PH secures $10-M climate adaptation grant from global fund

MANILA, May 2 ------ The Philippines has secured its first grant from the global Adaptation Fund (AF) to help vulnerable communities in Tawi-Tawi adapt to the impacts and challenges of climate change. In a release issued, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Finance (DOF) said the project, titled “Harnessing the water-energy-food nexus to address and adapt to climate change impacts in Tawi-Tawi,” secured a USD10 million fund during the 44th Board Meeting of the Adaptation Fund held in Bonn, Germany on April 8-11. 

The project aims to support communities in securing climate-resilient water access by increasing the adaptive capacity of the municipalities of Sibutu and Sitangkai, two of the southernmost and most climate-vulnerable areas in the country. “This project is fully aligned with our National Adaptation Plan, which emphasizes securing food supply while nurturing our natural resources and sustaining livelihoods as one of our core strategies in our fight against climate change,” Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga said. 

She said the grant would fund the installation of resilient water systems powered by renewable energy, capacity-building for sustainable resource management, and the development of community-based climate adaptation practices. The DENR, as the country’s designated authority to the AF, led the project’s development, together with concerned stakeholders, to ensure that the adverse impacts and risks posed by climate change in the water management sector in the Tawi-Tawi province are properly addressed, she added. 

The project will be implemented in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA). As a board member representing developing countries, the Philippines, through the Department of Finance, played a key role in securing support for the proposal. 

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said the project is not only the country’s first access to the AF but is an assertion of the government’s promise that no Filipino will be left behind in the country’s pursuit of climate resilience and sustainable development. “By placing communities like Tawi-Tawi, at the forefront of global climate financing, we are doubling down on our commitment to ensure that we uplift the lives of every Filipino, especially those most at risk,” he said. 

The project will be implemented through various components throughout the project’s lifespan, including deploying resilient water supply systems integrated with existing renewable energy infrastructure in Tawi-Tawi, supplying local capacity building for sustainable water management, building the local communities’ resilience and strengthening their livelihoods, and providing knowledge management to scale up the project’s activities in the Philippines. 

Loyzaga said the project shows how the water-energy-food nexus recognizes the interconnectedness of vital resources and leads to more effective climate solutions. “By enhancing water security, we are not only safeguarding the livelihoods of our seaweed farmers but also reinforcing the economic foundations of the communities affected by climate change,” she added. 

The Adaptation Fund finances projects and programs that help vulnerable communities in developing countries adapt to climate change. Initiatives are based on the country’s needs, views. and priorities. 

Source: pna.gov.ph