The African Union Commission (AUC) is convening a high-level ministerial meeting to update AU member states, development partners, and financial institutions on progress in the implementation of the Green Recovery Action Plan (GRAP) 2021-2027 and lay the groundwork for a pledging conference expected to hold in the first quarter of 2023.
The AU Assembly adopted the GRAP at its 35th Ordinary Session in February 2022. It aims to facilitate climate-resilient recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and promote sustainable green transition on the continent.
The roundtable will be held on November 14, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:35 p.m. in Sharm El-Sheikh, the 2022 United Nations Climate Summit venue. Several ministers, leaders of international, continental, and regional development organizations, and other stakeholders are expected at the event.
"At the African Union, we are of the view that we can rebuild from the COVID-19 and climate crises in ways that are not only in alignment with Agenda 2063 but also in compliance with the ambition of the Paris Agreement to keep global temperature rise to under 1.5 degrees. This is what the GRAP is primarily about," says Her E.E. Josefa Sacko, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Sustainable Environment, and Blue Economy at the AU.
The GRAP seeks to empower countries and regional economic communities on the African continent to seize the window of opportunity to build a different future.
The Sharm El Sheikh gathering will review progress in the implementation of the GRAP, review some flagship programs submitted by the AUC member states, and lay the groundwork for a formal pledging conference of the GRAP expected to be held in the first quarter of 2023.
Who is Attending?
Confirmed so far are H.E. Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment and CoP 27 Ministerial Coordinator and Envoy, H.E. Mr. Selwin Hart, Assistant Secretary-General of the Climate Action Team (on behalf of UNDSG), the President of the Pan African Parliament, Ms. Janet Rogan Regional Ambassador for Middle East and Africa, United Kingdom, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, H.E. Ms. Inger Andersen, UN Under-Secretary-General & Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program, Ms. Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven Managing Director of GIZ, H.E. Ms Maria Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Dr. Julian Lampietti, Global Practice Manager for Agriculture and Food of the World Bank, Prof. Anthony Nyong, Senior Director of the Global Center on Adaptation, Ms. Carolina Fuentes, Director of Country Programming of the Green Climate Fund, and Her Excellency Amani Abou-Zeid, the Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy at the AUC.
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The event would be chaired by H.E. Josefa Sacko, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy.
About GRAP:
The Green Recovery Action Plan (GRAP) is a policy instrument to coordinate and stimulate urgent action to help African Union member countries to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate change crisis. The African Union leads the GRAP in collaboration with several other organizations. Focused on five pillars, the GRAP seeks to support the AU in achieving Agenda 2063, the SDGs, and the Paris Agreement. The GRAP is an African-led framework to mobilize partners, knowledge, and investments needed to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. The UK Government leads the team of bilateral, multilateral, and businesses supporting the achievements of the strategic priorities of the GRAP.
