Guinea and UNDP launch new adaptation project to prepare for climate change impacts

14 August 2019, Conakry, Guinea- As preparations for the United Nations Secretary-General’s global Climate Action Summit heat up, Guinea has launched a vital adaptation project aimed at scaling up the country’s capacity for reliable climate information and early warning. More than 80 percent of the population – around 9,600,000 Guineans – are set to benefit from improved monitoring and response capacities, as well as capacity to respond to climate shocks and plan climate change adaptation.

Like other countries, Guinea already suffers the negative impacts of climate change, such as droughts, floods, more frequent extreme weather, disruption of rainfall and so on, said Senior Advisor to the Minister of State, Minister of Transport, Dr. Younoussa KOITA. Over the past 15 years, floods alone have caused loss of life and property damage, leaving thousands of families homeless [see 2015, 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006]. We must act to prepare and adapt, he continued.

Guinea’s vulnerability is exacerbated by poor practices of unsustainable production systems, due to the lack of alternative priority adaptation options based on the best techniques and technologies that are not capitalized and disseminated to communities.

The Guinean climate observation network is currently obsolete and under-equipped. Communication on climate challenges is generally weak and climate information does not reach communities. Adaptation is not well integrated with development, particularly in vital sectors that are among the most vulnerable to climate change risk.

Under the project, more than 100 meteorological and hydrological stations will be installed around the country. The data captured will feed into information and forecasts to inform policy-makers, government officials and farmers.

National service managers and officers, including the National Directorate of Meteorology, National Directorate of Hydraulics and National Centre for the Management of Disasters and Environmental Emergencies, will be trained in the capturing and analysis of data, modelling and producing quality climate information products, processing and archiving of data.

During the implementation of the project, adaptation will be integrated into the policies, planning and budgeting of climate-sensitive sectors, including agriculture, livestock, water, coastal and and forestry areas – in the country’s most vulnerable areas.

Women and girls, non-governmental organizations, beneficiary communities will be closely involved.

“We reaffirm our availability to support Guinea in rolling out this important project which supports national priorities for adaptation and directly contributes towards the the goals of sustainable development, including the fight against climate change (SDG 13), gender equality (SDG 5), poverty eradication (SDG 1), the fight against hunger (SDG 2) and sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11 ", said UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Eloi KOUADIO IV.

Supported with US$5.35 million from the Global Environment Facility’s Least Developed Countries Fund and the United Nations Development Programme for a period of four years, the project will be implemented by the Ministry of Transport through the National Directorate of Meteorology.

Notes to the Editor

The Republic of Guinea is ranked 175 of 187 countries on the Human Development Index and a UN-designated Least Developed Country.  Over 55 percent of the population – around 6.9 million Guineans – live below the national poverty line, while over 31 percent of the population live below the global poverty line of US$1.90 a day.

Around 64 percent of Guineans live in rural areas. Most are small-scale subsistence farmers.

According to IPCC projections, the increase in average temperature will reach 4°C throughout the African continent.  In Guinea, the rise in temperature will be accompanied by changes in the distribution and volume of rainfall, with an arid climate shift expected in the Gulf of Guinea areas further south.

About the United Nations Development Programme

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in nearly 170 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations.

For more information on the project, titled ‘Strengthening Climate Information and Early Warning Systems for Climate Resilient Development and Adaptation to Climate Change in Guinea (SAP Guinea)’, please go to https://www.adaptation-undp.org/projects/guinea/strengthening-climate-information-and-early-warning-climate-resilient-development

Implementation partners including administrative authorities, members of the Steering Committee, representatives of technical institutions, civil society, and the private sector attended the launch of the project. Photo: UNDP Guinea