Climate Action Africa SSE Result
Initiative Details
SSE #006 Part 1 | Country: Eastern Africa Regional Consultation on engagement with UNFCCC Processes | Requesting Organization: Support for Women in Agriculture and Environment (SWAGEN)| Technical Experts: not applicable | Thematic area: Women’s leadership, climate governance, UNFCCC participation
Original request / issue
Eastern African stakeholders were participating in UNFCCC processes in fragmented and uncoordinated ways, limiting the region’s ability to advance shared priorities such as climate finance, loss and damage, adaptation, and gender equality. SWAGEN requested support for a regional consultation to strengthen understanding of UNFCCC processes, connect stakeholders, and develop coordinated positions for SB58 and COP28.
Observable change(s)
- participants increased their understanding of UNFCCC governance, negotiations, climate finance, adaptation, and gender dimensions of climate negotiations, with average knowledge and skills scores increasing from 91 before the workshop to 4.16 (on a scale of 1 to 5) after the workshop (Source: Post training assessment)
- Participants reported stronger negotiation skills and confidence to engage on gender issues within climate negotiations. Scores for negotiation skills increased from 85 to 3.96, and confidence contributing on gender in negotiation processes increased from 2.22 to 4.46 (Source: Post training assessment).
- Stakeholders from 11 Eastern African countries jointly developed a strategic plan and policy brief and established an ongoing regional network through a WhatsApp group to support continued information sharing and coordination.
Who changed / Who uses the result
Climate negotiators, civil society organizations, grassroots representatives, Indigenous Peoples, youth climate activists, and advocacy organizations from 11 Eastern African countries strengthened their engagement with UNFCCC processes. SWAGEN and participating stakeholders are using the network, strategic plan, policy brief, and peer connections established through the consultation.
Evidence supporting the change
- SSE closure report states participants gained understanding of UNFCCC structures, negotiations, climate finance, adaptation, mitigation, and loss and damage mechanisms. (Section 5: Outcomes of the SSE) (Closing report).
- Workshop outputs included a strategic plan for engagement with SB58, COP28 and subsequent UNFCCC meetings, plus a regional policy brief. (SSE Report; Concept Note Expected Outcomes) (Closing report)
- Participant reflections confirm new relationships, ongoing coordination through a WhatsApp group, and intentions to conduct follow-on awareness activities on the Gender Action Plan and climate negotiations. (Closing report)
How EDM-CAA contributed
DM-CAA funded and supported the regional consultation convened by SWAGEN, bringing together 30 participants from 11 Eastern African countries. The exchange provided access to negotiators, technical experts, presentations, group discussions, and peer learning on UNFCCC processes, climate finance, negotiation strategies, gender considerations, and regional priorities. This support enabled stakeholders to jointly develop regional engagement approaches and establish ongoing channels for collaboration.
Key Enabling Factor(s)
A key enabling factor was the participation of negotiators, technical experts, civil society actors, and grassroots representatives from multiple countries, creating opportunities for peer learning and relationship building.
Eastern Africa Regional Consultation on engagement with UNFCCC Processes
Context:
The Eastern Africa region experiences heightened effects of climate change such as prolonged drought, food shortages that degenerate into famine in some areas, water stress and disasters such as floods and landslides resulting from violent torrential rains, although it is among the least emitters of destructive gases into the atmosphere. The region has other characteristics such as male dominated patriarchal customs and traditions which risk leaving women in all their diversities (youth, elderly, those living with disabilities) behind in the 2030 Agenda, unsustainable traditional methods of cultivation, livestock rearing and fisheries which destroy the environment and keep the population in abject poverty.
Owing to the high incidence of poverty, the population is powerless to negotiate with powerful countries who come in the name of trading but exploit their natural resources such as forests. Yet the region participates in climate discussions in uncoordinated ways and makes fragmented inputs that do not provide a good bargaining position for the region.
PART 1: Eastern Africa Regional Consultation on engagement with UNFCCC Processes – Workshop
Participant countries: Uganda, Madagascar, Seychelles, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, South Sudan, Burundi, Kenya
Venue(s): Kampala, Uganda
Goal of the exchange
The goal of the consultative workshop was to create a strategy to table climatic issues uniquely affecting the Eastern Africa region in UNFCCC discourse more effectively.
Specific objectives:
- Explain how the UNFCCC provides a framework for international cooperation to address climate change.
- Discuss the roles of the different governance bodies and negotiating groups under the UNFCCC.
- Explore the financial mechanisms set up under the UNFCCC.
- Examine the key adaptation milestones set up under the UNFCCC including the Paris Agreement and its non-market mechanisms for climate change adaptation.
- Review negotiation skills and techniques to foster collective objectives for negotiating groups under the UNFCCC.
Summary of the exchange:
The South-to-South Exchange program, under their Climate Action Africa Initiative, funded the Eastern Africa Regional Consultation on engagement with UNFCCC Processes. The main objective was to provide a platform for stakeholders interested in climate negotiations to tease out the region’s climate concerns to advance at SB58 and COP28.
The Eastern Africa Regional Consultation on engagement with UNFCCC Processes took place at Hotel Africana, Kampala on 26-27 May 2023. With financial support from the government of Canada and technical support from ALINEA, it brought together 30 participants from Somalia, Ethiopia, Seychelles, Madagascar, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi.
Outcomes
The participants have gained the understanding of the structure of the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC) / COP. They have been enlightened on the negotiations, what is being negotiated, who is negotiating. The participants learned what constituted climate finance, who has access to it, how difficult or easy it is to access, the status of the much talked about and controversial US$100 million, the loss and damage of financial facilities.
Part 2
Enhanced participation of Africa’s Local Community Stakeholders in UNFCCC Processes – COP28
Participating countries: Uganda
Venues: COP 28, Dubai Nov 30-Dec 12, 2023
Goal of the exchange :
To provide participants with the opportunity to learn through being physically present at the negotiations, side events, and other activities. Specifically, this includes:
- Exposure to the UNFCCC processes, governance, opportunities like climate finance, partnerships as observers, etc.
- Impartation of negotiation skills and techniques
- Real life testimonies of hands–on and lived experiences.
- Networking and establishing partnerships in the spirit of SDG 17
Outcomes:
Participants (including local community women) have strengthened awareness and capacity to negotiate and advocate in the UNFCCC processes. Networks were formed and/or strengthened among participants including local community women and other regional and global actors working for climate and gender justice. Amplified position of local women from East Africa in UNFCCC process and in networks.
