devinitorg/iati-policy-markers huggingface dataset:
Forest voices: raising awareness on tropical dry forest through arts and culture The municipality El Carmen de Bolívar in northern Colombia is highly affected by deforestation and biodiversity loss. It is home to the tropical dry forest which is one of the most fragile ecosystems in the entire tropics. This IKI Small Grants project addresses the loss of the tropical dry forest by bringing together traditional and scientific knowledge to renew and strengthen cultural sustainable relationships between the ecosystem and its inhabitants through various artistic and cultural expressions. This process aims to strengthen local leadership, artistic skills and cultural and scientific knowledge of young men, women, and youth leaders to help them tackle deforestation and shape future sustainable forms of living.
Supporting International Mitigation and MRV Activities (IMMA) The project supported the cooperation, exchange of ideas and practices, and development of expertise and capacities among members of the International Partnership for Mitigation and MRV (measurement, reporting and verification). To this end, it promoted networking and knowledge exchange among projects in the fields of emission reduction and MRV and supported the analysis and documentation of successful methods and instruments related to low emission development strategies (LEDS), nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMAs) and MRV systems. The information gathered was compiled in knowledge products and disseminated through the newsletter and website of the Partnership. Summer schools, workshops and peer-to-peer learning also enhanced the capacities and performance of the members of the Partnership. Knowledge generated by the network is fed into the UN climate negotiations.
Assessing and capitalizing on the potential to enhance forest carbon sinks through forest landscape restoration while benefitting biodiversity Restoring the 1 billion hectares of lost forests and degraded lands worldwide could sequester up to twice as much carbon as avoided deforestation. This project provided Mexico and  Ghana with the analytical work, practical tools and methodologies and innovative and open platforms for assessing the restoration and climate change mitigation opportunity. This was used as a basis to support the participatory development of REDD+ strategies. The project secured the 'plus' in REDD+. Broad uptake of the approaches and outputs were secured by capacity building of institutions from additional countries which will in consequence be better placed to increase social, ecological and economic resilience.
Low Carbon Ukraine (LCU): Advising Ukrainian decision makers on low emission policy paths The project supports the dialogue on the reconstruction of Ukraine with technical expertise by providing energy and climate economic policy advice on the formulation and impact assessment of policy measures and the preparation of strategic documents. In addition, the neighbouring Republic of Moldova is also supported in its efforts to reform its energy and climate policy, improve its energy security and mitigate the effects of the Russian war in Ukraine. The project therefore takes into consideration the interactions between policy decisions in Ukraine and its neighbour Moldova. Furthermore, individual topics are defined on a demand-driven basis in cooperation with the beneficiaries of advisory services and are aimed at shaping the reconstruction process and accompanying policy reforms, particularly in the context of the EU accession process of both countries.
Clean energy initatives for households in the Dang District Nepal has 45 per cent of forest coverage, but the forest quality is being degraded due to immense pressure on the forest for communities’ energy requirement. Therefore, the project sets up a model to fulfil communities' energy needs and improve forest quality. The installation of 200 biogas plants reduces greenhouse gas emissions and provides house-holds with clean energy. In addition, the project restores 100 hectares of ten community forests to ensure a growing carbon stock. Trainings in sustainable forest management ensure the sustainability of the project.
From NDCs to Pathways and Policies: Transformative Climate Action After Paris The Parties to the Paris Agreement will submit more ambitious NDCs every five years from 2020 onwards to limit global warming to as little as 1.5°C. The project supported the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the SDGs in major emerging economies and on an international level. To this end, the project provided advice on the development of priority policies and low emission strategies that are compatible with the national development goals of the partner countries. Against this backdrop, the project supported the preparation of new NDCs by identifying national potentials, and the conditions for increased ambitions. Besides, the project promoted progress in the climate-friendly transformation of sectors, financial flows, and technologies, etc. The results of the project analyses were fed into UNFCCC processes and contributed to creating an international momentum for increasing the ambition of NDCs and for submitting long-term strategies.
CDM Watch: Strenghtening civil society  engagement in countries of the gloabl south for implementing and enhancing the Clean Development Mechanism The project strengthened civil society groups and organisations in selected host countries where the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) was implemented. It is important for these civil society actors to be able to understand how CDM projects are implemented and to become involved in the international debate on designing the CDM. The aim was to enable civil society to voice its concerns effectively within both the national and international CDM approval procedures. A coordination office has been set up at the NGO Forum on Environment and Development to implement the project.
