Public Notice: Green Climate Fund-Vaisigano Catchment Project (GCF-VCP)

April 27, 2021

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The Civil Society Support Programme (CSSP) will be hosting orientation workshops commencing Tuesday 27th April, 2021 to Friday 30th April, 2021 for applicants whose project proposals have been successful and approved for funding under the Final Call for Proposals of the Ecosystem-based Adaptation Enterprise Development Programme (EbAEDP) under GCF-VCP funding. The funding’s core objective is to enhance the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities within the Vaisigano River Catchment Area (VRCA) in order to mitigate their exposure to flood risk through the establishment of business initiatives to support their livelihoods and increase community resilience to combat the impacts of climate change.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) through its accredited entity in Samoa, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in partnership with the Government of Samoa have committed more than 6 million (SAT) to fund over 300 projects under this final round of the Ecosystem-based Adaptation Enterprise Development program. The majority of these projects will benefit vulnerable households in the 31 villages of the VRCA from Afiamalu Sasae down to Moataa and Matautu.

The orientation workshops aim to prepare the successful applicants by providing them information about the CSSP process and procedures, as well as the funding requirements to ensure their compliance when they implement their projects.

The orientation workshops will be held at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel Conference Room from 9:30am to 1:30pm. There will be 3 sessions for Households and Community Based Organisations from Tuesday to Thursday, 27-29th April 2021, and the final session on Friday, 30th April 2021for Existing Enterprises and Non-governmental Organisations.

The projects to be undertaken by the successful applicants will reflect the funding priorities of flood mitigation, environmental sustainability, gender equity, youth empowerment and increase community resilience to climate change. These projects include, but not limited to, agricultural and tourism initiatives that support economic livelihood and environment sustainability.

Upon the completion of the Orientation Workshops for the grant beneficiaries, the CSSP will coordinate the signing of funding agreements, followed by the disbursement of funding for the implementation of projects. These beneficiaries will be provided with capacity development support in the implementation of their projects by the Samoa Business Hub.

Successful applicants of the First Call for Proposals in 2019/2020 are continuing with the implementation of their projects and some are already receiving benefit from their completed projects. The Green Climate Fund Vaisigano Catchment Project (GCF-VCP), funding the EbAEDP targeting the communities within the VRCA, is expected to conclude in 2023. CSSP acknowledges the support of its partners, namely the Ministry of Finance (Project Coordination), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (lead Implementation Agency), the Samoa Business Hub (capacity development support) and UNDP as the GCF accredited entity in Samoa. CSSP also congratulates all the successful applicants who will be engaged and participated in the Orientation Workshop.