OECD-PCCB Network workshop series work shop #3

Partnerships for capacity development and climate change 

17 October 2022, 16:00 – 17:30 (Paris, CET) 

Some of the main centres of capacity development, knowledge building and dissemination in partner countries have traditionally been international organisations, donors, consultants, and NGOs. These have typically been working with national and sub-national officials.1 Recognising the limits of this approach, a recent OECD report notes that there is scope for stronger engagement between providers and other domestic actors, such as academia, the private sector and South-South peer networks when developing the capacity of partner countries in the area of climate change. 

The lack of engagement of research institutions and universities in climate-related capacity development activities is a recurring issue. Universities and research institutions in developing countries require further capacity development to live up to their potential. Their capacity is often limited by human and financial resource constraints (e.g. to fund research, technical equipment or access global knowledge databases).2 Yet, mobilising local and policy-relevant knowledge from these actors can help partner countries build, retain and sustain capacities. They are potentially strong partners for development co-operation and can improve climate-related policy and practice.3 

The private sector, in turn, is a major source of employment in developing and emerging economies. Micro, small and medium enterprises are central to income generation and the alleviation of poverty. However, they are also vulnerable to climate-related hazards, notably due to their small size and limited capacity and resources.4 Despite their relevance, knowledge is limited on the needs, gaps and types of capacity development efforts required for the private sector to address climate change. There are few donor-led initiatives in this area, even though working with the private sector, and through cooperatives or chambers of commerce can provide useful entry points to support partner countries in their transition towards a low-carbon and climate-resilient development pathway.5 

Another key entry point for donors consists in supporting peer-to-peer knowledge exchange across partner countries and triangular co-operation. Partner country experts are well placed to know what works locally and working with them across regions or sub-regions can result in assistance and support that is more appropriate.6 Furthermore, it enables greater donor exposure to Southern experts. The ensuing exchange can become multi-directional and premised on the fact that all partners have value and expertise to give. This is the basis of certain programmes and matchmaking platforms, including the UNFCCC Paris Committee on Capacity Building.7 

The third workshop in the OECD-PCCB Network series, in collaboration with the NAP Global Network, proposes a technical panel discussion looking at the current climate-related capacity bottlenecks that academia, the private sector and governments engaged in partnerships across the South face, with a particular focus on the experiences of Latin America and the Caribbean. The panel also explores how donors can help partner countries overcome these barriers, and provides concrete, practical solutions in this space. Following this, a second panel will reflect on these barriers, experiences and solutions to draw conclusions that could be useful in other regional settings and across regions. The two panels will include a moment for the audience to interact with speakers following their presentation. 

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