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The first meeting of Ethiopia's National Community of Practice (COP) for Gender Equality and Social Inclusion in Climate Change took place on April 26, 2021. The meeting aimed to establish a coordinating body to address the limited integration of gender into climate actions, which previous assessments attributed to inadequate human and financial capacity within gender-mandated directorates. Key outcomes included the endorsement of the COP's Terms of Reference and the drafting of a one-year work plan featuring policy analysis, project mapping, and capacity audits. The COP is co-chaired by the Women, Children and Youth Directorates of the Ministry of Finance and the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commission.

The IAI and PAGES have agreed to collaborate on the "International mobility research Fellowship Program for Latin American and Caribbean early career scientists on past global changes". The program targets PhD students in their final stages or postdoctoral researchers who are citizens of Latin American or Caribbean countries. Eligible candidates must conduct research in a host institution within Latin America or the Caribbean that is not their home country, focusing on topics within the scope of PAGES. The program aims to promote collaborative research, open science, and a better understanding of Earth's past climate to inform future projections and sustainability strategies. IAI is responsible for financial management and reporting, while both entities collaborate on the call for applications and the selection of awardees. The program intended for the first fellows to begin their mobility in early 2022.

This briefing, prepared by the Executive Directorate of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), presents a proposed Gender Policy for IAI scientific projects and activities. The policy aims to ensure gender equality in research and capacity building, recognizing that gender is a social construct and not binary. It establishes five primary objectives to promote regional leadership in gender equality, integrate gender dimensions into science, eliminate selection biases, create inclusive research environments, and develop gender-focused training.

The document provides a stocktaking of the e-commerce JSI negotiations among 86 WTO members, highlighting how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital adoption while exacerbating the digital divide. It details the establishment of ten small negotiating groups to narrow differences on issues like consumer protection and spam, while noting persistent divergence on data flows and privacy. The brief also examines the separate WTO Work Programme on E-Commerce, specifically the contentious moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions, and the limited progress in addressing the needs of MSMEs, LDCs, and gender equality.

The report provides a status update on the WTO's Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on e-commerce, noting that while the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated global digital adoption, it also highlighted significant digital divides and complicated diplomatic negotiations. As of February 2021, 86 WTO members are participating in the JSI. Progress has been made in ten specialized small groups on issues such as consumer protection and electronic signatures, but deep divergences remain regarding data flows, privacy, and cybersecurity. The document also notes limited progress on provisions specifically addressing gender, least-developed countries (LDCs), and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

The LIFE-A2J-EARL project focused on bridging the 'implementation gap' of EU environmental laws by empowering the judiciary, public administrations, and public interest lawyers. Operating across eight EU Member States, the project produced a comprehensive legal guide, national toolkits, and a digital platform to facilitate access to justice. It delivered 48 training sessions and 12 webinars, reaching over 2,000 participants. Despite delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and shifting judicial attitudes in some regions, the project successfully increased stakeholder awareness of the Aarhus Convention and EU case-law. Key outputs included a database of 117 public interest lawyers from 15 countries and a final virtual conference attended by 285 participants.

The Independent Evaluation Unit (IEU) finds that the GCF's accreditation function is overburdened by contradictory goals and lacks a formal strategy, leading to protracted processing times and a project portfolio heavily skewed toward international entities. While the GCF prioritizes direct access, many direct access entities (DAEs) struggle with capacity and have not successfully accessed funds. The report recommends strengthening the governance of the Accreditation Committee and Panel, establishing clear business standards for processing, and implementing a project-specific assessment approach (PSAA) to improve efficiency.

The GCF Secretariat responds to an independent synthesis of its accreditation function, agreeing or partially agreeing with recommendations to improve access to resources. Key actions include updating the accreditation framework, strengthening the capacity of Direct Access Entities (DAEs), and implementing a project-specific assessment approach (PSAA) to complement institutional accreditation.

The NAP Global Network responds to an external evaluation of its 2015–2020 activities, committing to integrate findings into its 2021–2025 Strategy. Key commitments include revising its Theory of Change, expanding support to 30 new countries by 2025, and shifting focus from 'paper NAPs' toward the actual implementation of adaptation priorities. The Network also aims to enhance private sector engagement, vertical integration, and the alignment of NAP processes with the Paris Agreement's Global Stocktake and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

The document is a Readiness support proposal submitted to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to help Georgia update its Technology Needs Assessment (TNA). The project, implemented by UNEP on behalf of the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN), aims to identify and prioritize low-emission and adaptation technologies in the energy, agriculture, industry, and waste sectors. With a requested budget of USD 487,725 over 18 months, the initiative will establish a National TNA Committee, develop Sectoral Technology Action Plans, and create a financial mobilization strategy including new business models to attract private sector investment. The ultimate goal is to translate these findings into bankable GCF project proposals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance economic resilience.

