Papua New Guinea has launched a USD10 million (K44.68 million) project to help rural communities adapt small-scale agriculture to climate change and improve food security.
The project, titled Adaptation of Small-Scale Agriculture for Food Security (ASSA), was launched at the Central Government House today.
Minister for Environment, Conservation and Climate Change John Kaupa, who officially launched the project, said ASSA is part of the larger Climate Resilient Green Growth Program being piloted in three provinces Enga, Milne Bay and New Ireland.
The project is funded by a USD10 million grant from the Adaptation Fund based in Bonn, Germany.
The Fund was established under the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to finance adaptation projects in vulnerable developing countries.
On behalf of the Government, Minister Kaupa thanked the Adaptation Fund Board which approved the funding in March 2023, noting the Fund had been patient while PNG worked to absorb the grant through its administrative and banking systems.
He said the funds were channelled through The Pacific Community (SPC), which was appointed as the Direct Access Entity.
SPC signed the Grant Agreement and a Subsidiary Grant Agreement with the Government through the Minister for Treasury.
A Trust Instrument issued by the Minister for Finance enabled a Trust Account to be established at the Bank of South Pacific (BSP).
Minister Kaupa also thanked SPC and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), which worked with the Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA) to compile technical information and secure the funding.
He said PNG is a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol and has ratified the UNFCCC, with domestic frameworks including the Climate Change (Management) Act 2015, the National Adaptation Plan 2020 and the Country Program for the Green Climate Fund.