technology transfers. “I took a lot away from this workshop, particularly in the newer and more innovative ways of supporting on the ground environment actions, such as technology transfers,” said Weeks.

“It was also a great benefit having inter-agency representation between NES and MFEM-DCD, as we have different areas of expertise that we could share and leverage off”. NES will continue to work closely with MFEM-DCD, Climate Change Cook Islands (CCCI) and other key stakeholders to ensure that key environmental concerns, such as land degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change mitigation and adaption, are built across the various development proposals designed by the Cook Islands for both national funding and international partners such as GEF and GCF.