Every detail counts as GIZ prepares Thailand for access to international climate fund
Photo 1: Fulfilling the GCF criteria can be a challenging task; however, the team is committed in stepping up efforts to meet all requirements. Photo: GIZ/Anusara Tanpitak
GIZ is supporting the Thai Environmental Fund in gaining access to international climate funding, notably the GCF.
To advance its ambitious mitigation and adaptation targets, Thailand requires considerable financial resources to successfully transition towards a low-carbon economy. As a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the country realizes the major financial contribution that the new global fund, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), can make to its efforts. But to meet all requirements to gain access to the fund and to use the financial assistance effectively and efficiently, Thailand will need to have adequate institutions in place.
From 18 – 21 September 2018, a consultation with an international expert on GCF accreditation took place in Bangkok following the nomination by the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) of the Environmental Fund as a potential direct access entity (DAE) to the GCF. The 4-day mission was dedicated to a detailed readiness assessment and gap analysis for the Environmental Fund’s accreditation to the GCF. On the last day, recommendations on technical support and possible options for accreditation tracks were presented.
Fulfilling the GCF criteria is a challenging task. To meet all the requirements, Thailand needs to appoint an adequate institution or agency and enhance its capacities to meet international standards. As a result, GIZ was given the task to provide direct access accreditation support to the Thai Environmental Fund on behalf of the Green Climate Fund’s Readiness Programme and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). In close dialogue with ONEP, appointed as GCF’s National Designated Authority (NDA), GIZ supports ONEP’s role as focal point to the Fund in various instances, notably by disseminating GCF knowledge to key stakeholders and by highlighting engagement opportunities with the Fund in the country.
This and many more activities lie within the Thai-German Climate Programme (2018-2021) and the GCF-funded Readiness Support Programme “Scaling up Thailand’s Climate Finance Readiness” (2018-2020), which supports Thailand to accelerate national climate change actions as well as to unlock climate investments.
Under the Readiness Programme, GIZ assists a nominated national entity in seeking direct access accreditation. The progamme also helps develop national strategies for private sector involvement and an NDC implementation framework for ambitious climate-resilient and low-carbon development.
The GCF accreditation offers an opportunity for Thailand to access the world’s largest climate fund.
Climate finance supports climate actions, i.e. activities that reduce emissions (mitigation), or which supports countries to adapt to the impacts of climate change (adaptation).
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) was created in 2010 by 194 countries parties to the UNFCCC. Currently the world’s largest climate change fund (3.5 billion), the fund promotes a paradigm shift towards low-emission and climate-resilient development and supports developing nations to respond to the challenge of climate change. Country ownership and a country-driven approach are core principles of the GCF. For more information, visit: www.greenclimate.fund
Marie Rossetti
Climate Finance Director and Advisor to Country Director
Email:marie.rossetti(at)giz.de