CCARDESA Content

The objective of this user’s guide is to assist accredited entities to develop a concept note (CN) to be submitted to the Green Climate Fund ("Fund").

As a voluntary step, accredited entities may use the concept note to present a summary of a proposed project/programme to the Fund in order to receive feedback and recommendations from the Secretariat on whether the concept is broadly aligned with the Fund’s objectives. The recommendation will clarify whether the concept is endorsed, not endorsed with a possibility of resubmission, or rejected.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a new global fund created to support the efforts of developing countries to respond to the challenge of climate change. GCF helps developing countries limit or reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and adapt to climate change. It seeks to promote a paradigm shift to low-emission and climate-resilient development, taking into account the needs of nations that are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts.

International Climate Finance Funds require certain safeguards.

In carrying out its mandate of promoting a paradigm shift towards low-emission and climate-resilient development pathways in the context of sustainable development, GCF will effectively and equitably manage environmental and social risks and impacts, and improve outcomes of all GCF-financed activities.

International Climate Finance Funds require certain safeguards. For accessing the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Gender Assessments and Action Plans need to be developed, because impacts of climate change affect women and men differently. Women are the hardest hit by dramatic shifts in climatic conditions. Women’s mortality from climate-related disasters is higher than that of men. Compared to men, domestic burdens (e.g. collection of firewood and water) of women increase substantially with various manifestations of climate change.

International Climate Finance Funds require certain safeguards. As an example, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) has a Indigenous Peoples Policy that reflects the importance of fully and effectively engaging with indigenous peoples in the design, development and implementation of the strategies and activities to be financed by GCF, while respecting their rights.

This brochure presents the 'Promotion of Science and Technology for Agricultural Development (PSTAD) in the SADC region' project, which has been implemented by CCARDESA.

The project was supported by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), and implemented sub-regional organisations (SROs) and National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) in 34 African countries with funding from the African Development Bank. In the SADC sub region, PSTAD was being implemented in Angola, Malawi, Madagascar, Mozambique, Lesotho and Zambia.

The goal of the PSTAD project was to increase agricultural production and contribute to the achievement of food security and poverty reduction in Africa. Its main objective was to build the African agricultural research knowledge management capacity and support the dissemination and adoption of new and proven agricultural technologies.

CCARDESA's Climate Change Adaptation Strategy: Evidence from CCARPASA Project.

This brief outlines the challenge of adapting to climate change, identifies recent engagement and practices, and proposes future regional and country-level responses, with a focus on the constraints and conditions of smallholder farmers in the region, and the natural resources base upon which agriculture depends. This CCARDESA Climate Change Adaptation Strategy eventually becomes an integral part of CCARDESA's Medium Term Operational Plan (MTOP) and longterm overall strategy to deliver its mandate in an effective manner.

Implementation of the CCARDESA Mid Term Operational Plan (MTOP) is expected to have a positive impact on the environment by supporting the development and dissemination of agricultural technologies that promote sustainable use of land and water. The MTOP will also contribute towards reducing the vulnerability of poor rural households to climate shocks by promoting the adoption of climate smart agricultural practices. There is no doubt that CCARDESA’s footprint could be significant if no measures were put in place to guide the social and environmental responsibility of the work conducted in the sub-region.

This Governance Manual is a guide to CCARDESA’s governance institutions (Ministers responsible for Agriculture and Food Security, the General Assembly, CCARDESA Board of Directors and CCARDESA Secretariat) in the conduct of their responsibilities and duties. It is also a reference document for all CCARDESA stakeholders who wish to know how CCARDESA is governed. It assures development partners that CCARDESA observes the principles of good governance to which they are bound in allocating their resources.

This study examines the vulnerability to climate variability and change of the conventional maize value chain in the mid and low altitude agro-ecological zones of Malawi, agro-ecological zone II of Zambia and agro-ecological zone III of Zimbabwe. The aim is to develop feasible priorities and strategies for climate variability and change adaptation based on farmer preference. A literature re-view for the countries Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe was conducted to assess the current and future impact of climate change and variability on the smallholder farming system. A mix of methods, which included participatory vulnerability assessment tools, focus group discussions and key in-formant interviews among 108 farmers from five communities, complemented the literature review. Data were collected on the current and likely future impacts and sensitivity of the systems and ad-aptation capacities.