The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) renews its support for the Republic of Djibouti's sustainable development policy by allocating funding to 17 environmental NGOs. The funding agreements were concluded on July 24, 2019 in the capital Djibouti.
After Togo in January 2019, it is the Republic of Djibouti’s turn to see some of its environmental advocates benefit from the green funds of the UNDP. In all, 17 NGOs, with nature protection projects selected, signed funding agreements with the UNDP on Wednesday, July 24, 2019 in Djibouti, the capital of the eponymous country. The government, through the Djibouti Minister of Environment, Mohamed Abdoulkader Moussa, has welcomed “a commendable initiative” which, in his opinion, will give a new impetus to the context of the participation of the associative fabric in the fight against all factors affecting the environment in the Republic of Djibouti.
The United Nations coordinator in Djibouti, Fatima Al Sheik, made a timely statement recalling that the programme aims to strengthen the capacity of non-governmental actors and communities to integrate environmental issues into local development efforts.
Local solutions to global environmental problems
This support from the UNDP is similar to the one it provided in January 2019 to 7 Togolese NGOs. At that time, they had signed financing agreements with UNDP amounting to nearly €221,000. The objective is to support innovative community initiatives that could contribute to the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of natural resources as a means of combating poverty and strengthening people’s resilience to the adverse effects of climate change.
With regard to the Republic of Djibouti, the UNDP has been operating in the country since 1979, supporting development solutions and building capacity that will enable this East African country to achieve sustainable development objectives.
This new UNDP support is part of the Global Environment Facility Microfinance Programme (GEF/MFP), a financial mechanism that aims to find local solutions to global environmental problems. Funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented by UNDP, the GEF/GMP is currently operational in 122 countries. At the end of its fourth operational phase in 2010, the programme had supported more than 14,000 community projects.
Boris Ngounou
