Report on the Monthly General Assembly Consultation of the GCSCCC and Inauguration of the GCSCCC's COP29 Advisory Committee, 3 June, 2024

 

Report of the Monthly General Assembly Consultation of the GCSCCC and Inauguration of the GCSCCC's COP29 Advisory Committee, 3 June 2024  - Uzodinma Adirieje
Quick recap
The Global Consortium of Civil Society and Non-State Actors on Climate Change and the Conference of Parties (GCSCCC) is envisioned as a groundbreaking initiative aimed at fostering collaboration and amplifying the voices of civil society organizations (CSOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academic institutions, private sector entities, and other non-state actors in the global discourse on climate change. This consortium seeks to facilitate a cohesive platform where diverse stakeholders can engage, exchange knowledge, advocate for sustainable policies, and actively participate in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP) meetings. The GCSCCC was formed by a consensus of participants from several countries, during the ‘Global Consultation of the Civil Society on UNFCC COP29, Azerbaijan’ convened and organized by the Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) – the CSOs Global Network for Health and Sustainable Development, on January/29/2024.   The June 2024 General Assembly consultation of the GCSCCC discussed various projects focused on combating climate change, promoting renewable energy, and empowering vulnerable communities. Key initiatives discussed included a new project aimed at combating climate change in developing countries, a plan to empower indigenous women, and a project to combat climate change across Africa. The team also emphasized the importance of setting smart objectives, providing thorough justifications for funding requests, and confirmed that each Working Group shall nominate one person into the GCSCCC’s COP29 Baku Advisory Committee.
Next steps
• Yizukanji Sikombe will lead the Climate Finance Working Group 3 to develop their plan of action, work plan, and budget.
• Uzodinma will ensure that the minutes of the meeting are sent to all participants via email.
• Uzodinma will consider scheduling individual meetings with each working group to review their concept notes, provide feedback, and work with them in developing bankable proposals.
• Each working group chairperson will send Dr. Adirieje a list of all members who actively contributed to their group's work via WhatsApp.
• Working groups will submit their most updated concept notes incorporating feedbacks from this meeting and the GCSCCC Secretariat before proceeding with full proposal development. ·         Each Working Group shall include of the Steering Committee for oversight responsibilities, Chair of the GCSCCC as the Project Director, and Chairperson of the WG as the Project Coordinator; each with specific responsibilities
• Uzodinma will review the submitted documents from all working groups and consider schedule meetings with each group to discuss and finalize their plans.
• The nominated members of the COP29 Advisory Committee will work under the chairmanship of Madam Balkhisa Bashir to ensure seamless interaction between the Consortium and COP29 presidency and host countries. Hon. (Mrs.) Aniedi will serve as the Committee’s Secretary.
Summary
Organization-Wide Progress and COP 29 Initiative
In the meeting led by Dr. Adirieje, the team reviewed the organization's progress over the past five months, with a key focus on the COP29 initiative and increasing visibility and participation from civil society organizations (CSOs) and non-state actors (NSAs). The team also discussed the importance of recording meeting minutes and ensuring all colleagues are included. Furthermore, the lack of progress from Working Group 3 on Climate Finance was addressed, with a presentation to be delivered in the following month.
New Project Launch and Working Groups
WG1: Hon. Mrs. Aniedi Inyang outlined a new project aimed at combating climate change in developing countries through the promotion of renewable energy, energy efficiency measures, and sustainable land use practices. The project, with a budget of $1.4 million, will target vulnerable communities such as smallholder farmers and industrial and commercial enterprises. Uzodinma raised concerns about the intellectual property consequences of sharing WG’s works in their platforms, and advised the WG Chairpersons to consider this when attempting to share their ongoing group works. , particularly in relation to funding.
Empowering Indigenous Women Through Skills Development and Entrepreneurship
WG6: Hashim Yussif presented a plan to empower indigenous women through skills development and entrepreneurship, with the aim of enabling them to become financially self-sufficient and contribute to their communities' sustainability. The proposed training would cover a range of skills, from soap-making and beekeeping to marketing strategies, and it was estimated to cost $30,000 in total, including a contingency fund. The project was expected to raise some of its own capital and provide each woman with $500 to begin her own business. The team planned to meet every three days to monitor progress, and the beneficiaries of this initiative were identified as the women and their families.
African Climate Change Projects and Capacity Building
WG7: Emmanuel Esio presented their project aimed at combating climate change across Africa, with a focus on strengthening resilience, integrating climate measures into policies, and mobilizing financial resources. The project will be implemented over a one-year period with a budget of $574,000 and will involve partnerships and capacity building. Questions were raised by Malon from Zimbabwe regarding the inclusion of indigenous people in the programs, suggesting a bottom-up approach for better integration.   WG8: Thulisile Maziya from South Africa presented on a project promoting climate risk communication and advocacy in remote rural areas affected by malaria, with a budget of $251,992.
