The Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) of Namibia and Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Thursday, 14 March 2019, in Windhoek, Namibia. The long-term relationship between the two institutions is aimed at developing complementary research, institutional development and capacity development through needs-driven cooperative project activities.
The relationship between the two institutions is expected to culminate in the generation and usage of accurate climate data, forming the foundation on which Namibia’s climate change adaptation projects are built on. SASSCAL’s Open Access Data Centre (OADC) is well positioned to provide free access to this data. SASSCAL augments provision of accurate climate data through its WeatherNet, which boasts of 154 weather stations within the region. The EIF has mobilized funding for 4 climate change adaptation projects from the Green Climate Fund and hopes to scientifically quantify the outcomes of the projects during the implementation phase, as well as the end-of-project phase.
Speaking at the signing, the Chief Executive Officer of the EIF, Benedict Libanda, reiterated the importance of data in climate change adaptation projects. “Access to weather and climate information is crucial in establishing early warning systems for the implementers of projects financed through the EIF. The work of SASSCAL therefore complements our efforts and more importantly the work of the farmers, conservancy members and community-based organizations currently working on implementing climate change adaptation projects”, said Libanda. Dr Olwoch, the SASSCAL Executive Director, highlighted some of the services and knowledge products that were developed under the SASSCAL Research Portfolio, that will enable the EIF to sustainably manage its portfolio. “SASSCAL is an internationally recognised reliable Science Service centre encored on Research, Capacity Development, Products and services. It is well suited in assisting the EIF in designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating its programmes and projects” added Dr Olwoch.
Chief Executive Officer of the EIF, Benedict Libanda, and SASSCAL Executive Director, Dr Jane Olwoch, signing the MOU and sealing the collaboration with a handshake
Under this MOU, the two parties have charted joint obligations for research and educational activities, for the purpose of enhancing awareness and mutual understanding. Dr. Olwoch committed the institution to providing the EIF with scientific services including research assignments, capacity development initiatives and the development and provision of services and data products to enable the EIF to sustainably manage its portfolio of climate change projects.
The MoU is effective for an initial period of five years and may be renewed for a period and on terms to be agreed upon by the Parties.
About SASSCAL
SASSCAL is a joint initiative of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Germany in response to the challenges of global change. SASSCAL has the mission to strengthen the regional capacity to generate and use scientific knowledge products and services for decision making on climate change and adaptive land management through research management, human capital development and service provision. SASSCAL successfully implemented a Research Portfolio (SASSCAL 1.0) comprising 88 projects across the Southern African Region with a total budget of the 24 Million Euro. Through this Research Portfolio, SASSCAL developed capacity at both institutional and individual levels, several research outputs and services and some of the key outputs from the portfolio are:
- More than 400 students were actively involved in SASSCAL research at various levels ranging from BSc to Post -Doc studies and 193 had graduated by end of 2017
- More than 75 research, academic and non-governmental institutions were directly involved in SASSCAL research
- Over 150 Automatic Weather Stations within the Southern African region that provide near real-time weather data
- 910 publications including more than 170 peer-reviewed publications in journals
- The SASSCAL Book
About the EIF
The Environmental Investment Fund is Namibia’s own response to the growing global need for financing to environmental sustainability. Established in terms of the Environmental Investment Fund Act, Act 13 of 2001 with a mandate to raise funding for investments into projects that promote sustainable development it is currently one of the fastest growing green financing institutions in the country. To date the Fund has financed secured over N$ 560 Million in grants financing for four (4) climate change adaptation projects in Namibia. The Fund continues to forge key strategic relationships with proponents of green growth in the areas of energy efficiency, eco tourism, waste management and climate change.
For more information contact:
Environmental Investment Fund
Lazarus Nafidi
Head: Communication & Corporate Services
LNafidi@eif.org.na
www.eif.org.na
Twitter: @Green_Viewpoint
Facebook: EIF Namibia
SASSCAL
Greater Mukumbira
Communications and Marketing Officer
greater.mukumbira@sasscal.org
www.sasscal.org
