Centre in Rio double

Work conducted by experts from the University of Wolverhampton played a part in an International environmental conference.

The Rio+20 Summit in Brazil came 20 years on from the Earth Summit in the same city, with the aim of alleviating poverty while sustaining the environment.

The University’s Centre for International Development and Training (CIDT) was instrumental in two key pieces of work that were showcased at the summit.

At the conference Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg announced that the UK would be contributing £20m over four years to help support the development of a forest knowledge bank.

The UK and international partners will help to create a bank of scientific and local knowledge to connect forest communities and give them the skills and investment needed to pull them out of poverty.

This will include developing guidance to direct money for forestry management projects to the areas most in need, such as Liberia, Ghana and Rwanda; spreading know-how on establishing seed banks and tree nurseries; setting up investment forums to bring together private investors and community forest enterprises to kick-start economic growth.

CIDT were contracted by the Department for International Development to produce the appraisal case for the proposed programme.

Jon Macartney, CIDT associate and consultant who worked on the project said: “DFID had identified the need for forestry research and best practice information to be made more accessible and useful for practitioners in order to better capture climate change mitigation and biodiversity benefits and aid those most dependent on forests for their livelihoods.

“Such programme proposals are required to meet rigorous appraisal criteria in order for funding to be approved and allocated. CIDT’s work involved identifying and assessing the available options and undertaking analysis to ascertain economic costs and benefits, cost effectiveness and value for money.

“This programme will help improve the way knowledge about forests is understood, communicated and used so that decision makers and practitioners working on the remote frontline in developing countries are well-equipped to develop and implement policies and projects that work.”

In a second highlight, work by the CIDT to research, scope, design and conclude on a design for a national environment and climate fund for Rwanda was also presented in Rio.

The Fonerwa project aims to be the primary vehicle through which environment and climate finance is managed in the African country.

Jahan Chowdhury, Senior Lecturer and consultant for CIDT, led a team of 10 international and national consultants on the work.

He said: “The fund is one of first financing mechanisms in Africa that will be nationally owned and operated with a projected capitalisation of more than £15 million over a three year period.

“This is a strategically important piece of work for the Government of Rwanda that gives them first mover advantage for accessing international finance. The fund design was developed in close partnership with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.”

ENDS

For more information please contact James Allen in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322003