Strengthening climate resilience for food security through an integrated multi-sector and multi-partner approach in Niger

Transcription

1 Strengthening climate resilience for food security through an integrated multi-sector and multi-partner approach in Niger Niger World Food Programme (WFP) 07 June 2017

2 Project/Programme Title: Strengthening climate resilience for food security through an integrated multi-sector and multi-partner approach in Niger Country/Region: Niger (Sahel Region) Accredited Entity: World Food Programme National Designated Authority: _Conseil National de l Environnement pour un Développement Durable (CNEDD) _

3 GREEN CLIMATE FUND PAGE 1 OF 32 A. Project / Programme Information Please submit the completed form to fundingproposal@gcfund.org 1 A.1. Project / programme title A.2. Project or programme A.3. Country (ies) / region A.4. National designated authority(ies) A.5. Accredited entity A.6. Executing entity / beneficiary Strengthening climate resilience for food security through an integrated multi-sector and multi-partner approach in Niger Project Niger, Sahel Region West Africa Conseil National de l'environnement pour un Développement Durable (CNEDD) World Food Programme (WFP) Executing Entity: World Food Programme Beneficiary: Government of Niger (GoN) A.7. Access modality Direct International A.8. Project size category (total investment, million USD) A.9. Mitigation / adaptation focus A.10. Public or private Micro ( 10) Small (10<x 50) Medium (50<x 250) Large (>250) Mitigation Adaptation Cross-cutting Public Which of the following targeted results areas does the proposed project/programme address? A.11. Results areas (mark all that apply) Reduced emissions from: Energy access and power generation (E.g. on-grid, micro-grid or off-grid solar, wind, geothermal, etc.) Low emission transport (E.g. high-speed rail, rapid bus system, etc.) Buildings, cities, industries and appliances (E.g. new and retrofitted energy-efficient buildings, energy-efficient equipment for companies and supply chain management, etc.) Forestry and land use (E.g. forest conservation and management, agroforestry, agricultural irrigation, water treatment and management, etc.) Increased resilience of: Most vulnerable people and communities (E.g. mitigation of operational risk associated with climate change diversification of supply sources and supply chain management, relocation of manufacturing facilities and warehouses, etc.) Health and well-being, and food and water security (E.g. climate-resilient crops, efficient irrigation systems, etc.) Infrastructure and built environment (E.g. sea walls, resilient road networks, etc.) Ecosystems and ecosystem services (E.g. ecosystem conservation and management, ecotourism, etc.) A.12. Project / programme life span A.13. Estimated implementation start and end date 3 years Start: 1 st January End: 31 st December Please use the following naming convention for the file name: [CN]-[Agency short name]-[date]-[serial number] (e.g. CN-ABC ).

4 GREEN CLIMATE FUND PAGE 2 OF 32 B. Project/Programme Details The Fund requires the following preliminary information in order to promptly assess the eligibility of project/programme investment. These requirements may vary depending on the nature of the project/programme. B.1. Project / programme description (including objectives) Climate change acts as a multiplier of existing threats to food security, hunger and malnutrition and is expected to make natural disasters such as floods and droughts, and heat waves that disrupt livelihoods and cause billions of dollars in economic losses each year, more frequent and intense. In the Sahel region, the frequency of climate extremes such as floods and droughts have increased over the last decades (1980s onwards), leading to significant adverse impacts on livelihoods and food security resulting from destruction of crops, critical infrastructures, key community assets and water availability. Since 2000, the Sahel and particularly Niger has experienced four drought related food security crises (2001, 2005, 2010 and 2012) leading to damage to crop yields and food shortages. It is estimated that these recur every three to five years, and are expected to become more frequent due to climate change (see Figure 1). The vulnerability of affected populations in the region is considered high. In 2013/2014, more than 11 million people lived in food insecurity; amongst them, 7.9 million people in need of emergency food aid. 2 Among key dimensions of the effects on food security, one can see the impact on food production (reduced yields and availability of productive land for agriculture), access to food and livelihoods (price increases, lower income due to lower agricultural production, etc.) and nutrition (with impact on dietary diversity, and healthcare practices). The most vulnerable (smallholder farmers, women, landless and day-laborers) are particularly affected and how strongly the impacts of climate change are felt by these populations depends a lot on their ability to adapt to these changes. In this context, the low capacity of disaster risk preparedness in rural communities and the adaptation to climate change risks and the low capacity to use climate information for agricultural and food security climate-related risk management and livelihoods diversity remain major problems. Niger is particularly exposed. It is a landlocked country with a population of 19.1 million and a population growth of 3.9%, one of the highest worldwide. Over 80% of the Nigerien land is covered by the Saharan desert, with only 11.5% of land available to be used for food production. The vast majority of Nigeriens depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Niger s agriculture focuses primarily on subsistence farming and livestock exports, with over 80% of the Nigerien population dependent on the crops produced. Cereal yields are extremely low, and show no positive trends. Between the 1980s and 1990s, the amount of farmland expanded faster (+51 percent) than the population (+37 percent), resulting in a net increase in per capita cereal production. Between the 1990s and 2000s, however, the amount of farmland increased by 20 percent, whereas the population increased by 42 percent, resulting in a net decrease in food availability per capita. By 2025, if Niger s rapid expansion of farmland slows while its yield growth remains stagnant and the population increases fast, Niger s projected population of 26 million people could face substantial food availability shortfalls. 3 Rainfall in Niger declined rapidly between 1950 and the mid-1980s and partially recovered during the 1990s and 2000s. Between 2000 and 2009, the average rainfall in Niger s crop growing districts was about 8 percent lower than the mean. From 1988 onwards there were very marked inter-annual variabilities. 4 Indeed, after 1993, another mode of variability seemed to be established within the Sahelian rainfall regime in general. The inter-annual evolution, considered on the scale of the whole region, showed a close alternation between very humid years and very dry years. This new normal of high variability makes inter-annual forecasts even more difficult. In addition, it makes agricultural planning difficult and imposes new coping strategies (Ali and Lebel, 2008). According to the intergovernmental group of experts on climate change (GIEC) under the national Directorate on Meteorology (DMN) the observed increase in the frequency and intensity of hydrometeorological extreme events (droughts and floods), a trend expected to continue in the future, has been associated with a changing climate. 2 ECHO Regional Humanitarian Implementation Plan for Sahel Funk, C., Rowland, J., Eilerts, G., Adoum, A. and White, L., 2012, A Climate Trend Analysis of Niger, U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet , 4 p. 4 Caractérisation Climatique de la Région de Tillabéri Rapport N (