The LGCC3 project seeks $10 million in GCF grants to scale up the Local Climate Adaptive Living (LoCAL) model in 15 vulnerable Cambodian districts. The project focuses on strengthening the capacity of sub-national administrations to integrate climate science into planning and budgeting, utilizing a Performance-Based Climate Resilience Grant (PBCRG) mechanism to fund local adaptation investments in infrastructure, livelihoods, and ecosystem services.

The document argues that effective climate services require an intentional MEL design based on outcome mapping to foster collaboration and adaptive management. It details the use of boundary partners, outcome challenges, and progress markers to track behavioral changes rather than just direct development impacts. The briefing recommends specific tools like the 'most significant change' technique and outcome harvesting to capture complex, non-linear results. An illustrative example from the FRACTAL project in Windhoek, Namibia, demonstrates how these elements are applied to different stakeholder groups, including city officials and climate service providers.

The paper examines the GCF's 'direct access' modality, which allows developing country institutions to receive funding without international intermediaries. While 62 such entities were accredited by November 2020, 42 (67%) had not yet received project approval. The authors analyze four support mechanisms—the Readiness Programme, Project Preparation Facility (PPF), Simplified Approval Process (SAP), and Enhancing Direct Access pilot—finding that high costs, complex application processes, and restrictive funding rules create significant bottlenecks. The paper recommends automating 'kick-off' funding upon accreditation, streamlining the SAP, and allowing preparatory funds to cover internal staff time.

The document outlines a request for USD 302,281.00 to enable the Tongan private sector, particularly MSMEs, to access climate finance. The program focuses on capacity building, identifying investment barriers, and developing a pipeline of bankable project concept notes. The Tonga Development Bank (TDB) serves as the Delivery Partner, aiming for GCF accreditation, while the Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) acts as the executing entity. Key activities include creating a sensitization communication strategy, conducting barrier assessments, and facilitating south-south cooperation with Vanuatu.

Between 2018 and 2020, Côte d'Ivoire implemented several political, legal, and institutional measures to integrate gender equality into climate action. Key achievements include the creation of the National Gender and Climate Change Strategy 2020–2024, the establishment of a National Gender and Climate Change Platform, and the integration of gender as a cross-cutting theme in the revised Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The government also developed methodological guides for vulnerability assessments and provided national gender advisors to the Ministry of the Environment.

The report finds that Just Transition is a relatively new and poorly understood concept within the Indonesian government, characterized by institutional silos and a lack of coordination between the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the Ministry of Manpower. While Indonesia is a signatory to the Solidarity and Just Transition Silesia Declaration, the report notes that Just Transition is unlikely to be explicitly incorporated into the country's updated NDC, though it has been discussed for the 2050 Long Term Strategy for Low Carbon and Climate Resilience. Key gaps include the lack of a dedicated institution for the informal economy, which constitutes up to 60.5% of employment, and the disconnect between Covid-19 recovery responses and climate transition strategies. The Dala Institute recommends using informal knowledge-sharing webinars to engage stakeholders and suggests leveraging the Ministry of Manpower's 'Kartu Prakerja' pre-employment training program to mainstream Just Transition elements.

The NAP Global Network provides demand-driven support to developing countries through long-term in-country programs and short-term technical inputs via its Country Support Hub. Over five years, the Network has helped countries like Colombia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Kiribati, Peru, Saint Lucia, and South Africa achieve milestones including the adoption of NAP documents, the creation of sectoral adaptation strategies, and the establishment of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems. Key lessons emphasize that building trust-based relationships with government partners is essential and that a 'value chain' of technical assistance, peer learning, and knowledge resources accelerates the transition from planning to implementation.

The Republic of Chad is seeking a second GCF readiness grant to address gaps in climate finance mobilization. The proposal focuses on four main outcomes: strengthening the institutional capacity of the National Designated Authority (NDA), updating the national GCF website, operationalizing the No-Objection Procedure (NOP), and establishing a Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) tool for climate finance flows. Additionally, it aims to update the Chad Country Programme and develop at least three high-quality project concept notes in sectors such as agriculture, water, and fisheries. A significant component of the request is the mobilization of the private sector through a landscape analysis and a call for project ideas to reduce the country's climate investment deficit.

The document is a readiness support proposal for the Republic of Haiti, requesting $449,149.00 over 24 months to empower municipalities in Bazinet, Belle-Ansa, Iron Coast, Jamel, and Margot. The project aims to address gaps in uncoordinated development planning, limited participation in national processes, and ineffective institutional capacity for adaptation and mitigation. Key activities include the creation of a Climate Knowledge Toolkit, conducting Comprehensive Vulnerability and Needs Assessments, and developing climate risk/disaster management plans. The initiative is designed to align local actions with Haiti's National Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Policy to Fight Against Climate Change (PNCC), ultimately producing one GCF concept note for resilience and mitigation actions.

The proposal requests USD 404,285 over 24 months to make the newly created Environmental and Social (E&S) unit within Tunisia's Agricultural Investment Promotion Agency (APIA) operational. The project focuses on strengthening staff capacity in E&S safeguards, project design, and the preparation of three concept notes for climate-resilient agriculture projects. It includes a learning mission to Morocco to study the experience of the accredited ADA Morocco entity.