The Corona Response Package focuses on a green restart of the economy in combination with the prevention of pandemics. Climate policy issues and the conservation of biodiversity remain as guiding principles in the spirit of the Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the 2030 Agenda. The 68 million euro package will involve 29 projects in 25 countries and support 16 different IKI implementing partners. It is regionally balanced, thematically diverse, and aims to meet the needs of the partner countries.

With the Corona Response Package, the IKI helps to provide short-term responses to the impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic. The fast-track procedure has been modified and shortened compared to the standard processes of IKI project funding. The package of measures can build on approximately 300 IKI projects that are currently underway to provide targeted support.

"Climate protection and biodiversity must make a significant contribution to economic recovery worldwide."

Due to quarantine measures and lack of funds from tourism, poaching and deforestation have dramatically increased worldwide. As a result, communities such as indigenous groups are acutely at risk.

Therefore, one focus of the measures is to provide financial support for the conservation of nature reserves and biodiversity hotspots and to mitigate the immediate consequences of the COVID 19 pandemic.

IKI projects supplemented by emergency measures:

Support to indigenous peoples’ and community conserved areas and territories (ICCAs)

Forest protection and the management of natural resources in Manu Biosphere Reserve

Promotion of nature-based solutions for resilient, low-carbon and biodiverse territorial development (project start: August 2020)

IKI partner countries are facing significant economic and social challenges. This presents an opportunity to achieve a sustainable recovery of the economy that contributes to climate change mitigation and the conservation of biodiversity. During the last months, many governments already committed themselves to this goal. The second focus of the Corona Response Package is to seize this opportunity and support green economic recovery.

The IKI package is intended to contribute to strengthening a climate-friendly economy in two ways:

One, economic advisors in seven partner countries are financed to support planning and finance ministries in designing climate-friendly economic stimulus programmes. The BMU's cooperation partners for this priority area are NDC Partnership, the OECD and UN PAGE (UN Partnership for Action on Green Economy).

Two, additional support is given to ongoing IKI projects that have a special employment effect while laying the foundation for the integration of climate change and biodiversity aspects into long-term policies for economic development. To this end, the BMU will give additional funds to 16 IKI projects and adapt the content to include further nine projects. These projects focus on energy efficiency, renewable energies, urban development, and the mobilisation of sustainable investments.

Upscaling of private FLR investments in Latin America

Fishing for Climate Resilience

ExploRE - Strategic exploration of economic mitigation potentials through renewables

Climate-resilient urban planning – support for city authorities in the Philippines

Measuring Paris Agreement alignment and financial risk in financial markets

Financing Energy for Low-carbon Investment - Cities Advisory Facility

Mobilizing capital for ecosystem-based adaptation

Impact Investments for the sustainable use of biodiversity in Peru

Improving incentive frameworks and capacity for green, climate-related investments in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia

Integrated coastal zone management and marine biodiversity

Wetlands Management for Biodiversity and Climate Protection

Programme for Energy Efficiency in Buildings

India Sustainable Mobility Initiative

Climate protection in the Mexican urban policy

Capacity building in sub-Saharan African megacities, aimed at achieving a transformation to sustainable reduction measures against climate change

Clean, Affordable and Secure Energy for Southeast Asia

Financing and capacity building for micro and small Climate-smart Enterprises: Filling the gap of the missing middle

The third part of the package focuses on the prevention of pandemics. The increasing occurrence of viral pandemics is closely linked to the growing loss of biodiversity and forests worldwide. When humans and animals move closer together, the risk of diseases being transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses) increases.

Therefore, the conservation of biodiversity hotspots and forests helps to reduce the risk of zoonoses, and thus reduces the likelihood of pandemics.

IKI projects, which are supplemented by measures for pandemic prevention:

Protected area solutions for biodiversity and climate change mitigations

Supporting the design and first implementation steps of the new global framework for biological diversity

Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN)

Green recovery measures will strengthen the cooperation with partner countries and complement the implementation and development of ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) based on the Paris Agreement. Besides, the measures will support the achievement of the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and address the dramatic loss of natural resources worldwide.

Photo: © Abbie Trayler-Smith/Panos Pictures/Department for International Development