5 GREEN CLIMATE FUND PAGE 3 OF 32 Figure 1: Time series of major drought events and their impact on agricultural production. To address current and future impacts of climate change in Niger, in line with WFPs mandate, this project aims to support the Government of Niger (GoN) in taking meaningful steps to build climate resilience of the most vulnerable and food insecure communities through an integrated multi-sector and multi-partner approach. It will help communities to adapt to the impact of climate variability and climate change by supporting sustainable adaptive livelihoods and enhancing their coping strategies. In light of the risk prone context, the adaptation to longer term change will put special attention on strengthening capacities to manage increased risks and climate proof the livelihoods of exposed and vulnerable communities. The project will be implemented in four sites in Tahoua and Tillabery region which are identified in WFP assessments as highly vulnerable to impacts of climate change on food security and are part of the nationally prioritized municipalities. Figure 2: The integrated context analysis informs geographic targeting based on a categorization following a combination of several parameters related to structural vulnerabilities. More information on the vulnerability based geographical targeting approach through the integrated context analysis (ICA) can be found in the annex of the prefeasibility study.

6 GREEN CLIMATE FUND PAGE 4 OF 32 Overall objective: Strengthen livelihoods and improve long-term food and nutrition security of vulnerable communities affected by the impacts of climate change. To strengthen the long-term climate resilience for food security, the project will apply an integrated and multi-sector approach. Responding to needs, the cornerstones include: raising awareness on climate risks, strengthening capacities at all levels, improving existing systems, developing new tools and services, rehabilitating degraded land and building community assets. Outcome 1: Build up communities and local authorities capacities to prepare for, and act upon disasters risks including those related to climate change Capacity strengthening will progressively ensure effective leadership and ownership by local government and communities to manage current and future climate risks and hence improve overall adaptation capacity. The key components and relevant sub-components are as follows: Component 1: Develop, improve and provide relevant climate services to vulnerable communities to enable them to take informed decisions to better manage climate risks 1.1 Conduct in-depth needs assessment at community level to identify gaps and needs for provision of appropriate climate services and raise awareness on climate risks 1.2 Support the co-development and uptake of tailored climate services (including easy to understand advisories) to support decision-making processes and planning at different levels (community, district and national level) 1.3 Facilitate and support the co-production of climate products for improved climate services for food security decisions 1.4 Identify, develop and test appropriate and accessible climate information delivery mechanisms to end-users (e.g. mobile phones, radio, newspapers, extension services) 1.5 Foster partnerships: Strengthen the existing partnerships between providers, intermediaries, researchers and end-users of climate information Component 2: Strengthen adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities and reduce their exposure to climate risks, including through preparedness measures 2.1 Mainstreaming disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation: Activities will target decision makers at different levels through trainings and workshops to mainstream disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation activities as a priority in their action plans and public policies 2.2 Strengthen community disaster preparedness and awareness by the establishment of village early warning committees 2.3 Conduct trainings to strengthen rural communities knowledge on the effects of climate change and introduce preparedness techniques and tools for increased resilience. 2.4 Capacity building: Strengthen the capacity of relevant national counterparts (i.e. MoA, DMN) and institutions on the use of climate information for disaster risk reduction and food security and training of extension services to better support local communities 2.5 Climate risk insurance: Support the Government in developing and testing contingency plans under the African Risk Capacity sovereign insurance mechanism and catalyze the development of micro-insurance schemes for weather related risks Outcome 2: Strengthened resilience and improved adaptation capacity at community level through livelihoods diversification and enhanced market access

