An inception workshop to begin work on the IFS is scheduled for 8-12 March 2010 in Lusaka, Zambia. This workshop is being co-organized by the Government of Zambia and the Global Mechanism (GM) and will bring together key Government Ministries including environment, agriculture, finance, water and energy; the private sector and business community; civil society; research institutions; and bilateral and multilateral development partners.
The objectives of the IFS workshop are:
- to secure commitment for IFS development by all partners; and
- to agree on a roadmap for the development and implementation of the IFS, including identifying opportunities for resource mobilization from private, public and innovative financing sources to fund UNCCD-related programmes and projects
- increased mainstreaming of land rehabilitation, forestry and agricultural production into national planning, budgetary and development frameworks, particularly into the Sixth National Development Plan;
- increased investments through internal, external and innovative sources of financing including public-private-partnerships, finance from “Aid for Trade” for improved trade and market access; climate change financing mechanisms; and
- increased advocacy and awareness in support of UNCCD implementation, notably, through an assessment of the economic value of SLM and the costs of land degradation in Zambia
For more information:
Elsie Attafuah
Programme Officer, East and Southern Africa
Tel. +39 06 5459 257
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