Speed versus consultation was the main debating point during the in-country partnerships session at the Climate Investment Fund (CIF) Partnership Forum, hosted by the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Cape Town on 24 and 25 June, 2011.
On the one hand, there is the need to act and deliver on climate change as quickly as possible. But on the other hand, a wide variety of stakeholders, including the program beneficiaries, must be engaged at all levels. There is an inherent tension between speed and consultation, as the latter tends to be a lengthy process.
Mafalda Duarte, Principal Climate Specialist at the AfDB and CIF Coordinator, said there must be concerted efforts to bring stakeholders to the table. One of the main challenge in this regard is the creation of a 'mapping system' that ensures inclusiveness and representativeness of stakeholders in any country.
Another issue is private sector engagement is how best to engage private investors in climate investment plans.
One solution is to reinforce government systems and provide better clarity from partner governments to facilitate private sector investments plans and to ensure better coordination among donors.
"If countries prepare better for these new opportunities for increased climate investments, they will be better recipients of these investments and attain better results', said Ms Duarte.
Her comments were echoed by fellow panelist, Guy Patrice Dkamela of the Network for the Environment and Sustainable Development in Central Africa. He suggested creating a common communications platform that would create clear communications rules and a strategy for consulting all actors.
In the same vein, David Reed, Climate Change Consultant , argued for the creation of matchmaking agencies - national climate registries that would help match up national needs with available funding, helping to link stakeholders in the process.
With more creative ideas like this, it should be possible to be fast and inclusive at the same time. Given the urgency to address climate change, this is good news indeed.
Ms Duarte says more collaboration and climate change in a podcast entitled: "Where does the CIF fit in the climate finance puzzle?" She was joined in the studio by Matthew Wyatt from the Department for International Development (DFID, UK) and Thomas Heller, Climate Policy Initiative.