7 GREEN CLIMATE FUND PAGE 5 OF 32 Since the climate sensitive agriculture and livestock sectors engage more than 80 percent of the population, there is an urgent need to support productivity increase and diversification of agricultural livelihoods sustainably in order to make them resilient and viable in the long-term. The project focuses on resource rehabilitation, asset creation, and improvement of market access for vulnerable small holder farmers. Component 3: Support and diversify livelihoods of the most vulnerable through the watershed approach 3.1 Create and rehabilitate climate-resilient sustainable assets based on a participatory planning process: capacities are strengthened on improved agro pastoral production techniques adapted to climate change 3.2 Support livelihoods diversification through income generating activities: Support of women in gardening and the management of poultry farming, sheep and goat fattening according to priorities identified through the participatory planning process 3.3 Support efforts to secure access to land for the very poor in the long term as well as access to production capital (ensure supply and better access to quality seeds for rain fed crops and vegetable seeds as well as fertilizers and other agricultural inputs) 3.4 Access, reclaim and rehabilitate degraded community lands through reforestation and assisted natural regeneration (ANR) into arable lands. 3.5 Support value chain development in order to increase access to market for the most vulnerable and offer them new market opportunities: Support for production, training of farmers' organizations, support for processing, storage, and marketing to broaden livelihood opportunities for smallholder farmers. This includes the improvement of fair-trade purchases from smallholder farmers through capacity building and access to institutional markets. The project will put a strong focus on sustainability through capacity building. This will include not only building functional capacities within the national structures, but also policy coherence support for full ownership and leadership of the national counterpart. Knowledge management will support the theory of change (to describe how the project will lead to results), ensuring a capitalization of pilots, evidence creation around the proposed models and analyses of the scale up potential to ensure progressive hand over and scale up at the national level. Beyond the direct impact on helping targeted populations to adapt, the watershed and greenbasin production programme comes with significant environmental co-benefits that mitigate and address several structural problems of drought and desertification that have a direct impact on the productive capacity of vulnerable households. The programme supports reforestation of degraded areas, contributes against soil erosion and supports restoration of soil fertility, and promotes the application of improved production techniques that are both robust and adapted to climate change. These activities contribute to reinforce the carbon absorption capacity, promote a low emission scheme as well as protect and conserve the natural environment. Background and details on activities related to climate services and disaster risk reduction (component 1 and 2) While food security early warning practice has long applied probabilistic climate forecasts to predict potential food crises, a more systematic approach is needed to develop tools that can identify and monitor specific climate forecast triggers which in turn will allow for appropriate anticipatory action to be taken with confidence. On the disaster risk reduction side, selected activities will contribute to build emergency preparedness, response and recovery mechanisms to ensure readiness to respond to weather extreme events and climate induced disasters and to reduce their impact on vulnerable populations. WFP will also support national systems for food security analysis and monitoring, and early warning. In particular, the project focuses on generation and delivery of climate information to ensure effective preparedness and anticipatory action in the face of forecasted shocks.

