COMESA Program on Climate Change  2009-01-10

The Secretariat for the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Government of Norway have today signed a grant agreement in which Norway will make available to COMESA a financial grant amounting to NOK 17 000 000 (Norwegian Kroner Seventeen Million or US$2.5 million) for the implementation of the Climate Change programme for the 2009 work program.

The Climate Change programme is a joint effort of COMESA, East African Community (EAC) and Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) which is aimed at supporting the sub-region's vision and efforts to address climate change challenges, including its impact on socio-economic development and poverty reduction. Further the programme will Build and strengthen the capacity of African countries to address adaptation and mitigation to climate change, and to facilitate an African dialogue on the inclusion of sustainable agriculture and land-use practices, forestry, biodiversity conservation, and maintenance of environmental services in the post Kyoto Climate regime.