The Republic of the Marshall Islands Climate Change Website: PICCAP

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National Activities - PICCAP

CC-Train (which remains the basis of PICCAP) began as a pilot project (Phase I) in 3 countries- Lithuania, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. 65 countries, then applied to be part of Phase II of the project, as well as a group request from Pacific countries. Of these, only 17 countries (3 African, 5 Latin American and 9 Pacific countries) were chosen to receive the assistance. They were all chosen after a long series of consultations between the UNDP, GEF, United Nations Environment Program and bilateral donor agencies. More Pacific countries are taking part in the project than from any other region.

The Phase II project will, however, be carried out in such a way that those countries that missed out on the assistance can follow the same methods and benefit from the experiences of the countries currently taking part in the programme.

PICCAP is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). GEF has provided 2.6 million to the 17 countries who are taking part in the CC- Train project and the UNDP oversee the project and provide ground level support to implementing agencies through its regional offices throughout the world.

The goals and policies of the project are decided by the Climate Change Convention Secretariat which is part of the UN and responsible for each countries (not just those in PICCAP or CC-Train) implemention of the convention. PICCAP’s chief goal is to assist countries to build sustainable capacities to do what is required of them in the convention.

It will do this by:

• Establishing and training a country team to carry out tasks and to act as a focal point for convention activities.
• Assisting countries to finish their National Cxommunications and train them so they can continue to maintain their obligations on conclusion of the project.
• Setting up a process to develop project activities such as a National Implementation Strategy.
• Setting up a network of regional partners to support each country in the region to do project activities.
• Sharing the methodology and materials between each of the involved countries.

In accomplishing each of the required activities, the project will follow a country team approach. The members of this country team include experts with knowledge of all the different areas and departments that will be part of the RMI's climate change response activities or that will need to take part in the project activities. The country team has members from government agencies, NGO’s, Private Industry, and Scientific and Research groups, with a chairman from the National Focal Point.

The Country Team will complete the following tasks throughout the duration of the PICCAP Project:

• Prepare a National Implementation Strategy for carrying out the Convention activities.
• Act as a national focal point for climate change activities and carry out activities that need to be done to fulfil the convention.
• Carry out all additional PICCAP activities.
• Organize national awareness and education workshops
• Hold consultative meetings with all the affected and interested parties in the country to collect their input to climate cahnge response.
• Hold National training workshops for those producing the national communications and implementation strategy.
• Conduct a National conference presenting the implementation strategy to senior policy makers.

If you have any questions and comments please contact us at ypiccap@ntamar.com.