Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) for Adaptation in preparation for Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) and Expansion of Biomass-generated Renewable Electricity in Eswatini

The Initiative for Climate Action Transparency was established in 2015 at the COP that adopted the Paris Agreement to support implementation of the Agreement’s Enhanced Transparency Framework. The Initiative works with over 40 developing countries ranging from large countries, like China, to small islands, such as Antigua & Barbuda.

ICAT provides countries with tailored support and practical tools and methodologies to build robust transparency frameworks needed for effective climate action in sync with national development priorities. The projects ICAT supports relate to: building or enhancing transparency frameworks for mitigation; building a monitoring and evaluation approach for adaptation; building or enhancing frameworks to track progress made in implementing and achieving nationally determined contributions; assessing the impacts of climate policies;  estimating or enhancing projections of greenhouse gas; integrating and/or aggregating impact assessment of climate actions at the subnational level and for non-State actors; building a tracking system for a just transition processes; establishing or enhancing a climate data system; and putting in place a framework to track climate finance.

ICAT offers a suite of practical, open-source tools and methodologies to provide effective support to the transparency efforts of countries around the world.

ICAT is an unincorporated multi-stakeholder partnership steered by the Donor Steering Committee (DSC), conformed by its donors, Austria; Germany; Italy; the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF); and ClimateWorks Foundation (CWF), and includes the UNFCCC Secretariat as the dedicated UN body with a climate change policy mandate, and UNOPS as an ex-officio member. The Initiative is managed by UNOPS on behalf of the DSC. Within UNOPS, the ICAT Secretariat manages ICAT day-to-day activities, coordinating and guiding the work of the implementing partners.

The project will focus on building capacities of technicians in the MTEA, line departments and national experts and institutions, as well as other stakeholders, to develop a robust MRV framework for the health and water sectors. The process for developing this MRV framework can then be rolled out in other adaptation sectors.

In addition, the project aims to assist with the setting up a Bioenergy Task Force to develop a Bioenergy Policy which will provide clear direction to Eswatini’s biomass energy sector and create an enabling environment to enhance biomass renewable energy development and investment in this sector. This will in turn assist Eswatini to achieve the energy emission targets set out in its NDCs.

This project will have an adaptation and a renewable biomass energy component. The specific objectives are to:

1. Develop a MRV framework (including data collection templates, guidance documents, roles and responsibilities, links to the national MRV online system) for tracking adaptation actions in the health and water sectors which can provide information necessary to compile the Adaptation section of the biennial transparency report;

2. Build capacity within Eswatini to conduct policy impact assessments (particularly Sustainable Development  impacts, but also transformational change) and to incorporate inputs from non-state actors into projections and planning;

3. Assist with the designing a draft national Bioenergy Policy, through the establishment of a Bioenergy Task Force, which will provide an enabling environment for enhancing the renewable biomass electricity contribution in the country and reduce energy emissions;

4. Support the implementation of Eswatini’s NDCs