Harewelle Archive

Harewelle Support to the Rwanda Finance Ministers Conference

Harewelle International was contracted, through the DFID funded DEW Point Resource Centre, to provide support to the Third African Ministers Conference on Financing for Development which took place in Kigali, Rwanda on 21st and 22nd May. Initially Harewelle undertook a scoping mission to assess the extent and nature of the support required by the Government of Rwanda in terms of technical content for the conference. Harewelle then contracted key international experts from IIED (International Institute for Environment and Development), Aghulas and SEI (Stockholm Environment Institute) along with individual associates, to oversee the production of a number of policy briefs. Additional support was afforded through the provision of key background papers and logistical assistance during the conference itself.

The conference was attended by African Ministers of Finance and selected Economic Planning and Environment Ministers, under the banner of “Climate Change: Financing Opportunities and Challenges to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in Africa.” Underpinning this event was a recognition of the need to minimise the possible adverse impacts of increasing climate variability and change on the region’s growth, development and efforts to achieve and sustain the Millennium Development Goals. Within this context, discussions centred on innovative mechanisms for financing climate change adaptation and mitigation in Africa.

Ministers discussed progress made since the previous Finance Minister’s conference, focusing in particular on the impact of climate change on economic growth and progress towards MDG targets in Africa. Additional discussions centred on current financing instruments and how best to access them. The formulation of an African Strategy to generate new, additional and adequate financing during the Copenhagen negotiations was also debated.

Discussions at the conference demonstrated a heightened awareness of the risks posed by increased climate variability and change and an appreciation of the urgency of mainstreaming adaptation into national policies and planning. The conference provided a useful arena to explore the potential of new climate financing instruments and mechanisms and also afforded an opportunity to share examples of best practice and success stories on climate change impacts.

The policy briefs produced by Harewelle were also used to develop the conference communiqué. In turn, this developing ‘African Voice’ was used to inform discussions at the subsequent AMCEN conference, held in Nairobi. The outcomes of this conference will directly feed into discussions at the upcoming African Union Summit to be held in Libya later this month.