(SLENA, 15th November, 2022).A round-table meeting took place on the margins of Cop27 between Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, Rex Bhonapha and delegation met with GGGI on Saturday 12 November 2022 to discuss ways of accessing support for Sierra Leone’s climate actions.
The Global Green Grown Initiative (GGGI) is a transformational Initiative that is advancing sustainable development in developing countries. They are supporting growth in Forestry, finance, transport, climate smart agriculture, energy, waste, and restoration of wetland.
The high-level discussion was held in the delegation room with Africa Director and Head of Programs, DrMallie Fofana representing GGGI. At the onset of the discussions, Dr. Fofana briefed the Sierra Leone delegation on GGGI’s programs and areas of intervention. He said their institution supports countries to have bankable projects. He said they signed MOU with members to accelerate climate finance and work with ministries of finance on designing green vegetating, helps them to get green budget through public financing. But these strategies he said go with micro project and with funding.
The organization he said is comprised of 44 members, each member has equal opportunity of accessing financial support without paying any contribution. He said GGGI does not request any funding from the counterpart. Mr Fofana added that becoming a member of GGG requires expressing interest through a letter of intent, then GGGI can commence supporting the member state as they proceed with the membership procedure. The institution, he said, is led by Mr. Ban Ki Moon former Secretary General of the UN. Further procedures include opening an office linked with either state House, Ministry of Finance or Ministry of Environment. The team works hand in hand with the government and can provide the necessary links to finance. For example if the Ministry of Transport and Aviation is looking for a pathway to decarbonize, it can choose between the provisions of e-mobility to having a new car. Mr. Fofana emphasized that it’s a must that the country have a national entity and all projects should be aligned with the GGGI requirements. “The program has core funding for real projects from MDA’s, all they also require is for the member countries to know the carbon market and set their own price.” He informed.
Similarly, Director Fofana mentioned that the country needs to have a measurement system ( MRV), and that having a clear plan will provide the blueprint. He encouraged the team to start the membership process without delay and assured of providing all the guidelines required for a successful process.
Representatives from the Sierra Leone delegation presented the country’s actions on Green Growth, Nationally Determine Contribution (NDC), National Action Plan , Renewable Energy Initiatives , National Tree Planting Program before requesting support for Capacity Building and framework for the carbon trade. Currently, 44 countries are members of GGGI, out of which12 are Africans. Sierra Leone will be 13th if they complete the membership process. The Director promised to send all correspondences regarding the registration process, after which, Sierra Leone can now send a letter of intent to become a member and follow the process to access a share of the possibility of $2m funding available to GGGI member countries.
Present during the deliberations were Deputy Director Bendu, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Alhassan Alie Mansaray, Director Fiscal Risks management, Ministry, Amos, et al.