Samia Suluhu Hassan’s Appointment to the GCA Explained

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The President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has been officially appointed as a Member of the Advisory Board of the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA). This is the first time a Tanzanian President has been appointed to the Advisory Board of the GCA.

The appointment was announced by Ban Ki-moon, Chairman of the GCA Board and former Secretary-General of the United Nations, during a meeting with the President on the sidelines of the African Heads of State Summit on Climate Change held in Nairobi, Kenya.

Other members of the Board include the President of the Republic of Senegal, His Excellency Macky Sall, the Chairman of the African Union Commission, His Excellency Moussa Faki Mahamat, the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), His Excellency Akinwumi Adesina, and the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Her Excellency Kristalina Georgieva.

What you need to know about The GCA

The Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA) plays a critical role in addressing the challenges posed by climate change, and the appointment of President Samia Suluhu Hassan to its Advisory Board underscores the importance of collaborative global efforts. GCA’s work as an international organization and solutions broker aligns with President Samia’s commitment to address climate change and its impacts on the most vulnerable populations.

GCA’s mission to accelerate, innovate, and scale adaptation action complements President Samia’s leadership in implementing climate adaptation projects in Tanzania and across Africa. By joining the Advisory Board, President Samia will contribute her expertise and insights to support GCA’s efforts in mobilizing finance, knowledge acceleration, and agenda setting and advocacy.

Furthermore, GCA’s focus on the most vulnerable populations aligns with Tanzania’s efforts to address the triple health, social, and economic impacts of the climate emergency on its citizens. As a member of the Advisory Board, President Samia will play a key role in shaping GCA’s programs and actions, contributing to knowledge acceleration, and advocating for a climate-resilient future.

Important Insights about the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA)

The GCA is a pivotal organization in the global response to climate change. Established as a solutions broker, it accelerates action and support for adaptation solutions from international to local levels, in partnership with both public and private sectors.

1. Annual Report 2022 Highlights: The GCA’s Annual Report for 2022, titled ‘Doubling Down on Adaptation,’ highlights significant climate-related events, global shocks including the Covid-19 pandemic, and the delay in promised funding for climate adaptation despite commitments at Glasgow COP26. However, it also emphasizes that climate adaptation can boost economies and create jobs, as evidenced by the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) influencing $5.4 billion in climate adaptation investments in Africa.
2. Role as a Solutions Broker: GCA collaborates with various stakeholders to accelerate adaptation action, influencing significant investments that guide the development of communities and countries. It has launched programs such as the AAAP with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and initiated its first program outside Africa in Bangladesh.
3. Focus on Vulnerable Populations: GCA’s work is particularly important for vulnerable and marginalized communities, including women, who face barriers in adapting to climate change. Programs like the AAAP prioritize the adaptation needs of these populations and aim to mobilize billions for adaptation action in Africa by 2025.
4. AAAP Upstream Financing Facility: Managed by the GCA, this facility supports African countries and financing institutions in developing innovative adaptation projects focusing on food security, infrastructure, and nature-based solutions.

Our Take on Samia Suluhu Hassan’s Appointment to the GCA

The appointment of President Samia Suluhu Hassan to the Advisory Board of the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA) is a significant and positive development for both her and Tanzania. President Samia has shown a proactive approach towards addressing climate change issues, as evidenced by her call for the establishment of an Africa-specific climate fund during the Africa Climate Summit 23. This bold move underscored her commitment to mobilizing resources for climate adaptation and resonated with many leaders and delegates who also called for joint actions to solve the climate crisis.

Her appointment to the GCA Advisory Board aligns with her previous engagements and commitments on climate change. It provides her with a global platform to advocate for the needs of Tanzania and the entire African continent, which is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. This appointment will allow her to contribute her insights and experiences to a global institution that is dedicated to accelerating adaptation action worldwide.

Moreover, this appointment is also beneficial for Tanzania as a country. It underscores Tanzania’s role as a key player in global efforts to address climate change. Tanzania has been actively working on various climate-related projects and President Samia’s role in the GCA will facilitate access to global networks, knowledge, and financial resources necessary to implement adaptation actions on the ground. It will also enable Tanzania to share its experiences and lessons learned with the global community.

