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Glossary

The process of adjustment to actual or expected climate and its effects. In human systems, adaptation seeks to moderate or avoid harm or exploit beneficial opportunities. In some natural systems, human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate and its effects.

To put in practice physical or management agreements that respond to the opportunities or threats posed by climate change, such as: resettling people, or good in safer locations, relocating installations to avoid the risk of flood or changing crop varieties to those better able to cope with the climate. Enterprise associations and profession bodies, as well as central and local governmental departments should assist in this task.

Is defined as the social and technical skills, financial resources and strategies of individuals and groups that are directed towards responding to environmental and socioeconomic changes.

Establishment of a forest or stand of trees in an area where there was no previous tree cover.

A method and system of land management involving the simultaneous cultivation of farm crops and trees

Is an event that is rare at a particular place and time of year, e.g., heavy rainfall, Recurring Droughts etc

Originating in human activity

An agreement between states covering particular matters

The action of clearing a wide area of trees.

The production and discharge of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

An act of reducing severity of any human action that causes vulnerability

Is the unstable and rapidly changing part of the system where all weather patterns occur.
or
The envelope of gases surrounding the earth.

Is the worldwide sum of all ecosystems. It can also be termed the zone of life on earth.

Any significant change in the measures of climate lasting for an extended period of time (at least 30 years). In other words, climate change includes major changes in
temperature, precipitation or wind patterns among other effects, that occur over several
decades or longer.

Is the practice of identifying and evaluating, in monetary and/or non-monetary terms, the effects of climate change on natural and human systems. (AR5 WG-II)

Also known as general circulation models (GCMs), use mathematical equations to characterize how energy and matter interact in different parts of the ocean, atmosphere, land. They are important tools for improving our understanding and predictability of climate behaviour on seasonal, annual, or decadal time scales. Models investigate the degree to which observed climate changes may be due to natural variability, human activity, or a combination of both.

Is defined as the average weather over a long period of time (at least 30 years) of
a certain place.

Refers to financing channelled through national, regional and international entities for climate change adaptation and mitigation projects and programmes.

Is the frozen water part of the earth’s climate system.

Is defined as the presence of people, livelihoods, species or ecosystems, environmental services and resources, infrastructure, or economic, social, or cultural assets in places that could be adversely affected.

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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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