The EUROCLIMA+ programme with the INCAE Business School accompanied public sector representatives from 15 Latin American countries in the development of their bankable climate projects.
In December 2020, the training programme that EUROCLIMA+, through the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), together with INCAE Business School developed during 2020 as part of the NDC Finance Advisory Mechanism, came to an end.
The objective of this training was to provide tools for the structuring of bankable climate projects, and from these, to bring investment closer to initiatives aimed at sustainable development and the completion of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in Latin American countries.
The course was attended by 90 participants from public institutions of 15 Latin American countries and it was developed in 3 modules:
The first module addressed core concepts around climate change, climate financing and the necessary elements for bank investment in the initiatives. At the end of this section, participants presented concept notes from which 26 proposals were selected to participate in the second module of the course.
The second module focused on climate rationality, theory of change, elements for carrying out cost-benefit analyses, and included partnering support for project structuring. This module concluded with 16 concept notes, which received feedback from experts of the INCAE Business School team.
The third module was aimed at familiarising participants with the procedures that projects must follow for approval, both internally in the countries and with financial institutions. This module combined lectures and discussions with representatives of financial organisations and ministries/secretariats of planning, which allowed participants to learn about the practical experience of seeking funding for projects.
The course ended with a business roundtable, which consisted of a meeting space between participants in the training programme and representatives of multilateral organisations, regional development banks and other sources of climate finance, providing feedback on areas of improvement for project concept notes, as well as facilitating a space for networking with actors that could potentially lead to public or private lending operations.
Capacity building in project formulation is a key element for mobilising funding for the implementation of NDCs and the green recovery. In this regard, Ronald Arce, Project Manager at INCAE Business School stressed that "The post-COVID green recovery is a possibility that we have as a society, taking advantage of this opportunity requires facing part of our development challenges, strengthening human capital development, accessing financing, and having clear rules of the game. Part of our work together with EUROCLIMA+ is to create these enabling conditions for sustainable development in Latin America and to contribute our part to the goals of the Paris agreement".
For her part, Silvia Brugger, GIZ Climate Governance Coordinator for EUROCLIMA+ emphasised, "For EUROCLIMA+ it is central to contribute to capacity building in the field of climate finance and climate change management at national and sub-national levels in Latin America. Especially given the opportunity to contribute to a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive post-pandemic recovery, capacity building for the development of climate project portfolios can be key".
To close the process, the participants and mentors of the process participated in a virtual graduation, through which they concluded this first experience of the course, and shared important lessons and learning developed during the training period.
This training course was designed to be conducted in a partially face-to-face format, but due to the crisis generated by COVID-19, the activities were reconfigured to develop the programme 100% virtually.
About EUROCLIMA+
EUROCLIMA+ is a programme funded by the European Union to promote environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient development in 18 Latin American countries, particularly for the benefit of the most vulnerable populations. The Programme is implemented under the synergistic work of seven agencies: the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the French Development Agency (AFD), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Expertise France (EF), the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policy (FIIAPP), the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), and UN Environment.
Contact information
Laura Cruz, GIZ/EUROCLIMA+ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.