Burkina to Set Up a Fund for Losses and Damage Linked to Climate Change

With a view to operationalizing the fund for losses and damage linked to climate change, the Confédération paysanne du Faso, in partnership with the NGO Oxfam, convened a national consultative conference in Ouagadougou on September 7th and 8th, 2023. The opening ceremony was held under the auspices of the Minister of the Environment, Water and Sanitation, represented by his Director of Cabinet Ousmane Bawar.

For climate justice, underdeveloped countries that pollute less than rich countries should receive compensation for the damage and losses they suffer. This is what organizations such as the Confédération Paysanne du Faso (CPF) and the NGO Oxfam are advocating. At the Conference of the Parties (COP 27) held from November 7th to 22nd, 2022 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, it was decided to set up a fund for losses and damage linked to climate change.

“This fund is intended to help all stakeholders gain access to the financing they need to fulfill their respective missions: farmers, so that they can provide the population with food in quantity and quality; political decision-makers, so that they can provide appropriate and efficient services; and civil society organizations, in their drive to provide ongoing, local support, so that they can make their own contribution”, said Marc Gansoré, Secretary General of the CPF.

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The Fund shoud take account of grassroots concerns

But before the fund became operational, the Confédération paysanne du Faso, with the support of its long-standing partner Oxfam, called on stakeholders to engage in in-depth reflection at a national conference. “For there to be good cooperation, we need to take into account the concerns of those we want to support, in particular producers. With the support of our partners in civil society, we are in a position to clearly define what support we want, when and under what conditions,” said Marc Gansoré.

According to Omer Kaboré, Country Director of the NGO Oxfam, the consequences of climate change, such as poor yields, forced population displacement, and environmental degradation, are realities that “we can no longer ignore.”

According to him, the operationalization of the loss and damage fund is a crucial step in this shared quest for adaptation and resilience. “This fund represents a glimmer of hope for communities facing the devastating effects of climate change every day. It demonstrates global solidarity and the recognition of shared responsibilities in this global crisis,” said Omer Kaboré, for whom a collaborative and inclusive approach by all stakeholders is essential to the fund’s effectiveness.

“We must ensure that funds are allocated fairly, transparently and based on real needs, giving priority to the most vulnerable and marginalized populations. We must also invest in mitigation and adaptation measures to reduce the risk of future loss and damage. This involves building the resilience of local communities, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, developing climate-resilient infrastructure and facilitating the transition to clean, renewable energy”, argues the country director of the NGO Oxfam.

In a speech read by his chief of staff, Roger Baro, Minister of the Environment, Water, and Sanitation, welcomed the relevance of the national conference and stressed that the transitional committee on the operationalization of the fund will present the conclusions of its reflections at COP 28 in November 2023. He praised Oxfam’s commitment to the Confédération Paysanne du Faso and CSOs in their advocacy for climate policies and the promotion of climate justice.

He reassured the participants that the conclusions of these two events would be well received by the Burkinabe government, “which is already engaged in reforms and in the search for effectiveness and efficiency in dealing with climate-related disasters”.

During the national conference, participants will be treated to a presentation on the current state of negotiations within the transitional committee on the operationalization of the fund. Commission work is also planned, in particular, to enable participants to review structures, organizations, and experiences in managing or financing losses and damages. But also to identify best practices and successful experiences in terms of advocacy linking loss and damage negotiations to climate justice.

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(Featured image by klimkin via Pixabay)

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First published in le faso.net. A third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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