The Nairobi Framework - catalysing the CDM in Africa
Background
The Nairobi Framework was initiated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP),
World Bank Group, African Development Bank, and the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
with the specific target of helping developing countries, especially those in sub-Sahara Africa, to improve their level of participation
in the CDM.
The Framework was first announced by the UN Secretary-General, in
his address during the opening of the high-level segment of COP/MOP 2 (CMP2)
in which he stated that the CDM “…has become a multi-billion dollar source of funding for sustainable development … an outstanding example
of a UN-led partnership linking government action to the private sector in the developing world.” The Secretary-General went on to
“…encourage donor countries to help make these efforts [under the Nairobi Framework] a success.”
Subsequently, in its decisions
1/CMP.2 (‘Further Guidance to the clean development mechanism’) and
6/CMP.2 (‘Capacity building under the Kyoto Protocol’), CMP 2 welcomed the Nairobi Framework and encouraged Parties to undertake a number
of actions in these areas.
Objectives and activities
The Framework consists of five objectives, agreed to by the initiating agencies, considered to be key priority targets in order
to move the CDM forward in the beneficiary countries:
Build and enhance capacity of DNAs to become fully operational
Build capacity in developing CDM project activities
Promote investment opportunities for projects
Improve information sharing/outreach / exchange of views on activities / education and training
Inter-agency coordination.
In the context of these needs, the UNFCCC Secretariat is acting as a catalyst and facilitator for the Framework by:
Maintaining regular contact with the implementing agencies in order to keep them up-to-date and to solicit information on
their latest developments to enable enhanced inter-agency coordination
In the biennium 2007-2008, the agencies that are currently partner to the Nairobi Framework will make a concerted effort to provide
assistance to sub-Sahara African countries to enable them to identify, develop, submit and process CDM projects that will
eventually lead to a considerable increase in CDM penetration in the region. As part of these activities, the agencies have agreed
to join forces to map the CDM potential in sub-Sahara Africa (by country and key sector), taking into account the emission reduction
potential of each sector as well as the various barriers. This mapping should be helpful tool for potential investors.
Most of these agencies already have a number of ongoing initiatives (e.g. the
UNDP-UNEP Partnership on Climate Change)
and projects that address some of the identified needs and are also developing new ones in direct response to the Framework.
Information sharing
As part of its function as facilitator, the Secretariat, with contributions by the partner agencies, will prepare an
overview of assistance needed, in a generic sense, to move the CDM forward in a recipient country;
this includes some activities considered appropriately handled in a regional perspective.
The implementing agencies, working together, will address these needs according to the specific situation in each country where
they become active. Other agencies, bilateral programmes and NGOs are also encouraged to provide assistance to meet these needs
and to inform the Secretariat so that this information can also be made available.
The information accessible from this Web portal will provide an overview of assistance (ongoing or planned) under the Framework,
partly as an outreach tool to demonstrate progress being made towards the objectives of the Nairobi Framework and partly to
provide lessons from past experiences; it will also assist in evaluating the coverage and effectiveness of the activities and
act as a guide to improve future ones.
Identifying the needs to be addressed
