Rwanda has secured $300,000 (about Rwf219 million) grant from Green Climate Fund’s readiness and preparatory support programme to help accelerate climate financing.

The grant, announced at the weekend, is in line with a programme offering developing countries immediate financial support to strengthen their systems and prepare projects or programmes for funding by the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

The Fund has earmarked an initial $15 million to support developing countries in such efforts.

Alex Mulisa, the coordinator of environment and climate fund, told The New Times, yesterday, that the funds will help in designing a strategic framework which can facilitate further engagement with green climate fund on nationally owned projects and help enhance the capacity of the Rwandan Environment Management Authority (REMA).

The Green Climate Fund is within the framework of assisting developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change.

The REMA will also use the funds to engage with and bring together national stakeholders, including non-governmental organisations, civil society, private sector, public institutions and ministries to explore best ways to attract more funds on climate adaptation and mitigation actions, according Mulisa.

"REMA will help the country to identify the institutions that government can use to access funds from GCF. It is going to engage consultants who understand green climate fund and start explaining to stakeholders,” Mulisa said.

Rwanda is the latest developing country to have secured $300,000 grant from the Green Climate Fund to help implement its national green growth strategy and bring it closer to securing substantial GCF funding.

It will facilitate strategic planning and strengthen the government’s convening power to engage national stakeholders.

Partners from various sectors, including other government entities, the private sector, civil society organisations and the National Women Council will be invited to participate and ensure a broad country ownership.

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In addition to Rwanda, GCF is finalising grant agreements totaling around $4.6 million for readiness activities with 16 other countries, including Benin, Bolivia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Mali, Thailand and Togo.

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