8 GREEN CLIMATE FUND PAGE 6 OF 32 Activities can be summarize in : - Building the capacities of national stakeholders and partners on effective Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) measures through protocols for early and anticipatory action, - Develop and test a robust forecast and trigger mechanism using long-term meteorological data combined with cutting-edge tools from climate science, - Support the development of policies and mechanism associated to DRR through integrated disaster risk management, sustainable management of natural resources and adaptation, - Stimulating the development of an early warning system through the inclusion of ICT 5 for a faster and more efficient dissemination of climate information, WFP builds on its lessons learnt from the development of its Food Security Climate Resilience Facility (FoodSECuRE) - the first institutional mechanism to use climate forecasts to trigger funds for anticipatory action at community level before climate shocks occur. In its support to the Government on a more integrated climate risk management approach for enhanced resilience WFP will further assess climate risk insurance options and support the scale up of the African Risk Capacity 6 (ARC) replica mechanisms. These efforts will be complemented by supporting the Government of Niger s capacity to efficiently implement its national ARC contingency plan in case of a drought. Background and details on activities related to the community resilience strengthening (component 3) WFP proposes an innovative and holistic approach to increase the resilience of vulnerable people and communities to climate change that encompasses preparedness and disaster risk reduction, climate resilient resource management and value chain development. In particular the project focuses on resource rehabilitation and their climate resilient management sustained in the long term and, ensuring market access to small holder farmers. Proposed activities aim to build community assets, including infrastructure to improve water management. Productive asset creation is conceived in a gender, nutrition and climate-sensitive way, complemented by communication and technical assistance. Assets identified by communities, with equal participation of women and men, include rehabilitation and valorization of degraded lands and ponds and weir construction. Special attention will be given to targeting women smallholder farmers and prioritizing activities responding to their needs. Activities under the watershed approach are context specific and adapted to the very geographic situation, with the aim to offer sustainable climate sensitive livelihoods to the most vulnerable, with an integrated and holistic view of the environment as summarized here below : 1. Plateau: barriers (levees) and so-called half-moons reduce the amount of water and sediment runoff into the valley. 2. Watershed: weirs and dykes are used to slow down rainwater runoff, allow water infiltration, and retain soil and sediments to fight the gully process (erosion) and soil/sand deposits in the pond. 3. Valley: the half-moons and zai s (local method of digging small holes) are used to improve agricultural production. 5 Information and Communication Technology 6

9 GREEN CLIMATE FUND PAGE 7 OF Figure 3: The watershed approach combines a set context specific activities which are adapted to the very geographic situation, with the aim to promote and develop sustainable climate sensitive livelihoods for the most vulnerable. WFP provides productive shock responsive and productive safety nets to the most vulnerable and food-insecure to carry out the works within the framework of the watershed approach and supports communities in their efforts to rehabilitate the land and make it productive again. Food assistance provided via conditional in-kind or cash-based transfers helps provide immediate support to poor and food-insecure households to help cover immediate and seasonal food needs, allowing them to invest in (re)building household and community assets, and invest in long-term adaptation efforts. These (conditional) transfers will be adjusted to seasonal context to support asset creation and/or training. In coordination with national authorities and partners, WFP will support secure access to land and markets for the poorest, especially women, and foster the development of the value chain. WFP will also work to strengthen partnerships for complementary activities, including access to (micro) credit or local purchases, especially from and for women. In line with the exit strategy, this will be accompanied by capacity strengthening for design and implementation of rural development strategies, plans supporting progressive transfer to national systems, and information and sensitization on gender equality and empowerment. Activities can be summarize as follows and include: - Technical support, training and provision of agricultural inputs e.g. improved/ adapted traditional seeds in partnership with FAO and/or IFAD to ensure a stable and increased productivity under the scenario of more frequent weather extreme events - Training in water management techniques including storage basin - Support for the establishment of community vegetable gardens - Creation of productive assets for the vulnerable - Construction of small rural infrastructure works aimed at ensuring better access and sustainable water management allowing communities to produce food during the dry season, thus significantly increasing their revenue opportunities. - Support and promotion of the autonomy of farmer-led producers groups (e.g. cooperatives) through the provision of technical training, logistical support (pick-up, inventory management and deliveries) and capacity building on financial literacy. - Support access to markets for smallholder farmers and farmer organizations, with a particular focus on women, through the professionalization of these smallholder farmers and associations, so that they increase their market opportunities (technical training and management of funds to facilitate sustainable access of the targeted communities to the agricultural tools and increase their stake in commercial markets). WFP Niger s office is collaborating with various UN agencies by providing expertise in logistics, social safety nets, market analysis, and post-harvest loss reduction and, above all, its purchasing

