The National Workshop to validate the priority needs for capacity building in the field of adaptation to climate change and the draft roadmap for the establishment of the CCRS National Working Group (NWG) for Côte d’Ivoire opened this June 25, 2024 in Abidjan.
Organized by the Climate Commission for the Sahel Region – CCRS in collaboration with the Côte d’Ivoire Ministry of the Environment, Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, this workshop is part of the Project for the Implementation of Regional and National Adaptation Priorities in Central and West Africa – PACO.
The ceremony featured a number of important speeches, including one by the Executive Secretary of the Climate Commission for the Sahel Region, SEM. Issifi Boureima read by Mrs. Adamou Harouna Leila of the CLS Technical Department and the Representative of the Minister of the Environment, Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, Colonel Yao Marcel, Director of International Cooperation and Financing Mobilization.
“The Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, like the other member countries of the Climate Commission for the Sahel Region, is facing the devastating impacts of climate change and variability. Indeed, among the effectsSome of the most significant consequences of this phenomenon are flooding, drought cycles linked to disruptions in rainfall dynamics, and coastal erosion. For example, in 2022, flooding affected more than 45,000 people in the Republic of Ivory Coast. Faced with this situation, it has become crucial, as part of the fight against climate change, to promote coherent and sustainable response actions based on a holistic approach that strengthens the resilence and adaptation of communities and their livelihoods. In this context, strengthening the synergy of regional cooperation actions aimed at supporting our countries in the field of climate change adaptation is a priority. thus of the utmost importance “ said Madame Adamou Harouna Leila, representing the Executive Secretary of the CCRS.
Colonel Yao Marcel explained that the aim of the workshop was to “implement major adaptation programs in line with the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)DN) and the National Adaptation Plan (PNA) is a very important step for Cote d’Ivoire. Indeed, its organization meets four (04) major specific objectives, namely : (i) present the CLS and its role in the implementation of the PACO project; (ii) present the PACO Project and the framework for its implementation; (iii) validate the priority capacity-building needss in capacity building in the field of climate change adaptation for Côte d’Ivoire; and (iv) develop a roadmap for the establishment of the CCRS National Working Group (NWG) for Côte d’Ivoire.”
He also invited stakeholders to formulate relevant recommendations in order to achieve the expected results, while assuring them that ” lhe Minister for the Environment, Sustainable durable et de la Transition écologique, Son Excellence Monsieur ASSAHORE KONAN JACQUES, s’est entièrement associée à la mobilisation de tous ici pour faire de cet atelier un succès pour le compte de la Cote d’Ivoire au sein de la CCRS “..
ADDRESS BY THE CCRS EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Colonel Yao Marcel, Director of International Cooperation and Financing Mobilization, representing the Minister for the Environment, Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition
Dear participants to your titles and ranks,
At the outset, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire for its invaluable support in organizing this important workshop, and for the hospitality extended to the Climate Commission for the Sahel Region team, who are staying in Abidjan for the occasion.
I would also like to thank the Minister of the Environment, Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, Mr ASSAHORÉ KONAN JACQUESfor the sustained commitment he has shown in promoting the CCRS’s open collaboration with stakeholders in Côte d’Ivoire.
I would also like to pay tribute to the leadership shown by the highest authorities of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire in the context of the climate agenda, whose adaptation component is expected to be at the heart of this meeting. The Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, like the other member countries of the Climate Commission for the Sahel Region, is facing the devastating impacts of climate change and variability.
The effects of this phenomenon include flooding, drought cycles linked to disruptions in rainfall dynamics, and coastal erosion. For example, in 2022, floods affected more than 45,000 people in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.
Faced with this situation, it has become crucial in the fight against climate change to promote coherent and sustainable response actions based on a holistic approach that strengthens the resilience and adaptation of communities and their livelihoods.
In this context, strengthening the synergy of regional cooperation actions to support our countries in adapting to climate change is of paramount importance.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
With this in mind, the CCRS welcomes the implementation of the PACO project, financed by the German government and implemented under the coordination of GIZ by a consortium of partners, including the African Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK).
This PACO project, in line with the Climate Investment Plan for the Sahel Region, is formulated to support the priorities of the National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of the beneficiary countries through :
- disseminating information and advice on useful adaptation strategies;
- development of adaptation progress indicators;
- developing information systems to monitor adaptation activities.
For 2024, three (03) member countries of the Climate Commission for the Sahel Region – Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal – have been selected to benefit from the capacity-building activities planned by the Commission.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This workshop is therefore of the utmost importance, as it marks a crucial stage in the capacity-building agenda of the Climate Commission for the Sahel Region, for the benefit of its member countries, in particular the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.
With this in mind, I would like to emphasize that this meeting is expected to validate the study of priority needs for strengthening adaptation capacities. In view of the importance of coherent prioritization of adaptation needs, I would like to invite you to engage in fruitful discussions that will provide the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire with an appropriate tool for tackling climate challenges.
This meeting should also enable the Climate Commission’s National Working Group (NWG) for the Sahel Region to be set up for Côte d’Ivoire. It should be emphasized that this working group is the national version of the Joint Working Group (JWG), the technical body of the CCRS, which should serve as a technical monitoring framework for the Commission’s country operationalization agenda.
I remain convinced that, given your commitment to defining appropriate and coherent mechanisms, our work will enable us to agree on the effective implementation of this important system.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I cannot conclude without extending my congratulations to the Consultant responsible for drawing up the basic documents for the workshop, and my thanks to all the teams involved in the perfect organization of this meeting, particularly those of the host country, the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.
Moreover, I dare to hope that this good organization augurs well for the smooth progress of the work and the achievement of the expected results.
Thank you for your kind attention.