Taking Land Use Change out of Commodity Production in Savannahs and Grasslands through Policy Engagement, Land Use Planning and Best Management Practices The species-rich savannahs, grasslands and wetlands in Llanos, Colombia and the Pantanal in Paraguay are being increasingly threatened by the expansion of agriculture. The project therefore plans and implements more climate-friendly land use and management in these two regions in order to increase agricultural production, while at the same time protecting natural areas and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It disseminates knowledge on ecosystem services, sustainable land use and the relevant resources to national and regional authorities, and conducts pilot projects to demonstrate climate and biodiversity-friendly agriculture. Through cooperation with the financial sector, environmental and social risks are also to be integrated into financial strategies for oil palm, soya and livestock production. In this way, the project not only reduces soil degradation, it also has a positive impact on the forest ecosystems and water resources in the region .
ACCESS: Accelerating Access to Low Carbon Urban Mobility Solutions through Digitalization Latin America's transport sector is responsible for 39 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. By accelerating access to low-carbon urban mobility solutions through digitalisation, the ACCESS project aims to measurably reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector in urban areas in six Latin American countries. To achieve this, existing and new data and technology solutions will be used to enhance the positive aspects of transport innovations and mitigate the negative aspects. Furthermore, successes and lessons learned in digital development from other sectors will be used to inform project activities and policy recommendations. Transport-related Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) will be integrated into the objectives and targets for each country. The project includes activities and outputs at regional, national and city levels.
Developing capacities for climate policy in Southeast & Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia Even 30 years after the Framework Convention on Climate Change came into force, the capacities for designing and implementing effective climate policies are still weak in the countries of the project region. The countries are united by the challenge of successfully transforming their economic systems into open market economies while integrating ambitious climate protection policies into national development planning. Above all, there is a lack of personnel and institutional skills and expertise. The project implements measures to raise awareness among decision-makers and improve national framework conditions so that the preconditions for a significant reduction of greenhouse gases are created and economic transformation goals are achieved at the same time. Furthermore, pilot activities and additional individual and small-scale measures are implemented to strengthen capacities that result from concrete needs in the project region.
Facilitating private sector engagement for the financing of ecosystem-based adaptation in support of the Climate Change Action Plan of the Philippines The National Climate Strategy and National Climate Action Plan adopted by the Philippines focus on ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) to achieve solutions that are more capable of withstanding the effects of climate change. The project helped the private sector take a leading role in implementing these EbA goals by developing operational business models and application-focused recommendations for the most important sectors of the country’s economy. The project was also utilising agreements and dialogue between the private sector and the National Climate Commission to develop a long-term strategy for private-public partnerships in the country. Long-term alliances and programmes were also established between leading government initiatives and conservation associations on the one hand and private enterprise on the other. Insights from past projects were shared in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond by working with business networks, development financing institutions and others.
Resilient Islands by design: Integrating ecosystem- and community-based approaches to enhance climate change adaptation in the Caribbean As a result of sea-level rise and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, the Caribbean is particularly at risk from the impacts of climate change. The project supported governments and communities in partner countries in their efforts to integrate the concept of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) with local, national and regional planning. The project developed an innovative Adaptation Toolkit, which aims to improve decision-making for disaster management, in community planning and climate adaptation. By enabling the identification of locally tailored ecosystem- and community-based measures and their financing, the Toolkit will benefit thousands of individuals. The project trained local ‘Change Agents’, and prepared country-specific and political recommendations for action. Knowledge platforms and funding options ensured the onward transfer of model projects. The project also provided support for implementation of the Caribbean Disaster Management strategy.
Managing marine and coastal biodiversity in Pacific island states and atolls The project improved management of the marine and coastal biodiversity of mountainous volcanic islands (Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu) and low-lying island atolls (Kiribati, Tonga). To achieve this it undertook economic assessments of marine and coastal ecosystems (TEEB) in the five partner countries and across the region (TEEB for oceans), and fed the results into national development planning. In addition, the project partners are gearing marine protected area systems to the requirements of preserving ecosystems and are enlarging them. Economic approaches such as payments for ecosystem services were an illustrative example of how protected areas can be effectively managed. The project results were shared across the Pacific through regional organisations. The conservation of marine and coastal biodiversity has a positive impact on climate change adaptation, carbon sequestration and the livelihoods of the population.