10 GREEN CLIMATE FUND PAGE 8 OF 32 power to create economic opportunities for local producers. Through its other projects it will make purchases directly from smallholders and monitor, stimulate, and diversify their production and make them more competitive. Describe project/programme sponsor s operating experience in the host country or other developing countries. Describe financial status and how the project/programme sponsor will support the project/programme in terms of equity, management, operations, production and marketing. B.2. Background information on project/programme sponsor By scaling up its support to improve the capacities of the most vulnerable and food-insecure countries and communities, WFP aims to build climate resilience in a manner that enables governments in the long-term to be able to address the impacts of climate change. In this way, WFP can play a critical role in supporting implementation of the Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as part of its overall support to the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. WFP s mission and objectives are closely aligned to those of the GCF. WFP recognizes that its vision to End Hunger cannot be achieved without addressing climate change. WFP is recognized as a key technical partner by UNFCCC Parties in the areas of adaptation, climate finance, loss and damage and food security. It supports different bodies under the UNFCCC, including the Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and Damage, the Adaptation Committee, the Nairobi Work Programme, the Standing Committee on Finance, and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technical Advice. WFP also contributes to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. As an accredited entity to the GCF, WFP at the global level will contribute to furthering the objectives of the GCF through its exhaustive expertise in the following areas: - Bringing extensive experience on food security and nutrition; - WFP s experience in innovative initiatives; - Supporting nationally owned social protection and safety net programmes which are critical tools that can protect lives and livelihoods, while at the same time building resilience to climate shocks; - Result based management of programmes that address the full sequence of activities from planning, through designing and implementing activities that deliver the desired results; - Gender-sensitive programming; and - Working closely with all national and subnational partners through strengthening their institutional systems to implement programmes. WFP in Niger WFP has been present in Niger since 1968 with a staff of over 200 located at the country office in the Niamey and within five field offices in each region, as well as two satellite offices. WFP currently manages a large scale programme primarily focusing on resilience building for vulnerable populations but integrating emergency responses and preparedness as a stabilising factor, with a broad range of programme specialists in different areas of intervention and partnerships in place for efficient and effective implementation. WFP has been implementing climate resilient agricultural activities in Niger for more than four years, developing expertise and building on lessons learned to improve the implementation of these activities for an eventual transfer and adaptation at the national level. WFP has developed efficient planning and implementing tools that have been adopted at the national, regional and local level. From 2014 to 2016, a total of 200,000 beneficiaries within 664 villages participated in the creation or rehabilitation of agricultural assets mainly linked to water and soil conservation. It has been implementing a programme of over USD 100 million per year since the start of its Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) ( ), reaching over 1.9 million beneficiaries through various activities (asset creation, food/cash transfers, nutrition and education) in the country. The new PRRO for incorporates recommendations from the 2015 evaluation of PRRO and other recent assessments, including a strengthened focus on climate risk and climate change programming. With a targeted 2.7 million beneficiaries, it triggers change and aims to set the base for a progressive phase-out through three interrelated pillars: i) an integrated package

11 GREEN CLIMATE FUND PAGE 9 OF 32 of resilience activities that supports the identification of successful scalable models; ii) development of national capacities; and iii) building of strategic partnerships. The resilience package of the PRRO integrates asset creation, nutrition, education, local purchase, early warning, climate-smart activities, disaster risk preparedness and reduction, and lean season response. The package targets the most vulnerable, and identifies effective safety nets and risk reduction models that WFP technical assistance and capacity strengthening can help scale up countrywide. WFP will augment national capacities in climate change adaptation related activities and disaster risk reduction and assist the Government in exploring new approaches to better manage climate risks e.g. the African Risk Capacity and weather index insurance (R4), beyond the already ongoing support on emergency preparedness and early warning. WFP s intervention is aligned with government priorities on resilience building and climate change and strives in helping the Government of Niger pilot new models, analyse achievements and challenges in helping the country to scale up successful models through innovative initiatives that contribute to the long-term development of the country and bring benefits for the rural poor. WFP supports the government and partners in implementing programmes using the three-pronged approach for resilience building in Niger under the 3N Initiative (Les Nigeriens Nourrissent le Nigeriens). An extensive programme focused on resilience building is being implemented to support the population. The so-called "Communes de Convergence ", is based on the principle of joint implementation to provide an integrated response to create synergy among activities of the Government, UN agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations and increase community participation. A consultative multidimensional programming approach for resilience that puts people and their livelihoods at the center of planning, lays the foundations for multi-sectoral and coordinated programmes and connects governments, communities, humanitarian and development stakeholders to contribute to layered resilience programming and design. It is also aligned on WFP s Approach in Niger WFP positions itself as a strategic partner investing and supporting the development of innovative approaches and tools and help the government identify and scale up successful models. This government-led project aims to strengthen national systems to reinforce specific programmes focused on environmental protection and climate change adaptation through cost efficient models. Government leadership and ownership of this global approach would create an efficient and effective impact on the environment, climate change and populations in Niger allowing for an impact beyond the single project and incorporating sustainable exit strategies for WFP. WFP programmes in Niger are built on and capitalize on previous project cycles. A mid-term evaluation that was carried out on WFP s current resilience focused Protracted and Relief and Recovery Operation ( ), highlighted the relevance of WFP investments and approach to resilience in Niger while calling for a more clearly defined disengagement strategy. Initially, 119 communes were targeted by WFP, based on the principle of convergence of evidence, through an integrated context analysis (ICA), geographic targeting based on a combination of several parameters related to structural vulnerabilities (malnutrition and food insecurity rates, school completion rates, the prevalence of nomadism, etc.) and synergies with other strategic partners. The beneficiaries, all from very poor households, are targeted through the socio-economic categorization of the Household Economic Approach (HEA). Based on available resources, a geographical concentration was agreed with Government and the other UN agencies with 39 priority communes (municipalities) in which an integrated package of interventions is delivered. Since the start of the project, several studies have been conducted including a baseline survey in March 2014 and an annual survey in December (2014). The first survey helped establish the baseline while the second aimed at illustrating the first changes as a result of WFP interventions. This current study was conducted in September and October 2015, in close collaboration with the National Institute of Statistics (INS), aiming to evaluate the mid-term progress within communes where WFP activities are implemented. After two years of implementation of WFP s resilience-focused programme, results from several assessments including a mid-term survey, the independent evaluation and a study conducted by the independent Laboratory for the Study and Research on Social Dynamics and Local Development (LASDEL) indicate positive trends that show the progressive effects of WFP

