Climate & Territories

Published on 30/12/2020

Climate, biodiversity and sustainable development

CLIMATE AND TERRITORIES

Expertise France helps partner countries and cities mainstream climate issues into their policies and programmes, and thereby contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals and to the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement. The agency offers support in three main areas: climate strategies, the sustainable development of territories and inclusive territorial governance.

Urban and rural territories have been facing a whole host of challenges: reducing poverty and inequalities, pursuing their economic development, while at the same time reducing risks caused by climate change.

Efficient climate change strategy requires aligning sectoral policies and establishing effective cooperation between national, regional and local levels. Regional and local authorities are key actors in ensuring the transition of territories towards low-carbon and climate-resilient development.

Strengthening territories' capacities to address climate change

As an international technical cooperation agency, Expertise France helps partner countries and cities mainstream climate issues into their policies and programmes, and thereby contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals and to the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement. The agency offers support in three main areas: climate strategies, the sustainable development of territories and inclusive territorial governance.

Climate actions require a cross-cutting and inclusive approach. Therefore, Expertise France promotes a full integration of climate and environmental issues into sectoral policies, a resilient planning for territories, and a participation of all actors in environmental governance.

Definition and implementation of climate strategies

• Supporting the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement: strengthening the climate governance of countries to ensure the successful implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

• Assisting national and local contracting authorities in the preparation of framework documents to ensure that climate change is effectively mainstreamed at various decision-making levels

• Identifying and supporting decision-makers in conducting institutional reforms to improve climate change planning

Sustainable development of territories

• Co-building territorial development projects: territorial planning, access to services, environmental protection, urban resilience, mobility, heritage conservation

• Assisting local authorities in the integration of the impacts and opportunities related to climate change into their planning mandate (climate change action plans, etc.)

Inclusive territorial governance

• Building the technical and financial capacities of national and local authorities

• Supporting local contracting authorities in the preparation and implementation of projects with climate-related co-benefits

• Promoting dialogue and a participatory approach with all actors: public administrations, private sector, civil society, research institutes, etc.

A few of our projects

GCCA+ West Africa

2017-2022 / EUR 12.1M (European Union)

As a regional variation of the intra-ACP program, the GCCA+ West Africa project aims to participate in the West African regional effort to implement the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. To this end, it targets the capacity building of regional institutions in West Africa, but also the emergence of innovative field solutions to strengthen the climate resilience of agricultural and rural actors.

The GCCA+ West Africa project is implemented by Expertise France, prime contractor, and benefits from two regional anchors: the political leadership of ECOWAS, and the technical participation of CILSS, which will implement part of the activities

More about GCCA+ West Africa

Support for the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) initiative

2017-2022 / EUR 4.7M (European Union)

Funded by the European Union, the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) initiative supports Sub-Saharan cities in their fight against climate change and in their efforts in ensuring access to clean energy. Building on CoM SSA’s previous successes, the initiative has expanded to not only focus on climate planning, but also on project implementation, and to unlock climate finance at the local level.

More about CoM SSA

Adapt'Action Facility

2017-2021 / EUR 30M (Agence française de développement)

The Adapt’Action Facility is a tool used by AFD and Expertise France to help 15 countries and regional organizations particularly vulnerable to climate-change implement adaptation strategies. Adapt’Action provides technical assistance and capacity-building support to strengthen climate governance. It helps countries make sure that climate-change adaptation is incorporated in their public policies and projects, and contribute to structures that make adaptation a continuing priority.