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ST GEORGE’S, Grenada -- Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell met with officials from the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the Ministry of the Environment, Foreign Trade and Export Development on Thursday to discuss the programme on integrated adaptation strategies in Grenada.

The programme, which is already approved by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety in Germany, is a bilateral programme and will be funded by GIZ and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Mitchell expressed his appreciation to the German government for this four-year bilateral programme which has a value of 5 million Euros in technical assistance.

The programme aims to increase resilience of vulnerable communities and ecosystems to climate change risks in Grenada through integrated adaptation approaches.

There are four key focus areas:

• Mainstreaming of adaptation considerations into national development planning

• Improve planning, management and efficient use of water and coastal zone resources

• Increase adaptive capacity of communities through the implementation of pilot community based adaptation activities

• And enable access to public and private funding for climate change measures

Mitchell reiterated that Germany has been a committed development partner to Grenada over the years.

“As a result of that support, Grenada became a front runner of climate change issues in the region and demonstrated leadership especially in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan,” he said.

The programme will be officially launched in April 2013 and delegates are expected from Germany and the region. The programme will be implemented together with stakeholders and as such, is inclusive in its approach.

Mitchell acknowledged the strength of the German economy within the Eurozone and stated that he looked forward to Germany becoming a more significant source market for Grenada’s tourism.

The prime minister urged the team of officials to work closely with the minister that will be appointed to the environment portfolio so as to ensure that implementation will not be delayed.

The German team and the Ministry of the Environment have been meeting with key stakeholders in Grenada throughout the week, including the Ministry of Agriculture, NAWASA, GCIC, Ministry of Tourism, Board of Tourism and non governmental organisations.

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