During the eighteenth meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) that took place from 30 January to 3 February 2012 in Quito, Ecuador, the Global Mechanism (GM) and the UNCCD Secretariat were requested to introduce an implementation plan for the Regional Financing Strategy (RFS) for LAC.
The RFS is a mechanism established in 2010 with a view to increasing resource mobilization for funding initiatives that help overcome desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD) in the LAC Region, a process that is instrumental in the reduction of rural poverty and the eradication of food insecurity.
After various negotiation rounds around the World, experts and Ministers of Environment of LAC agreed in Quito that the implementation of the RFS was needed to address the Region’s DLDD issues. A decision was therefore adopted, requesting the UNCCD Secretariat and the GM to follow-up on the RFS process and work on the next steps, which will include further consultations with Regional Financial Institutions (RFIs) with a view to creating a fund through contributions coming from these RFIs, for funding projects that are developed as part of the implementation of the RFS.
This Fund would finance regional activities as well as those in support of subregional and national levels, to increase – as requested by the countries – the public sector budget dedicated to Sustainable Land Management (SLM).
The Ministers of Environment endorsed the Decision and requested the GM, in cooperation with the UNCCD Secretariat and through the LAC Regional Coordination Unit (RCU) to lead the process, paying special attention to the LAC drylands and the synergies with climate change adaptation financing mechanisms, whilst at the same time triggering South – South cooperation processes to support the implementation path of the RFS.
Once again, the LAC Region is taking big steps forward, leading the way on the challenging roadmap of UNCCD implementation.
For more information:
Mr Alejandro Jacques Castro - a.jacques (at) global-mechanism.org
LAC Regional Coordination Unit - Mexico City
Download the Operational Strategy (English)
