Competence centre supported by IKI receives high praise

Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation introduces the 4C Competence Centre, supported by IKI, during the 71st UN General Assembly in New York.

At the start of the 71st UN General Assembly in New York, Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Salaheddine Mezouar, introduced the 4C Competence Centre Climate Change in Morocco. One of the centre’s aims is to strengthen Morocco’s capacities for implementing and developing its national climate policies through knowledge and information management. The International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) has allotted EUR 4.5 million to support the project.

Among other activities, this Moroccan institution will educate and train national climate experts to enable the country to participate actively in the international dialogue on adapting to climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, staff members from responsible ministries at the regional and local levels, along with other partner countries on the continent (through South-South cooperation), will receive training on topics such as climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. The centre provides direct advice and support to Morocco in its strategic preparations for the international Climate Change Conference (COP22). Moreover, it supports the Moroccan Government in setting its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

The UN event on 20 September entitled ‘Climate Change Centers of Excellence and Think Tanks’ was attended by environmental ministries from numerous countries. The participants praised the initiative and its aim to enhance cooperation with additional partner countries from the global South as well.
Foreign Minister Mezouar, the designated president of the 22nd Climate Change Conference, highlighted the opportunities that the centre holds for transferring knowledge between the North and the South through South-South cooperation. Moroccan Environment Minister Hakima El Haité noted that ‘projects to minimise and adapt to climate change often fail in those countries most affected by global warming due to a lack of capacities, such as for securing project financing. The Moroccan Competence Centre could provide an answer to this problem.’

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is carrying out the project in Morocco. An official presentation of the Competence Centre is planned for the COP22 in Marrakech in November.