Strategic Importance for Tanzania

The appointment of President Samia Suluhu Hassan to the GCA Advisory Board is not merely a ceremonial honor; it carries significant strategic importance for Tanzania and its future. This prestigious appointment places Tanzania in a pivotal position on the global stage, enabling the country to influence policies on climate adaptation that not only affect the African continent but the entire world.

1. Influencing Global Policies: As a member of the GCA Advisory Board, President Hassan will have a direct say in the development and implementation of global strategies for climate adaptation. This is a crucial role as it gives Tanzania a voice in shaping the policies that will impact its own future as well as that of other vulnerable regions around the world.
2. International Collaboration: The GCA is a globally recognized organization that works in partnership with both the public and private sectors across the world. President Hassan’s appointment will facilitate stronger ties between Tanzania and other nations, as well as international organizations and private sector partners involved in climate adaptation efforts. This opens up opportunities for knowledge exchange, sharing of best practices, and collaborative initiatives to address shared challenges.
3. Access to Funding: One of the key roles of the GCA is to mobilize finance for adaptation actions. Being directly involved in the GCA will position Tanzania favorably to access funding for its own climate adaptation projects. This is particularly important given the significant financial resources required to address the impacts of climate change, from building resilient infrastructure to supporting sustainable agriculture and protecting natural ecosystems.
4. Enhancing Tanzania’s Global Standing: By having its President serve on the Advisory Board of a major international organization, Tanzania’s standing on the global stage is enhanced. This not only elevates the country’s profile but also underscores its commitment to addressing the global challenge of climate change.

Impact on Local Communities

The work of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) and the involvement of President Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to have a significant impact on local communities in Tanzania and across Africa.

1. Addressing Specific Challenges: Tanzania, like many other African countries, faces specific challenges related to climate change, including increased frequency and intensity of droughts, floods, and storms; rising sea levels; and changes in rainfall patterns that affect agriculture. Vulnerable populations, such as smallholder farmers, coastal communities, and the urban poor, are particularly affected by these changes. The GCA focuses on those who are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including the poorest people in the poorest countries. President Hassan’s involvement in the GCA will ensure that the specific challenges faced by Tanzanian communities and other vulnerable populations across Africa are addressed in global adaptation efforts.
2. International Collaboration and Funding: As a member of the GCA Advisory Board, President Hassan will be in a position to influence global policies on climate adaptation and to open up opportunities for international collaboration and funding for climate adaptation projects in Tanzania. This could lead to increased investments in climate-resilient infrastructure, sustainable agriculture, and nature-based solutions that directly benefit local communities.
3. Promoting Local Solutions: Local communities often have a deep understanding of their environment and have developed local solutions to cope with climate variability. The GCA aims to accelerate action and support for adaptation solutions from the international to the local level. President Hassan’s involvement will help ensure that local knowledge and solutions are incorporated into global adaptation efforts, and that local communities are empowered to take ownership of adaptation actions.
4. Focus on Youth and Women: The GCA places a strong emphasis on empowering youth and women as agents of change. President Hassan has also been a strong advocate for the inclusion of women and youth in decision-making processes. Her involvement in the GCA will help ensure that the adaptation needs of women and youth are prioritized, and that they are actively involved in the design and implementation of adaptation solutions.

The involvement of President Samia Suluhu Hassan in the GCA is expected to have a positive impact on local communities in Tanzania and across Africa by addressing specific challenges faced by the most vulnerable populations, promoting international collaboration and funding, incorporating local knowledge and solutions into global adaptation efforts, and empowering women and youth as agents of change. This will contribute to building more resilient and sustainable communities that are better prepared to cope with the impacts of climate change.

In conclusion, President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s appointment to the Advisory Board of the GCA is a commendable and strategic development. It aligns with her previous efforts and commitments to address climate change and will strengthen Tanzania’s position in the global climate adaptation landscape.