Strengthening Transparency, Accountability, and Integrity in Climate Finance Governance An effective governance of climate finance requires sufficient Transparency, Accountability and Integrity at both international and national levels. Most countries affected by climate change lack the capacity to take part in the development and implementation of climate policy, and the monitoring of climate finance. This project aimed to address these challenges through the strengthening of local and global stakeholder capacity to engage themselves in the development, implementation and governance of climate finance. Building on studies which were conducted within the framework of the previous project, the focus was now on the utilization of the results. Through targeted advocacy and communications work, this project ensured that the results were disseminated broadly at national and international levels to bring about effective reforms.
Strengthening youth and women's actions for the sustainable protection of the Guma Water Catchment The Western Area Peninsula Forest Reserve is one of Sierra Leone’s eight biodiversity hot spots and hosts about 90 per cent of Sierra Leone’s terrestrial biodiversity. It also houses the Guma Water Catchment, which provides water to the residents of Freetown. However, despite its importance, the forest is diminishing rapidly. About 500,000 trees have been lost every year since 2009 due to logging and slash-and-burn farming among other causes. This IKI Small Grants project uses a Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) approach. It aims to secure and collaboratively rehabilitate a forested watershed. The project plants around 10,000 trees in cooperation with the #FreetownTheTreeTown initiative. The project promotes an innovative approach in the field of reforestation, in which the locals are offered financial incentives to take care of community-planted trees.
Adaptive and carbon-financed forest management in Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra The project successfully demonstrated the application of both adaptation and mitigation measures in the ‘Tropical Forest Heritage of Sumatra’ UNESCO World Heritage site. This area comprises three national parks with a total size of 26,000 qm2. The project partners developed forest management schemes that could potentially be carbon-financed through REDD+ in the future. Additionally, forest rehabilitation as well as forest protection measures were implemented to reduce the land-based emissions of that region.
Climate-Related Modernisation of National Forest Policy and Piloting REDD Measures in the Philippines This project aimed at improving national forest policy, providing incentives for forest conservation and restoration and thus contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving biodiversity. At its heart was the development of a REDD strategy, which contained innovative nature conservation elements, and pilot measures in nature reserves. Together, these should prevent the release of 35,000 tonnes of carbon and capture an additional 7,000 tonnes each year. Creating a monitoring system ensured these changes to the carbon balance recorded.
ACCION Clima III - NDC implementation Costa Rica and regional knowledge exchange Costa Rica wants to implement its ambitious national climate targets in sectors and actively contribute to the regional and international dissemination of good climate policy approaches. For this purpose, the project strengthens climate-friendly governance and institutional capacities for integrated climate protection strategies and policies. It develops ambitious NDC implementation projects, i. a. in the transport and waste sectors. It supports financing arrangements with the private, insurance and banking sectors, the linking of green fiscal reform and climate incubators, and the development of monitoring mechanisms. The project also strengthens cooperation on climate protection at local level with municipal actors and the private sector. Green recovery also plays a role here. Regionally, it provides a hub for innovative NDC implementation as well as an interface for ICI projects in Central America and the Caribbean.
Climate resilient community forestry in Eastern Himalayas In the Eastern Himalayas region of Nepal, forests are being fragmented by rapidly growing infrastructure, hydropower, and urban expansion. Further, climate change promotes the increasing coverage of invasive species, resulting in forest degradation and threatening biodiversity. The project aimed to counter these developments in two ways. It aimed to strengthen the climate resilience of fifty Community Forestry User Groups (CFUG) through political advocacy, awareness building and trainings. At the same time, it implemented concrete agroforestry and fodder management measures to enhance local carbon sinks coupled with biodiversity conservation.
