The APICA-GNB project official kick-off - February 6, 2024 - Guinea Bissau

The first Climate Change adaptation project financed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in Guinea-Bissau, implemented by the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) and executed by Ajuda de Desenvolvimento de Povo para Povo Guinea Bissau (ADPP-GB) for a period of five years, officially kick-started today, February 6, 2024.

Mr. Helton Sá, Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Environment, Biodiversity and Climate Action (MEBCA), Mr. João Lona Tchedna, Director General of the Environment and President of the National Institute of Environment (NIE), Ms. Feliciana Mendonça, Director at the National Institute of Meteorology of Guinea-Bissau (NIM-GB), Mr. Martinho Moreira, Governor of the Region of Oio, Mr. Braima Camará, Governor of the Region of Cacheu and Mr. Fernando Binhafa, Executive Director of ADPP-GB took part in the launching event along with the OSS Executive Secretary, Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra.

On this occasion, Mr. Ben Khatra reaffirmed the commitment of the Sahara and Sahel Observatory to contribute, through APICA-GNB, to the preservation of biodiversity in mangrove ecosystems, in order to face the climate change impacts in the region and promote a sustainable future for the generations to come.

Thanks to APICA-GNB, 250 hectares of mangrove swamp areas will be reforested, 70% of the 82,450 direct beneficiaries who will profit from the project activities are women and special focus will be placed on gender and the improvement of ecosystem adaptation. The project will also be an avenue for consolidating the knowledge management capacities to monitor and address water and agriculture-related climate risks, building climate-resilient communities and enhancing climate-resilient livelihoods and ensuring food and water security in the Oio and Cacheu regions.