12 GREEN CLIMATE FUND PAGE 10 OF 32 activities (see study in annex). Land developments activities carried out with partners introduced new cultivation practices and measures have been introduced to protect and improve the soils and have resulted in significant improvements in crop yields. Productivity on WFP intervention sites have doubled and tripled on degraded lands in the country. The assessments further indicated that almost half of beneficiary households have progressed out of poverty and some of these households no longer consider themselves as very poor. Positive changes were also noted with regard to recuperation of land and improved land productivity and diversification of incomes, less out-migration for vulnerable populations in search of economic activities. Mid-line results on indicators, showed a reduction in the use of negative coping strategies for households. For instance, households did not engage heavily in their habitual migration in search of work, selling productive assets, accumulating debt and taking children out of school (especially girls), which limits human capital development and contributes to reducing community and poor households' long-term resilience to shocks. Data collected from key informants (LASDEL study) confirmed the overall trend and within most of the villages surveyed (94%), migration was seen as a coping strategy that would often occur when households face food insecurity (54%) or financial constraints (40%), both exacerbated by climate change. Until the analysis on measuring resilience can produce concrete conclusions, WFP Niger nevertheless carried out an exercise on performance "progression" in September The objective was to follow the pattern of growth within households and understand if the multi-year assistance provided by WFP can create gradual and sustainable progression out of poverty. The initial trends show that almost half of households have progressed out of poverty. Some of these households no longer consider themselves as 'very poor', a situation they found themselves in when they were first targeted to be part of the programme. These trends were also confirmed by key informants. Describe financial status and how the project/programme sponsor will support the project/programme in terms of equity, management, operations, production and marketing. The concept for the proposed project requests a grant. The accredited entity (AE), WFP, will support the project management and operations by providing technical inputs, project oversight and administrating the project funds. It will also be responsible for generating annual reports for the donor to release the next tranche of funding as well as ensuring that funds are disbursed and used according to agreements made with the GCF. All communications including reporting to the donor will be the responsibility of WFP. (Arrangements with the executing entities are explained under B.5) B.3. Market overview B.4. Regulation, taxation and insurance Describe the market for the product(s) or services including the historical data and forecasts. Provide the key competitors with market shares and customer base (if applicable). Provide pricing structures, price controls, subsidies available and government involvement (if any). This is a grant based climate change adaptation project aiming to strengthen the climate resilience for food security of the most vulnerable. The public goods/services nature of the proposed project and its activities do neither generate revenue for the implementing entities or the donor nor aim for cost-recovery. The sole economic objective is to support self-reliance of the very poor and build their adaptive capacity. With GoN seeking 100% grant resources for the proposed project, the financial market overview (B.3) is not applicable. Provide details of government licenses, or permits required for implementing and operating the project/programme, the issuing authority, and the date of issue or expected date of issue. Describe applicable taxes and foreign exchange regulations. Provide details on insurance policies related to project/programme. WFP is intervening in Niger since 1968 under an overall framework agreement with the Government of Niger signed on 21 June 1968.

