Addis Ababa, June 2023 – The African Union (AU) is taking critical steps towards fostering a sustainable economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and effectively managing the impacts of climate change across the continent. The AU Green Recovery Action Plan (GRAP) is a comprehensive strategy designed to promote green initiatives, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect the environment, and enhance resilience to climate change. The AU is committed to continue spearheading the implementation of this ambitious plan, which provides a strategic framework for sustainable economic recovery.
Through the generous co-funding of Global Affairs Canada and the Global Green Growth Initiative (GGGI), a new project has been launched to help operationalize the GRAP by focusing on policy knowledge and capacity building for green growth, with an emphasis on climate finance. This collaborative effort is the first of GGGI’s planned four work packages and aims to drive positive change and accelerate sustainable development in Africa.
To ensure effective implementation of this project, a Project Steering Committee (PSC) has been established by GGGI in collaboration with Canada, the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF). The PSC convened on June 5th in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to provide guidance and direction for the project’s activities. During this meeting, the committee reviewed the project’s annual work plan, budget, and results-based reporting, as well as set the stage for the successful execution of the GRAP.
The project’s goal is to improve the economic and climate resilience impacts of African populations, with a particular focus on women and young people, who have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve this, there are three key intermediate achievements: strengthening the AUC capacity to implement the GRAP, enhancing the skills of national and regional policymakers to develop inclusive green growth policies aligned with their climate change frameworks, and facilitating access to climate finance for Africa’s green recovery, with a special emphasis on initiatives supporting women and youth.
The PSC meeting in Addis Ababa serves as a pivotal moment to advance the implementation of the AU GRAP and foster a sustainable economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The AU has reiterated its unwavering commitment to collaborating with its partners to drive green initiatives, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, safeguard Africa’s environment, and build resilience in the face of climate change. With a dedicated focus on enhancing the economic and climate resilience of African populations, particularly women and youth in the post-COVID-19 era, the PSC is providing invaluable guidance for the successful implementation of the AU GRAP.
