German-funded environmental project to launch in April

Officials from the German Agency for International Co-operation (GIZ) have been given the assurance from Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell that its four-year climate change programme in Grenada will not be disrupted as it falls within the environmental policies.

Dr. Mitchell met with officials from GIZ and the Ministries of the Environment, Foreign Affairs and Economic Development last week Thursday to discuss the “Programme on Integrated Adaptation Strategies in Grenada”.

The five million euro programme, which was approved by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety in Germany, is a bilateral programme and will be funded by GIZ and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The programme aims to increase resilience of vulnerable communities and ecosystems to climate change risks in Grenada through integrated adaptation approaches. The four key focus areas are: Mainstreaming of adaptation considerations into national development planning; Improve planning, management and efficient use of water and coastal zone resources; Increase adaptive capacity of communities through the implementation of pilot community-based adaptation activities; and Enable access to public and private funding for climate change measures.

Prime Minister Mitchell said that Germany has been a committed development partner to Grenada over the years. “As a result of that support, Grenada became a front runner of climate change issues in the region and demonstrated leadership, especially in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan,” stated Dr. Mitchell.

The programme will be officially launched in April 2013 and delegates are expected from Germany and the region. The programme will be implemented together with stakeholders and as such, is inclusive in its approach.

The German team and the Ministry of the Environment have been meeting with key stakeholders in Grenada throughout the week including the Ministry of Agriculture, NAWASA, GCIC, Ministry of Tourism, Board of Tourism and non-governmental organisations.