Minister of Green Economy and Environment, Hon. Mike Elton Mposha, MP, has called upon the National Designated Authority (NDA) to intensify its efforts in mobilising funds to help Zambians mitigate and adapt to impacts of climate change.
The NDA, which is under the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment (MGEE), plays a pivotal role in coordinating and facilitating access to international climate finance. It ensures that resources are effectively channeled towards projects that aid Zambians in mitigating and adapting to climate change impacts. The goal is to strengthen the country’s resilience against climate change, address environmental challenges, and promote sustainable development.
Speaking during a familiarisation tour of the NDA offices in Lusaka, Hon. Mposha emphasised the importance of using clear, sustainable, and attractive projects to secure funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and Adaptation Fund (AF) through single-country projects to achieve maximum impact.
Hon. Mposha, who was this month elected as a Vice-President of the Seventh Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, urged the NDA to increase support for small-scale farmers in various communities to help them mitigate and adapt to changing climatic conditions.
He said support to small-scale farmers enables them to significantly contribute to the country’s food basket.
The Minister said small-scale farmers have the potential to cultivate diverse crops once empowered with irrigation equipment and supported in their farming initiatives. He said this would allow them to plant various crops for sale in different markets, including exports to neighbouring countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“NDA should be ready to get on the ground to address the challenges that small-scale farmers are facing, especially during this drought period, to help them adapt to the impacts of climate change,” Hon. Mposha said. “I would like to commend NDA for the work you’ve done so far under the SCRALA [Strengthening Climate Resilience of Agricultural Livelihoods in Agro-Ecological Regions I and II in Zambia] project, where communities have been empowered with different alternative livelihood ventures, equipping them for different seasons.”
NDA National Coordinator, Billy Katontoka, assured Hon. Mposha that the NDA is committed to contributing to the country’s development, particularly through its engagement with the Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund.
Mr. Katontoka emphasised that the NDA will continue to effectively and efficiently coordinate all climate change programming and financing in Zambia, ensuring that these projects align with the nation’s development priorities.
MGEE Communications Unit
Impressive recognition for Zambia. Great advocacy by our committed Minister and member of parliament. Agrivalue campaign waits to engage and offer practical solutions. We are advocating for plant based diets because of nutrition plus health benefits and boost to Climate smart agriculture