Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Deputy Minister Narend Singh has noted the critical need for collaboration among countries in the Southern African region to address pressing environmental challenges by enhancing the impact of Global Environment Facility- (GEF-) funded programmes.

Speaking during the opening of the four-day GEF Expanded Constituency Workshop in Johannesburg, on January 20, he emphasised the urgent need for coordinated global and regional efforts.

“Our environment faces unprecedented challenges and it is only through collective action, shared knowledge and strategic partnerships that we can turn the tide against biodiversity loss, climate change and environmental degradation,” he said.

Similarly, development finance institution the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) Project Preparation acting group executive Lebogang Seperepere also emphasised the importance of partnerships in delivering sustainable impact.

“The DBSA is committed to working with global partners like the GEF to address the twin challenges of environmental degradation and climate change. By leveraging our expertise in financing and infrastructure development, we can ensure that projects not only protect our planet but also uplift our communities,” he said.

The workshop brings together government officials, international agencies, multilateral environmental agreements, GEF implementing agencies and civil society organisations from ten countries from Southern Africa to strategise on enhancing environmental initiatives and how to achieve impactful, lasting benefits for both people and the planet.

“This workshop is an important step in fostering collaboration and delivering transformative change across Southern Africa,” he said.

The GEF has dedicated $136.6-million for the 2022 to 2026 funding period to environmental efforts in Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The environmental funding for South Africa during this period is $49.1-million, the largest allocation in the Southern Africa region, the Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), DBSA and GEF said.

The total GEF active environmental support for the ten countries of Southern Africa includes 123 active projects with $553-million GEF commitments and more than $3-billion in leveraged co-financing, with 90% of the resources supporting biodiversity and climate change.

“This workshop is an opportunity to strategically plan how to maximise our resources for greater impact by strengthening our partnership with GEF recipient countries, GEF implementing agencies and civil society organisations in the region,” said GEF Programming Division manager Dr Fred Boltz.

“The GEF's funding and projects in Africa address critical needs, such as building more resilient food systems, restoring degraded lands, developing greener cities and infrastructure systems, managing chemicals and waste, and conserving vital ecosystems and biodiversity,” he said.

Further, with the GEF 9 replenishment negotiations about to start, this workshop provides an important opportunity for the region to put critical issues on the agenda with GEF leadership to further enhance collaboration, said GEF Operational Focal Point for South Africa Shahkira Parker.

Meanwhile, during the workshop, participants will visit the 'Building a resilient and resource-efficient Johannesburg: increased access to urban services and improved quality of life' project.

This project is being implemented by the DFFE, the City of Johannesburg, the DBSA and the United Nations Environment Programme with funding from the GEF and the City of Johannesburg to promote sustainable urban development, the statement said.