A validation workshop is being organized by the Government of Zambia, with the technical and financial support of the Global Mechanism (GM) from 31 January to 2 February in Lusaka, as part of the country’s efforts and commitment to developing an Integrated Financing Strategy (IFS) for sustainable land management (SLM).The IFS aims to promote secure and sustainable financing for combating desertification and promoting SLM in Zambia and is being developed with support from the GM and key development partners.
As part of the IFS process in Zambia, stocktaking exercises and analytical work, which are closely linked and mutually re-enforcing, have been conducted under the leadership of UNCCD Focal Point Ministry - the Ministry for Local Government, Housing, Early Education and Environmental Protection. These studies cover:
- stocktaking of financial flows and investments;
- the economic valuation of land resources and SLM investment options;
- incentive and market-based mechanisms;
- trade and SLM; and
- a national assessment on climate change and SLM.
This workshop is now being convened to review and validate the analytical work. More specifically, it aims to:
- engage key development partners in dialogue to validate the various thematic reports and receive their feedback;
- identify priority areas of intervention in the sectors with the highest potential for mitigating land degradation through adoption or up-scaling of SLM-compliant practices;
- formulate project/programmatic ideas to jump start resource mobilization for the selected thematic areas to be included in the IFS;
- identify and define the roles of potential partners in resource mobilization; and
- define roadmap (s) for the implementation of recommended actions.
The outcomes of the workshop are intended to provide Zambia with key options and interventions to promote UNCCD implementation. The reports will thus inform IFS formulation and the establishment of an integrated investment framework (IIF).
Information on the outcome of the workshop and next steps will be published on the website in early February.
For more information:
Ms Elsie Attafuah, Programme Officer, East and Southern Africa
Tel. +39 06 5459 2577
e.attafuah (at) global-mechanism.org
