Sweden, UNDP allocate $28 million to reduce poverty, emissions in Africa

Ahram Online , Saturday 9 Dec 2023

The Swedish Energy Agency entered a $28.2 million agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to combat global carbon emissions and alleviate poverty in Africa, according to a statement by UNDP on Friday.

Launch of the partnership between the Swedish Energy Agency and UNDP. UNDP website
Launch of the partnership between the Swedish Energy Agency and UNDP. UNDP website

 

This accord was signed during the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai.

The purpose of this new alliance is to curb global emissions while providing development support to African countries, said Sandra Lindström, head of International Climate Cooperation at the Swedish agency.

“The results we expect to see include job creation, energy accessibility, fortification of livelihoods, food security assurance, and the propulsion of gender empowerment,” she added.

For her part, Ahunna Eziakonwa, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, hailed this collaboration as a potential game-changer for numerous African nations.

Eziakonwa stressed the significance of making development projects more financially viable and connecting them to private investments, thereby ensuring their long-term sustainability.

This initiative follows in the footsteps of a precedent set by the UNDP's partnership with the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment in 2022, which has already yielded positive outcomes in Ghana, Vanuatu, and other locations.

Sweden holds a pivotal role in the UNDP's agenda to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality, and achieve the objectives outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Swedish Energy Agency is a governmental organization dedicated to promoting renewable energy, advancing technological innovation, optimizing energy consumption, and mitigating climate change.

The agency does not limit its efforts to Africa.

During the same conference, the agency forged a strategic partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to implement emission reduction initiatives in Asia and the Pacific.

In 2024, the Swedish agency, in collaboration with ADB and UNDP, will select countries and projects to be included in these initiatives.

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