The Green Climate Fund (GCF) Secretariat has approved an amount of $442,968 for HATOF Foundation’s Readiness Proposal towards capacity building and knowledge management on climate change for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Ghana.

This is towards the implementation of the Nationally Determined Contributions. The Ministry of Finance, the National Designated Authority of the Green Climate Fund, will provide leadership in implementing the Readiness Programme.

The proposal was approved on December 3, making HATOF Foundation the first Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Africa to have a readiness proposal approved by the GCF.

This Readiness is the fifth Readiness the GCF has approved for Ghana. HATOF Foundation is a National Environment Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with over 19 years of experience in environmental management, governance and climate policy processes.

GCF Readiness aims to strengthen the capacities of 10 Ghanaian CSO networks to contribute efficiently in the Nationally Determined Contributions planning and implementation processes.

In a press statement signed by CEO Samuel Dotse, the Foundation noted this will be accomplished by engaging the National Designated Authority, Direct Access Entities and GCF on project design, selection, budget preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

It will also "develop a CSO-tailored training module on preparing funding proposals to leverage nonstate actors’ engagement with the GCF; develop a five-year Civil Society Climate Change Agenda and Action Plan".

Last but not least develop a "GCF Concept note proposing how this initiative could be up-scaled nationally to facilitate agreement on direction and access to financing."

To ensure that CSOs in Ghana have access to relevant, up-to-date information about climate change trends and risks, and also receive suitable training and have enhanced knowledge on climate financing and paradigm shift strategies, the Readiness will build on and maximize the efforts of previous and existing support in climate change capacity building related initiatives.

"Over time, the Readiness support will enhance CSOs technical and institutional expertise to develop
and effectively implement low carbon development climate compatible projects and programmes to
contribute to the country's long-term sustainable development," the Foundation assured.

The GCF with Centre de Suivi Ecologique (CSE) as the delivery partner, has engaged the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) for grant management support to the Readiness Programme.

This includes the establishment of a grant agreement, performance monitoring and disbursements for the amount of USD 442,968 under the agreement.

The Green Climate Fund is the world's largest climate fund, mandated to support developing countries raise and realize their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) ambitions towards low-emissions, climate-resilient pathways.

The Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme supports country-driven initiatives by developing countries to strengthen their institutional capacities, governance mechanism, and planning and programming frameworks towards a transformational long-term climate action agenda.