Sub-Saharan Africa World Bank /British Council TOT Capacity Building on Climate Change

Climate change is one of the major challenges facing the world. Many countries have already been impacted by climate change and this has affected their development as a result of adverse impacts on sectors such as agriculture, water, human health and tourism. There are also opportunities from climate change, for example new financing instruments such carbon finance, to help move towards low carbon development and reduce local air pollution at the same time. It is clear that a concerted effort in addressing development under a changing climate is needed and has been recognized by many multi-lateral and bilateral development agencies, countries, NGOs and community organizations. However, a major challenge on moving forward is the access to the knowledge and the capacity to move from knowledge to action on climate change.

World Bank Institute (WBI) in 2009 initiated a pilot program to engage about 300 youths as climate champions in 16 countries. The WBI climate capacity building was to provide a platform that provides access to resources included, e-learning program on climate change, e-discussion to encourage peer-to-peer learning, develop and maintain youth networks, conduct knowledge shearing events, and also a platform to share further experiences and knowledge.

From 16th – 21st November 2009; TUCCAN Lead Coordinator joined other 30 youth climate champions from 7 different African countries within the sub-Saharan region in a 5 days Training of Trainers Climate Change capacity building programme at the new Chelsea hotel in Abuja, Nigeria; The participating organizations were empowered to be agents of change by implementing youth focused climate change capacity development activities within their countries and communities.