In 2024, the Regional Collaboration Centres (RCCs) continued to support countries in achieving climate goals under the Paris Agreement with a view to bridging regional action with global ambition.
Their efforts have primarily focused on technical assistance and capacity building, facilitating access to support for the development and submission of and advancing participation in under the Paris Agreement. The RCCs have worked closely with national governments, private sector actors, and multilateral institutions to provide trainings, knowledge-sharing opportunities, and policy guidance tailored to regional needs. They have strengthened support towards adaptation related issues, including the formulation of implementable National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and transformational adaptation. The RCCs also supported stakeholders in their endeavors to access climate finance to implement their projects, and to prepare their Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) under the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF).
In this context, RCC Middle East and South Asia prioritized three main areas of work - see below their highlights. For more details, please visit the RCC MENA and SA webpage.
1. Supporting the operationalization of Article 6 in MENA and South Asia, including through direct, in country support.
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RCC MENA and SA provided direct country-level technical assistance for Article 6 operationalization in Bhutan, Iraq, and Sri Lanka. This included supporting Bhutan in developing a positive list for Article 6 implementation, assisting Sri Lanka in formulating a carbon trading policy and guiding principles, and strengthening institutional support in Iraq. They also delivered capacity-building webinars for UN Resident Coordinators (RCs) and UN country teams (UNCTs) in Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The RCC also held a capacity-building training workshop on carbon pricing and Article 6 operationalization for South Asia and the way forward on effective implementation. RCC MENA and South Asia also highlighted the role of private sector engagement in Article 6 implementation and supported the registration of Article 6.4 Designated National Authorities (DNAs) and facilitated discussions on transitioning CDM projects under Article 6.4.
2. Promoting NDC 3.0 development and implementation in MENA and South Asia, including through fostering regional partnerships and collaboration.
The RCC organized and delivered a webinar on the support ecosystem for the next round of NDCs in the MENA region, and co-organized a similar session in collaboration with RCC Asia-Pacific. To enhance coordination among support providers, the RCC initiated the MENA NDC 3.0 coordination mechanism to align assistance from the UN system and beyond, holding the first two meetings in May and November in cooperation with UNDP and the NDC Partnership. Additionally, RCC MENA and SA launched a series of thematic webinars on NDCs, delivering the first session on food security in NDCs in the MENA region.
Credit: Photo by Nuno Marques on Unsplash
The RCC also delivered a side event at SB60 and a special event at COP29 to raise visibility on NDC processes in the region and to showcase the support available from development partners. Furthermore, the RCC collaborated with regional partners, including ESCWA, UNDP, UNEP, and the NDC Partnership, in delivering the MENA NDC 3.0 Regional Forum.
3. Initiating activities under the adaptation workstream, with a special focus on supporting development and implementation of NAPs in MENA and South Asia.
The RCC, in collaboration with RCC Asia-Pacific, supported the organization and delivery of the 2024 NAP Expo held in Bangladesh. Additionally, RCC MENA and SA, together with RCC Asia-Pacific, contributed to the implementation of Phase II of the LAKI project in the Hindukush region (HKH), supporting the second technical expert meeting. RCC MENA and SA also initiated efforts to track current developments and initiatives related to NAP formulation and implementation in the region, with the aim of identifying opportunities for strengthened engagement.
