Kigali, January 11, 2022 – In view of implementing the African Union Commission (AUC) resolution to support African Union (AU) member states to comply with their obligations under the Paris Agreement, AKADEMIYA2063 and the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) are partnering under the framework of the Comprehensive Africa Climate Change Initiative (CACCI). REMA and @AKADEMIYA2063 Launched this Comprehensive Africa Climate Change Initiative (CACCI) project and officiate that partnership through the agreement entitled: “Collaborative Research Agreement between REMA and AKADEMIYA2063”on this January 12,2023.

Funded by the United States International Development Agency (USAID) and implemented in partnership with the AU, Michigan State University, AKADEMIYA2063, and the African Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ANAPRI, formerly ReNAPRI), the CACCI project will provide targeted countries with the capacity and expertise to develop their measurement, reporting, and verification mechanisms (MRV). It will also support the five-year review of countries’ collective progress toward the long-term goals as a contribution to the global evaluation of the Paris Agreement. 

Through the CACCI project, AKADEMIYA2063 will support Rwanda in meeting its commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change. This support will focus on designing and implementing programmatic policies and investments to support sustainable and inclusive growth and promote climate mitigation and adaptation across their food systems, notably through Rwanda’s climate action and its National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). 

"AKADEMIYA2063 is pleased to partner with REMA in our efforts to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation in Africa and around the world," said Dr. Ousmane Badiane, AKADEMIYA2063 Executive Chairperson. "The CACCI project, which we are implementing with the support of USAID, is a timely response to Africa's capacity needs to accelerate progress in climate action across the continent. This partnership with REMA will avail the scientific expertise and research capacity required to provide high-quality support to accompany Member States in achieving their NDC and NAP targets," he added.

The project objectives will be attained through three main components, namely: Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) implementation support, M&E and mutual accountability, and capacity building.

According to the Deputy Director General of REMA, Faustin Munyazikwiye, the CACCI project is an excellent opportunity to complement national efforts in climate change adaptation and mitigation, as well as mobilizing climate finance.

“The partnership between REMA and AKADEMIYA2063 in the CACCI project is an important step towards the implementation of Rwanda’s climate actions in our NAPs. We are hopeful that this project will contribute to ongoing interventions to build the resilience of our economy to the effects of climate change and provide solutions to protect our farmers from the negative effects of climate change that need to be even more holistic and innovative.”

In2020, Rwanda submitted its Updated Nationally Determined Contribution for both mitigation & adaptation measures to contribute to the goals of the Paris Agreement. These Climate actions need to be implemented in order to achieve its envisioned low-carbon development and climate. In order to participate effectively in NDC implementation, tracking progress and reporting, Rwanda Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) requires mobilization of stakeholders and capacity building on data collection and computation. The need to build capacity and need for disaggregated and predictive evidence to support response measures cannot be overemphasized. The partnership between REMA and AKADEMIYA2063 under CACCI and beyond is a major step” He added

Rwanda is responsible for just 0.003 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Yet, it is among the world’s most vulnerable countries according to the ND-GAIN Index, Rwanda is ranked 124 on the Climate Vulnerability Index, and the future climate outlook predicts more extreme climate change impact (longer warm days, erratic rains, and severe storms) - by 2050.

About CACCI

The Comprehensive Africa Climate Change Initiative (CACCI) is a joint climate initiative with regional and country-level stakeholders to provide support to partner country governments to implement policies and programmatic investments; strengthen national, regional, and local capacity to meet Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) targets and develop National Adaptation Plans (NAPs); and provide broader climate and environmental policy support. Funded by the United States International Development Agency (USAID) and implemented in partnership with the African Union, Michigan State University, AKADEMIYA2063, and the African Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ANAPRI, formerly ReNAPRI), the CACCI mission is to contribute to USAID’s climate change strategy to align development in humanitarian assistance programs with NDCs, NAPs, and partner country climate policy priorities.

CACCI-Africa is led by AKADMEMIYA2063 and ANAPRI. The five-year vision for the work is for up to 25 African countries to have developed, officially approved, and begun to implement policy and investment plans.

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