Regional Hubs for Regional Solutions

Capacity building is at the core of the approach of the ICAT hubs. In 2023, more than 250 people received training and participated in capacity-building workshops organized by the ICAT regional hubs, either in-country or on the regional level. The workshops were tailored to address the unique requirements of the hubs' participating countries, as these were identified through prior assessments conducted by the hubs.

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In Central Asia, 2023 was a year for delving deeper into climate transparency, with workshops and capacity-building sessions on topics such as greenhouse gas inventories and projections, the tracking of nationally determined contributions (NDCs), transparency for adaptation measures, and climate finance tracking. An example of the workshops’ success was where prior to the training many participants had a rudimentary grasp of modelling concepts and the selection process for specific models relevant to assessing NDCs, afterwards they reported significant gains in their understanding of modelling approaches, tools, and scenario building techniques. The strengthened technical capacity of national experts from Central Asian countries in data collection and processing has enabled them to produce more accurate and comprehensive reports to the international community.

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“As an Annex I country under the UNFCCC, Kazakhstan undergoes a triennial review of its national report. In 2019, following this review, Kazakhstan was identified as a country that had not fully complied with the Kyoto Protocol due to insufficient transparency. Through the seminars conducted by the ICAT regional hub, significant improvements were achieved in quality control and implementation of other measures. As a result of these efforts, the UNFCCC secretariat recently removed this status from Kazakhstan,” said Ms. Aiman Yessekina, Head of the Department of Greenhouse Gases Inventory of Kazakhstan, during a COP28 side-event in December 2023.

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Beyond providing capacity-building opportunities, the ICAT hubs established forums for meaningful dialogue and consultation among stakeholders invested in climate action. The hubs' workshops and events drew in participants from various stakeholders, encompassing a broad spectrum of expertise and perspectives. Representatives of climate change departments and environmental authorities engaged with representatives from line ministries, such as energy, forestry, finance, agriculture, mines and industry. Representatives of the private sector, civil society organizations and the scientific community also had a seat at the table, strengthening consensus-building on climate action plans.

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In Central Africa, national capacity building workshops were held to develop comprehensive national transparency plans for each member country. As a result, 10 national transparency plans were developed. Through these plans, Central African countries are asserting ownership of their work on transparency, recognizing it as a crucial element of climate action and sustainable development. The plans include provisions to ensure continuous involvement of national stakeholders in transparency mechanisms, such as the formalization of institutional arrangements through legal frameworks, and dedicated teams and working groups. The plans will be used as roadmaps for transparency efforts at the national level. They will help to organize needs and activities, coordinate support offers, and guide engagement.

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Ministers and senior officials from Hub member countries actively participated in ICAT events and workshops, confirming the significance of transparency on the climate agenda. Their attendance showcased the growing political support for transparency as a cornerstone of effective climate action.

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