The Namibian Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) today signed a grant agreement with the Green Climate Fund (GCF), making it the first direct access entity to be supported by the Fund’s readiness programme. The grant demonstrates the support GCF is offering to direct access bodies to aid them in accessing project funding from GCF.

Benedict Libanda, Chief Executive Officer of EIF signed the agreement with Ousseynou Nakoulima, GCF Director of Country Programming, in the presence of Petrus Muteyauli from the Namibian National Designated Authority, and Zaheer Fakir, GCF Board Co-Chair, at the UN Climate Change Conference in Marrakech.

“EIF is developing a proposal to support the climate resilience of communities in tourism-reliant areas of Namibia. This readiness grant from GCF will let us carry out local level consultations so that there is community ownership for our approach,” stated Benedict Libanda.

“GCF is committed to the principle of country ownership, and our readiness programme provides the funds to make this principle a reality,” stated Ousseynou Nakoulima. “I am delighted that EIF is the first direct access entity to receive readiness support from the Fund.”

The readiness grant of up to USD 392,000 will enable EIF to conduct multi-stakeholder consultations, including regional consultative workshops and national validation workshops, to ensure that its approach to community-based natural resources management in tourism-reliant communities of Namibia is underpinned by strong local engagement.