Launch of the BIOCLIMATE Finance project: Financing the climate transition and preserving biodiversity in Casamance
On July 11 and 12, 2024, ENDA ENERGIE officially launched the BIOCLIMATE Finance project in the Casamance regions of Senegal. This launch workshop was held at the Ziguinchor Vocational Training Center, in partnership with the Regional Development Agencies (ARD) of Kolda, Sédhiou and Ziguinchor. The launch was attended by the director of ENDA ENERGIE and partners from Germanwatch, the implementing entities of this project.
The BIOCLIMATE Finance project aims to address the environmental and socio-economic challenges exacerbated by the effects of climate change in the Casamance region. Rich in biodiversity, this region is facing ecosystem degradation due to unsustainable practices and increased climate variability.
The main objective of this launch workshop was to mobilize and engage all key stakeholders around the project's objectives and activities. It allowed for a detailed presentation of the project's various components, an explanation of the implementation mechanisms, and a discussion of the roles and responsibilities of each involved actor.
Participants included mayors of the municipalities concerned, deconcentrated regional technical services, civil society organizations, as well as representatives of projects and programs working in the field of climate finance and biodiversity preservation.
The workshop also provided a platform for exchanging best practices, expectations and concerns of the participants, in order to ensure harmonious and effective collaboration throughout the project's duration. A SWOT analysis of local development plans on climate and biodiversity aspects was carried out, followed by the development of an action plan to update them.
The official launch of the BIOCLIMATE Finance project thus marks the beginning of a concerted effort to preserve biodiversity, promote sustainable technologies and improve the climate resilience of the communities in Casamance.
Mamadou Cissé, the project coordinator, explained in detail the different components of BIOCLIMATE Finance and its implementation mechanisms to the key stakeholders present at the launch. This project aims to address the environmental and socio-economic challenges exacerbated by the effects of climate change in the Casamance regions.
Professor Boubacar Fall presented the national policies and strategies on climate change during the BIOCLIMATE Finance launch. He notably addressed Senegal's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and National Adaptation Plan (NAP). The NDC defines Senegal's ambitious objectives in terms of greenhouse gas emissions reduction and adaptation to the impacts of climate change. The NAP, on the other hand, identifies adaptation priorities in vulnerable sectors such as agriculture, water and coastal areas.
Cheikh Fall shared the details of the process of developing the Territorial Climate Energy Plan (TCEP) for the Petite Côte. The TCEP is an essential tool to guide local action in the face of the challenges of climate change. Cheikh explained how this plan was built in a participatory manner with elected officials, technical services, associations and citizens. It helped identify the priority issues in terms of mitigation and adaptation for the inter-municipal association of the Petite Côte.
The Territorial Climate Energy Plan (TCEP) represents an important achievement for the local authorities of Casamance, such as Kafountine, following numerous advocacy efforts for its development. Thanks to the BIOCLIMATE Finance project, this vision is now being realized.
This strategic document embodies much more than a simple plan; it is an essential roadmap to address climate and energy challenges in a sustainable manner. Local authorities, beyond their role as beneficiaries, must be true proactive actors in the implementation of solutions adapted to their local contexts.
The implementation of TCEPs opens up promising prospects for the beneficiary local authorities, offering clear tools and guidance to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiency and strengthen resilience to the impacts of climate change.
