DRC High Level Event at COP-22
15 November 2016: The event, hosted in the UNDP Pavillion at COP 22 on 15 November (13:00 to 14:30), presented the areas of the DRC REDD+ Investment Plan where implementation has begun, and how this aligns with existing initiatives in the country.
It also showcased how cross-sectoral and multi-stakeholder coordination for REDD+ works in practice in DRC through the National REDD+ Fund, and is an opportunity to discuss how the momentum created by signing of the DRC- CAFI Letter of Intent can be leveraged to scale up funding for the DRC National Fund for REDD+, from further investments to results-based payments.
Opening and welcome remarks were delivered by Magdy Martinez Soliman, Director of the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, of UNDP (see full statement and video). Statements, on behalf of Robert Bopolo, Minister of Environment, Nature Conservation and Sustainable Development, DRC, and Vidar Helgesen, Minister of Climate and Environment, Norway, emphasized the need to deep and structural changes in how lands are used, and partnerships needed to stop deforestation.
Félicien Mulenda, co-coordinator of the Secretariat of the National REDD+ FUND, kicked off the technical segmentof the event with a presentation, Towards the implementation of the REDD+ Investment Plan.
The strong national ownership demonstrated by DRC for a national approach to REDD+ and for a nationally coordinated programmatic approach for receiving GCF REDD+ investments was then discussed by international and national experts :
- Per-Fredrik Ilsaas Pharo, Director, Norways’ International Climate and Forests Initiative
- Benoit Bosquet, Practice Manager, Environment and Natural Resources Global Practice, World Bank
- Issa Lingbelu Tiapele, Groupe de Travail Climat- REDD Rénové, RDC
- Karsten Sach, Director General - Climate Policy, European and International Policy, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety of Germany
- Jean-Luc François, Head of Agricultural, Rural Development and Biodiversity Division, French Development Agency
- Adriana Dinu, Executive Coordinator, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP
- Berta Pesti, head of the CAFI Secretariat (moderation)