UNICE's Climate Change Research and Innovation Plans
WG9: Dr. Unice Goshomi presented on behalf of Research and Evidence generation Working Group 9, indicating plans to develop climate change research and innovation, with a focus on establishing discipline-specific research mentors and increasing the number of climate change-focused publications. Under this arrangement, the GCSCCC will support the development of startups and companies in the field through innovation and entrepreneurship programs. Dr. Goshomi outlined a detailed plan for a project encompassing multiple objectives including developing mentorship programs, proposal writing, and updating websites to reflect focus areas. It also includes plans to increase the number of climate change-focused publications and support post-graduate and post-trauma fellowships. She also discussed plans to increase the number of startups and companies from the GCSCCC that focus on climate change-related innovation and entrepreneurship. The total budget for achieving 7 objectives for evidence generation, research, and climate change-related innovation hubs was set at 950,000.
Budget Concerns and Concept Notes
Dr. Uzodinma voiced concerns about the budget and personnel allocation for a project and emphasized the importance and economics of producing concept notes before full proposals. He praised a presentation by WG9 and underscored the necessity of submitting a concept note for any plan of action in 2024 as a prerequisite for securing funding. He also urged for more thorough literature reviews and justifications for funding requests. He requested the chairpersons of all the working groups to provide the names of their members who actually participated in preparing their 2024 POAs, Work Plans, Budgets and Concept Notes to ensure commensurate participations.
Global Consortium's Sustainable Climate Plan
WG11: Refiloe Masaoana presented the global consortium's plan for sustainable climate action in rural and suburban communities, with a focus on education, awareness, and capacity building, to be implemented over four quarters. The plan included partnerships with universities, NGOs, and graphic designers, with a budget of $100 million. Refiloe also introduced the benefit of commitment to promoting sports, healthy lifestyle, job creation, infrastructure investment, and tourism while maintaining sustainability. The company's objective was to engage young people, popularize climate conversations, and advocate for ecosystem protection. Dr. Uzodinma requested that all presentations be sent to him to update the global work plan.
Empowering Indigenous Communities on Climate Action
WG13: Paul Muyingo discussed a project focused on empowering vulnerable and disabled individuals to address climate change challenges.   WG14: Jacqueline Nampijja presented a conceptual framework for a project titled "Indigenous Communities on Climate, Action, and Health Equity for Sustainable Solutions." This project aims to empower indigenous communities by promoting their unique knowledge and practices, addressing historical injustices and inequalities, and establishing an indigenous climate leadership council. The project also seeks to develop and implement six community-led climate action plans and to build capacity among indigenous youth and women as climate leaders and change makers. The expected outcomes include enhanced community leadership and capacity, improved climate health equity, increased knowledge and skills, and policy support.
Further, Jacqueline outlined a project with a $490,500 budget, including workshops for indigenous leaders, community outreach, capacity building for climate action plans, and developing six such plans. The project also involves climate vulnerability assessments, identifying resilience strategies, and creating air quality monitoring stations.   WG5: Cynthia Buluebiere Bright presented a plan to promote gender equity and climate justice by empowering vulnerable women, raising awareness, combating human trafficking, and conservation through training, campaigns, tree planting, and advocacy with a detailed budget. Dr. Uzodinma appreciated the efforts and requested justifications for all budget line/allocations.
Annual Planning, Objectives, and Project Presentation
Dr. Uzodinma stressed the importance of setting ‘SMART’ objectives when presenting concept notes and project proposals, and discussed the connection between budgets and SMART objectives.   Disaster Risk Reduction Project WG13: Paul Muyingo presented the concept note highlighting the project titled "Empowering Vulnerable and Disabled Persons towards Addressing Climate Change Challenges and Building a Sustainable Future." Muyingo emphasized the disproportionate impact of natural disasters on vulnerable and impoverished communities, and the need for greater investment in disaster risk reduction, including the empowerment of vulnerable groups such as women and persons with disabilities. He outlined the project's objectives which focused on training responsible persons in the use of ICT for disaster warning, ensuring accessibility of tools related to disaster risk reduction, and influencing policymakers at all levels to limit environmental degradation. Muyingo presented a project aimed at enhancing disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in selected communities, led by a global consortium and scheduled to start in June 2024. The project will be implemented over 7 months with a total budget of $609,604 and will involve training, community engagement, and policy development.
COP29 Baku Advisory Committee Update
The Chair of the Global Consortium Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje formally inaugurated the members of the COP29 Advisory Committee representing each WG, following their nominations by the respective WGs. H.E. Balkhisa Bashir and Hon. (Mrs.) Aniedi Inyang were appointed as the Chairperson and Secretary of the Advisory Committee respectively. The Advisory Committee shall be reporting directly to the GCSCCC Steering Committee through the Chair of the GCSCCC.
Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje writes from Abuja, Nigeria