Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Zambia has been awarded the opportunity to become the first African country to host the board meeting of the Worldwide Green Climate Fund (GCF).
Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba says the choice of Zambia as the host of the gathering of over 300 delegates is in recognition of the country’s positive image in the international community.
Fredson Yamba
Mr Yamba says this is also consistent with the policy of government to facilitate job and wealth creation in all spheres of socio-economic endeavour.
He explains that the aim of the GCF is to help developing countries reduce emissions and enhance investments in adaptation.
He says in this regard, Zambia is expected to share its experience and raise awareness to the world about the impacts of climate change in the country’s regions considered as most vulnerable to climate change.
Mr Yamba adds that apart from preparing for the meeting, Zambia is also taking active steps to become one of the first beneficiaries of the Green Climate Fund.
He states that during the forth-coming meeting to be held in November 2015 in Livingstone, the GCF Board will approve some financing request proposals, just in time for the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) scheduled for Paris, France towards the end of the year.
Mr Yamba notes that the GCF is an important avenue for the country to scale up existing initiatives such as the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR), the Scaling-Up Renewable Energy Programme (SREP), Forest Investment Programme (FIP), Zambia Integrated Landscape Management Project (ZILMP) and the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA).
He has since expressed confidence about the prospects for wealth creation and sustainable livelihoods embedded in the listed climate change impact mitigation programmes as they all present citizens, especially the youth, with unmatched job-creation opportunities.
Mr Yamba states that if the nation gets its act together, Zambia is definitely able to surpass the 500, 000 jobs target announced by President Edgar Lungu during Wednesday’s launch of the Youth Policy and the Action Plan for Youth Empowerment & Employment.
The delegates for the Livingstone 2015 GCF Meeting will comprise GCF board members, observers from civil society, the private sector, and various international organisations.