Starting today, Rwanda will be hosting the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) workshop, that aims at strengthening Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAS) as a tool for pre-2020 and post-2020 climate change action.

Organised by UNFCCC and the Ministry of Natural Resources, the workshop is expected to attract over 70 climate change experts across Africa and representatives from international organisations as well as the private sector.

According to a statement from organisers, Rwanda was chosen to host the meeting because of its proactive approach in mainstreaming Climate Change in its long-term national development strategy and experience in hosting international events among others.

Vincent Biruta, the Minister for Natural Resources, said that hosting the workshop is an opportunity for Rwanda to share with the rest of the world about development and implementation of NAMAs.

"This is an opportunity for Rwanda to build networks with experienced international organisations and share our experience with other countries,” Biruta said.

The minister added that learning from the best practices will foster the implementation of national mitigation actions through capacity building.

"This is also an opportunity to build capacity for the public and private entities, individuals on the various aspects and benefits of NAMAs,” he added.

Meanwhile, designing and implementing of NAMAS will be presented by regional mitigation experts and the private sector whereas participants will share experiences, lessons learned and best practices.

Other discussions will focus on challenges and issues faced, financial engineering, investment strategies for leveraging multi-source financing, measurement, reporting and verification (MRV), sustainable development co-benefits, and the NAMA Registry.

Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions, or NAMAs, are voluntary climate change mitigation measures proposed and taken up by developing country governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to contribute to domestic sustainable development. NAMAs can take the form of regulations, standards, programmes, policies or financial incentives.

NAMAs are supported and enabled by technology, financing, and capacity-building and are aimed at achieving a reduction in emissions relative to ‘business as usual’ emissions in 2020.

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