Harare, 23 March, 2012: A three-year, USD 8.3 million project has been commissioned in Zimbabwe aimed at mainstreaming Climate Change in national development plans and programs and leveraging resources from global financing mechanisms as well as bilateral and multilateral donors.

The Strengthening National Capacity for Climate Change in Zimbabwe joint project will be coordinated by UNDP and the Ministry of Environment and National Resources Management (MENRM). It involves several line ministries, UN agencies, donor partners, the private sector and civil society.

Speaking at a forum held to unveil the project held at the premises of the MENRM on 20 March, 2012, UNDP Deputy Country Director Martim Maya hailed the inclusive and multi-sectoral approach, saying that an effective national Climate Change response requires adoption of a multi-stakeholder approach.

“This should be guided by a comprehensive policy regime governed by more streamlined legal and institutional frameworks,” Mr. Maya said adding that  this will enable Zimbabwe to approach the fight against Climate Change in a more coordinated and comprehensive manner. “It will also provide an enabling environment to mobilise necessary resources from the various global financing mechanisms” and set the stage for the implementation of national and local climate actions in the various sectors.

“The Ministries of Finance, Economic Planning and Investment Promotion have a key role in translating this strategy into instruments of a green economy. This means development of climate smart national budgets and low-emission climate resilient national development strategies,” said Mr.  Maya.

Describing Climate Change as a serious challenge to sustainable development in Zimbabwe, the Secretary, MENRM, Ms. Florence Nhekairo  said:  “The devastating floods, droughts and severe storms we have seen in Zimbabwe and across the world in recent years show all too clearly how vulnerable we are to climate extremes and how high the economic, human and environmental costs can be.” Citing a recent capacity assessment study that the  Ministry conducted, Ms. Nhekairo noted however that the country has weak inter-and intra sectoral coordination in Climate Change issues, limited capacity for Climate Change policy research, analysis and implementation as well as inadequate resources to fund Climate Change adaptation and mitigation programmes in the country.

In the study, it was “clear that there’s insufficient technical expertise in Climate Change information packaging and inadequate local specialized training facilities and programs in Climate Change, among other weaknesses,” said the Secretary.

The project is aimed at taking stock of climate issues in key sectors of the economy and developing an evidence-based National Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan.  As the driver of the national climate change agenda, the National Climate Change Office within the Ministry of Environment will be strengthened to provide the necessary technical support to various sectors. The capacity of the media, Climate Change negotiators and relevant Parliamentary Committees will also be enhanced.