13 GREEN CLIMATE FUND PAGE 11 OF 32 As a UN agency, WFP is exempted from taxes and specific commercial regulations. However, if goods or services are procured by an executing entity (e.g. government counterpart) national regulations on taxation may apply. Country Office financial transactions are made mostly in local currency. UN exchange rates applies if required to make any foreign currency transactions. WFP s interventions supports national programmes and strategies and comes in support of the latter. WFP works with partners for effective implementation of project activities. Risks are assessed regularly to ensure resources are efficiently used. Describe construction and supervision methodology with key contractual agreements. Describe operational arrangements with key contractual agreements following the completion of construction. Provide a timetable showing major scheduled achievements and completion for each of the major components of the project/programme. B.5. Implementation arrangements Overall implementation arrangements As accredited entity, WFP Niger will be responsible for implementing joint activities including the planning, coordination, administrative and financial management (ensuring grant disbursement and financial management), project monitoring, evaluation and drafting of progress reports. WFP and Government counterparts will meet based on agreed schedule for monitoring and steering committee, in line with mechanisms in place for the sector. This will ensure that the necessary guidance on approving work plans, validating progress reports and resolving potential difficulties is provided. WFP ensures the implementation of the project under the leadership and overall supervision of the Government of Niger, with the National Council of the Environment for Sustainable Development CNEDD 7, the National Designated Authority (NDA), in charge of the overall oversight in relation to the national climate change and sustainable development monitoring framework. This council will play a key role in the coordination and the dialogue within this project to ensure that all the activities are in line with the vision and priorities of the government on environmental and sustainable development as framed in the intended nationally determined contribution (INDC) which spells out the self-set targets of Niger in terms of Climate Change mitigation and puts into coherence and operationalizes the implementation of the different existing frameworks related to climate change 8. As NDA it will have the lead on this project and will convene stakeholders, facilitate UN inter-agency collaboration and public-private sector partnership. This project will integrate within the framework of existing monitoring & evaluation and steering mechanisms. The High Commissioner of the 3N Initiative will ensure a matrix oversight as line coordinating structure on food and nutrition security in order to ensure coherence and coordination with all key actors and activities around this objective, which are not directly linked to climate change. At the decentralized level, the communes (municipalities) will constitute the entry point and oversight and coordinating entity. Beyond the delivery of operational results in the field to strengthen resilience of the population and disaster risk reduction capacity through innovative approaches, WFP will support the strengthening of effective leadership, coordination and technical capacity of government entities as a key pillar. WFP will play the role of building the capacities, conduct knowledge management and capitalization through different tools including lessons learned exercise, documentation of best practices, etc., as an important pillar, in order to support the identification and scale up at country level by the government as well as by the communities. This will include investment in evidence creation through the implementation of the necessary surveys, analysis, etc., which will ensure the soundness of the proposed models. 7 Conseil Nationale de l Environnement pour le Développement Durable 8 Politique Nationale sur les Changements Climatiques, Cadre Stratégique de Gestion Durable des Terres, Stratégie Nationale et Plan d Action en matière de Changement et variabilité climatique, Initiative 3N Les Nigériens Nourissent les Nigériens

14 Operational arrangements PROJECT / PROGRAMME CONCEPT NOTE GREEN CLIMATE FUND PAGE 12 OF 32 WFP Niger will work in partnership with the following agencies for the execution and technical supervision of the project activities. Structure Ministry of Agriculture/ Ministry of Transport Ministry of Environment Specialized technical structures Research and Academics Institutions NGO partners Responsibility As the project will have agriculture production (adaptation) aspects, the technical experts will ensure that production activities are compliant with the guidelines of environmental policies. The Secretariat Permanent du Code Rural will be the technical advisor concerning all land issues. Quality assurance and certification services for agricultural inputs and outputs will be provided by the government, including assurance on all minor infrastructural works in rural areas in line with environmental guidelines to mitigate residual risks. The Department of National Meteorology (DMN) is part of the Ministry of Transport and will provide meteorological information. It is responsible for the implementation of systems for observation, processing, forecasting, archiving and dissemination of data; To observe the behavior of the atmosphere, to foresee the evolution and to disseminate the corresponding information. The Ministry will participate in all coordination meetings with technical experts providing direct supervision to ensure that the project implementation is aligned with the policies and strategies of government. For some technical components, the Ministry will also play an executing role. The National Agricultural Research Institute (INRAN) will have direct responsibility for seed distribution, variety screening, evaluation and maintenance, producing breeder and foundation seeds, and training of the beneficiaries in the production of improved seed for an eventual transfer of that responsibility to them. This will facilitate the scale up of improved seeds production contributing to adaptation to climate change. Other regional research institution (AGHRYMET, ACMAD) and international ones (IRD, ICRISAT) and University Abdou Moumouni of Niamey will be contracted to play a supporting and advising role in executing specific activities related to evidence modeling and knowledge management. Niger has been involved in the process of decentralization with the transfer of skills to communes and regions. The proposed project will be implemented within the Government s decentralized institutional framework in collaboration with the private sector. The communes will be the key actors for the implementation of the participatory diagnosis and planning phase through the 3PA Approach. Under the climate services and forecast component, an ongoing strategic partnership with the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) at Columbia University will support the work with national meteorological service to customize a robust forecast and trigger mechanism using long-term meteorological data combined with cuttingedge tools from climate science. This could further include the refinement of drought forecast triggers, the development and testing of triggers for rapid onset hazards such as floods in collaboration with the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), and the integration of food security information and trend data. Given the strong focus put on evidence creation and knowledge management, WFP will partner with academic and research institutions to support the monitoring, evaluation and analytical work. This will amongst others cover areas as climate resilience, food resilience, socio anthropology, cost benefit analysis, etc. WFP will sign field level agreements (FLAs) with NGOs to execute selected activities on the ground. WFP will provide overall direction and planning while technical experts of NGOs and Government will provide direct supervision during execution of activities on the sites.