Gender Justice in the Climate Debate The aim of the project was to incorporate the women’s perspective in the climate debate. To this end, the project comprehensively planned and implemented a one-day international conference to be held alongside the United Nations Climate Change Conference in December 2008 in Poznan, and carried out follow-up actions. The conference brought together female gender and climate experts to exchange ideas and experiences on (gender) justice in climate policy. Discussions focused on strategies for integrating the gender perspective into national and international climate policy. The participants presented their approaches within the framework of the Climate Change Conference and also acted as multipliers in their home countries. Background papers were drafted in various countries in preparation for the event. Activities surrounding the UNFCCC negotiations included the dissemination of the outcomes of the gender conference.
Strengthening the capacity of the waste sectors in Bhutan, Mongolia and Nepal by means of a circular economy concept aimed at reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs) and short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) Bhutan, Mongolia and Nepal have great potential regarding the reduction of greenhouse gases and short-lived climate change pollutants (SLCPs) emissions generated by the waste sector. The project supported the partner countries at national and local levels by creating political, financial and technical framework conditions for the establishment of environmentally sound technologies. In this way, it contributed to technical and institutional capacity building, and to the implementation of national mitigation targets. For example, the project identified technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and short-lived climate pollutants in the waste sector and prepared project proposals for the development of these technologies. This knowledge was also used to adapt the legal basis. Project reports, experiences and case studies from the project were published, creating incentives for the dissemination of the tested & tried approaches and measures.
Financing and capacity building for micro and small Climate-smart Enterprises: Filling the gap of the missing middle Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)  make significant contributions to climate protection by developing and offering innovative services and products for greenhouse gas mitigation or to adapt to the consequences of climate change. The project combines the development of knowledge and resources for socially-inclusive and climate-friendly SMEs by supporting a favourable institutional framework. As part of the Corona Response Package, the SEED project supports inclusive and sustainable enterprises at different stages, from start-up to growth and scaling. Selected start-ups receive the “Low Carbon Award”, which, in addition to the prize money, also includes technical accompanying measures. Innovative business ideas are disseminated and cooperations for a resilient, green and socially-integrative economy are launched via the high-profile award ceremony, web-based tools, virtual platforms and personal exchange formats.
The UN Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea Region in Uzbekistan The desiccation of the Aral Sea in Uzbekistan has devastating impacts on the environment and the population far beyond its national borders. For example, increasing amounts of salt in the water and soil lead to fish mortality, the contamination of drinking water, chronic diseases and failed harvests. The fund was established to strengthen the resilience of the affected population through effective governance and coordination of development cooperation in the Aral Sea region. The fund supported projects to improve income opportunities for the local population, access to affordable, healthy food and clean drinking water as well as the health of the population, particularly for vulnerable groups such as women, children and young people. For example, the funds were utilized to test new technologies in the areas of water treatment, agroforestry, reforestation and soil stabilization, develop reforestation methods and establish rural cooperatives for drying fruit and vegetables.
Capacity building in forest restoration: Integrated biodiversity and climate protection in the Mata Atlântica The Brazilian Mata Atlântica, a global biodiversity hotspot that includes major populated cities, is under stress from human demands. Whilst biodiversity and ecosystem services are intrinsically gratis, they suffer from urban pressure that can lead to their collapse. Though legal frameworks demand ecological restoration, conservation gains are required to save and rebuild biodiverse forests, ecosystem services and to protect the climate. The project aims at developing training courses aimed at diverse local and multi-sectorial public who can shape these changes, including landowners, influencers and the public. These can learn of the issues, share in the need to restore, learn how to restore their degraded land and evaluate and document their efforts and link to global targets, looking at the corporate world for long-term sustainability.
Adapting Public Investment to Climate Change Through pilot projects in two regions of Peru, the project prepared catalogues of criteria for climate change adaptation in the agriculture and tourism sectors. These catalogues were incorporated into Peru's national approval procedures for public investment (SNIP). This ensured that potential impacts of climate change were taken into account early in the planning of public projects. In addition, the project advised the Peruvian Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of the Environment and the relevant regional governments in their use of the criteria.
Climate Protection and Electric Vehicles in China - Field Tests, Case Studies and Policy Advice on Integrating Renewables into the Growth Market for Electric Vehicles This project addressed the interface between transport, the energy industry, climate protection, innovation and the market. Relevant decision-makers received support in developing strategies for rolling out electric transport in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This included grid integration of renewable energy and using intelligent grid and charging technologies (smart grids), for example. The project has implemented model and pilot projects, conducted analyses and studies, and carried out dialogue processes.