The
Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and the
Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA)
have completed a capacity building workshop for Pan-African Parliamentarians on Nationally Determined Contributions
(NDCs) Implementation Index and Monitoring and Tracking Tools for Africa.
The
training sought to build and strengthen the capacity of Parliamentarians,
policymakers and representatives of regional bodies on the use of the developed
NDC Implementation Index and Monitoring and Tracking Tools. The NDCs spell out
the actions that countries intend to take to address climate change – both in terms
of adaptation and mitigation. Originally submitted as Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), these have
become binding Nationally Determined Contributions once a country ratifies the
Paris Agreement.
Hon. Didier Molisho, Chair of the session
and member of the PAP Permanent Committee on Rural Economy, Agriculture,
Natural Resources and Environment hailed the partnership with PACJA, which has
seen efforts to catalyse parliamentarians’ engagement in climate discourse.
“As
the participation of parliamentarians in national and international climate
change conversations becomes apparent, the importance of the collaboration with
PACJA becomes more essential, especially in influencing integration of climate
change responses in the post-Covid-19 economic reconstruction processes in
Africa. This capacity building exercise enables African Parliamentarians to
understand the NDC index, the tools and analysis of the political economy of
climate governance in Africa, with a view of generating a critical mass of
African policymakers who can unpack the resource for broader dissemination and
interaction,” said Hon. Molisho.
Dr. Mithika Mwenda, Executive Director
for PACJA said that since the ratification of NDCs, reporting on the status of
implementation especially on the African continent has been insufficient. He
attributed this aspect to many factors including lack of technical capacity and
financial resources to implement the required activities.
“Progress
on the Paris Agreement depends on the successful implementation of the national
climate pledges submitted by 189 countries in the run-up to and since COP-21 –
dubbed NDCs. In July 2019, PACJA commissioned a study to develop an NDC
Implementation Index and supporting Data Collection Tools to monitor the implementation
of NDCs in Africa in compliance with the Paris Agreement,” said Dr. Mwenda.
He
added: “The study included an understanding of the Political Economy of African
countries regarding NDCs and climate change governance; stakeholder analysis of
actors; institutions involved in the development and implementation of the
NDCs; climate governance; mapping of suitable tools; methods and indicators
that exist as well as defining and delineating the scope of NDCs implementation
index including measures that will be used and dimensions that will be covered.
The NDCs Implementation Index and Tracking Tools for Africa Report is now
finalized and is being tested as part of accountability mechanisms that will be
used to track the implementation by countries in Africa”
The
capacity building training was conducted by experts through presentations as
well as through group work and plenary discussions. Participants were provided
trained to use the tools to gauge progress in preparedness and implementation
of NDCs in their respective countries. Members of Parliament were also briefed
on how to develop NDC Monitoring and Tracking Tools and capture indicators for
political economy with respect to climate governance.
The
collaboration between the PAP and PACJA has resulted in the establishment of
the African Climate Legislative
Initiative (ACLI). The platform provides a structured framework for
coordination between PACJA and PAP
in joint planning for activities related to legislative work, which has
enhanced interactions between PAP
members and other regional legislative assemblies participating in climate
change processes.
Source: Pan African Parliament Media Officer
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