15 GREEN CLIMATE FUND PAGE 13 OF 32 Timetable showing major scheduled achievements and completion for each of the major components of the project/programme C. Financing / Cost Information Please provide: a breakdown of cost estimates analysed according to major cost categories. a financial model that includes projection covering the period from financial closing through final maturity of the proposed GCF financing with detailed assumptions and rationale; a description of how the choice of financial instrument(s) will overcome barriers and achieve project objectives, and leverage public and/or private finance. C.1. Description of financial elements of the project / programme A detailed financial breakdown will be provided with the project proposal. Annex 5 provides a year-wise breakdown of the below given budget estimated costs. Total USD Outcome 1: Build up communities and local authorities capacities to prepare for, and act upon disaster risks including those related to climate change Component 1: Develop, improve and provide relevant climate services to vulnerable communities to enable

16 them to take informed decisions to better manage climate risks PROJECT / PROGRAMME CONCEPT NOTE GREEN CLIMATE FUND PAGE 14 OF Needs Assessment and awareness raising , Support the co-development and uptake of tailored climate services (including easy to understand advisories) to support decision-making processes and planning at different levels (community, district and national level) , Facilitate and support the co-production of climate products for improved climate services for food security decisions , Identify, develop and test appropriate and accessible climate information delivery mechanisms to end-users (e.g. mobile phones, radio, newspapers, extension services) , Strengthen the existing partnerships between providers, intermediaries, researchers and end-users of climate information ,00 Sub Total Component ,00 Component 2: Strengthen adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities and reduce their exposure to climate risks, including through preparedness measures Mainstreaming disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation: Activities will target decision makers at different levels to mainstream disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation actions as a priority in their plans and public policies , Strengthen community disaster preparedness and awareness by the establishment of village early warning committees , Conduct trainings to strengthen rural communities knowledge the effects of climate change and introduce preparedness techniques and tools for increased resilience , Capacity building : Strengthen the capacity of relevant national counterparts (i.e. MoA) and institutions on the use of climate information for disaster risk reduction and food security and training of extension services to better support local communities , Climate risk insurance: Support the development and testing of contingency plans under the ARC and catalyze the development of micro-insurance schemes for weather related risks ,00 Sub Total Component ,00 Outcome 2: Strengthened resilience and improved adaptation capacity at community level through livelihoods diversification and enhanced market access - Component 3: Support and diversify livelihoods of the most vulnerable through the watershed approach Create and rehabilitate climate-resilient sustainable assets : capacities are strengthened on improved agro pastoral production techniques adapted to climate change , Support livelihoods diversification through income generating activities: Support of women in the management of poultry farming, sheep and goat fattening and for gardening , Initiate efforts to secure access to land for the very poor in the long term : Access to production capital (qualitative adapted inputs, bio, adequate equipment, safety/protection infrastructure) ,00

17 GREEN CLIMATE FUND PAGE 15 OF Access, reclaim and rehabilitate degraded community lands through reforestation and assisted natural regeneration (ANR) into arable lands , Support value chain development to Improve fair trade purchases from smallholder farmers: Support for production, training of farmers' organizations, support for processing and marketing ,00 Sub Total Component ,00 Operational activities support package Climate Services Expert ,00 Technical support from HQ ,00 Technical expertise ,00 Technical analysis ,00 Sub Total Operational activities support package ,00 Support package - TOTAL project ,00 - WFP will request for the management fee (10% of total project cost) equivalent to USD 1,000,000 covering the indirect support cost incl. management, administration, communications, as well as monitoring and evaluation. Total project financing (a) = (b) + (c) Financial Instrument Amount Currency Tenor Pricing 10,000,000 USD ($) C.2. Project financing information (b) Requested GCF amount (i) Senior Loans (ii) Subordinated Loans (iii) Equity (iv) Guarantees (v) Reimbursable grants * (vi) Grants * 10,000,000 USD ($) ( ) years ( ) years ( ) years ( ) % ( ) % ( ) % IRR * Please provide detailed economic and financial justification in the case of grants. Total Requested (i+ii+iii+iv+v+vi) 10,000,000 USD ($) (c) Cofinancing Financial Instrument Amount Currency Name of Institution Seniority