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Education, Training and Public Awareness

Education, Training and Public Awareness

A higher degree of knowledge is needed to deal with climate change. An informed society and trained professionals are key for the persecution of the Policy’s objectives and its implementation. Climate Change is a complex issue usually dealt by scientists but society is already feeling it and need to know how to act to avoid mal-adaptation, and loss and damage. Educational tools, training programmes and a broad communication campaigns are means of addressing climate change. 

A number of initiatives aimed at building capacity, fostering understanding, and driving action to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change have continuously been undertaken in Lesotho. These include:

Climate Education in Schools: Incorporating climate change education into the school curriculum helps raise awareness and build knowledge among the younger generation. It fosters a sense of responsibility and equips students with the information and skills needed to make sustainable choices. Climate Change Tool Kit for Teachers, 2021

Climate Workshops and Seminars: Conducting workshops and seminars for government officials, local leaders, and community members can enhance understanding of climate change impacts and adaptation measures. These events provide opportunities for knowledge sharing and capacity building. 

Climate Change Communication to stakeholders: Strategy a comprehensive plan developed by a country or government to effectively communicate climate change-related information, engage stakeholders, and raise public awareness about the challenges and opportunities associated with climate change. National Climate Change Communication Strategy, 2021 

Public Awareness Campaigns: Raising public awareness through campaigns, media, and community outreach is essential. These initiatives can inform the public about climate change, its local impacts, and the role individuals can play in mitigating these effects. 

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Lesotho Climate Change Unit

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The Lesotho Meteorological Services (LMS) is the national meteorological agency of the Kingdom of Lesotho. 

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The GEF Trust Fund constitutes the most popular source of climate finance in Lesotho, having funded over 42 projects, including both national and global/regional initiatives. In terms of focus, GEF funded projects have been geared broadly towards tackling the drivers of environmental degradation. As such, the major focal areas of the fund disbursement in Lesotho have been biodiversity; land degradation; climate change policies, strategies and plans; organic pollution and water – all of which are more or less in line with the fund’s priority globally. Direct climate financing from Global Environment Fund (GEF) is accessible through the Department of Environment, which is a GEF focal point in the Ministry of Defence, National Security and Environment. (Home | GEF)

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The Green Climate Fund has the potential to help countries like Lesotho meet their adaptation and mitigation finance needs. Currently, there is one cross-cutting GCF-funded project in Lesotho, among other three recipient countries – South Africa, Eswatini and Namibia. 

The project is geared towards addressing critical market barriers in accelerating private sector climate investments. Lesotho has also accessed five (5) projects under the GCFs Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme. The process for accessing funding under the GCF begin from an assessment of the needs of Lesotho and includes extensive stakeholder engagement. The fund is accessed through the National Designated Authority (NDA) and the Accredited Entity (AE) (Lesotho | Green Climate Fund).

 
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Like the Adaptation Fund, the Climate Investment Funds constitutes a climate funding stream that many African countries are not able to access. CIF is an enabler of pioneering climate-smart planning and climate action in low and middle-income economies, many of which are the least prepared yet the most prone to the challenges of climate change. CIF responds to the worldwide climate crisis with large-scale, low-cost, and long-term financial solutions to support countries achieve their climate objectives. In Lesotho, there is only a single project with finance from the fund. The project, entitled “Lesotho Renewable Energy and Energy Access Project”, is geared towards funding renewable energy investments. The fund is accessed through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning in Lesotho. (The Climate Investment Funds (CIF)).

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The Special Climate Change Fund is also being governed by GEF and Lesotho has not accessed funds as the fund is dry majority of the time. Lesotho as an LDC competes with other developing countries to access the funds. (Special Climate Change Fund – SCCF | GEF)

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The LDCF, which is governed by GEF, is a vital source of climate funds in the context of Lesotho. It constitutes the most significant finance stream in Lesotho, having funded national projects to the tune of over US$ 36 million as of 2022. Indeed, it is second in significance to the GEF Trust Fund only in terms of the number of nationally funded projects (8 national projects compared to 15 for GEF). Regarding sectoral distribution and focus of LDCF, the data suggests that LDCF resources are geared towards water resources management, enhancing the resilience of agricultural production and food systems, and climate information services and capacity building. (Least Developed Countries Fund – LDCF | GEF)

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The Adaptation Fund is one of the least accessed climate funds and Lesotho just accessed funds (count of US$ 10 million) through Word Food Programme as the accredited entity. The project, entitled “Improving adaptive capacity of vulnerable and food-insecure populations in Lesotho”, is being implemented and pertains to agriculture and food security. It is accessed through LMS and Accredited Entity (AF | Adaptation Fund)

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