GCF Country Programme and Priorities

GCF Country Programmes

are the cornerstone of each country’s pipeline development with GCF. It is the first stage of the updated GCF project and programme cycle, and forms the basis for prioritising the further development of funding proposals for projects and programmes submitted by Accredited Entities on behalf of countries for funding. Country Programme that provides a snapshot of the top climate-change priorities and targets based on the projects/programmes that are expected to be submitted to the GCF for funding. Country Programmes represent an essential tool at the GCF’s – and country’s – disposal to achieve transformational impact, while enhancing and ensuring country-driven approaches, cornerstones of the GCF business model. In addition to this, Country Programmes are utilised by the GCF to inform Board discussions and decisions, especially those pertaining to the future projections of funding needs of developing countries and the replenishment of the GCF funds.

The process of developing or updating a Country Programme is used for prioritising the most impactful projects or programmes to be funded by GCF, aligned with the priorities identified in a country’s national climate plans or strategies. It may also be used to identify the most suitable GCF Accredited Entities or prospective entities seeking accreditation that would submit and implement those projects and programmes. These projects and programmes should contribute to the country achieving its ambitious, long-term climate change strategies and plans, particularly those contained in the country’s latest nationally determined contributions (NDCs), adaptation communications (ACs), national adaptation plans (NAPs), Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs), Technology Plans (TPs) and long-term national strategies, focusing on areas of high mitigation potential and adaptation needs for the country. They should also be consistent with long-term planning aligned with the goals of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement to stabilise average global temperatures at 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and increase a country’s ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change.

Trinidad and Tobago’s current climate change priorities are centred around its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement under the Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Trinidad and Tobago’s NDC aims to achieve a reduction in overall emissions from the three sectors by 15% by 2030 from Business as Usual (BAU), which in absolute terms is an equivalent of one hundred and three million tonnes (103,000,000) of CO₂e. In addition to the sectors and actions described in Figure 1, the country’s climate change priorities are informed by other policy documents, such as the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP), the National Environmental Policy (NEP) and the Carbon Reduction Strategy (CRS). The NCCP highlights that Trinidad and Tobago is committed to pursuing a low-carbon development path, consistent with the principle of sustainable development.

The GCF project and programme pipeline was developed based on a review of the Financial Investment Plan for NDC Implementation and the existing landscape of development of project concepts cross-referenced with the initiatives that are being implemented as purely domestic actions and those with support from other sources of funding. The resulting pipeline includes the following projects:

• Net-zero emission and reliable public transport
• Introducing sustainable fuels in maritime transport
• Pilot hydrogen economy for Trinidad and Tobago
• Solid Waste Management Programme
• Solar energy charging for electric vehicles

For more information on these projects, please contact the NDA directly.