Strengthening the resilience of communities and ecosystems vulnerable to the impacts of climate change in the Mono-TOGO basin

Togo | UNDP

27 July 2019

Project/Programme Title:

Strengthening the resilience of communities and ecosystems vulnerable to the impacts of climate change in the Mono-TOGO basin

Country(ies): TOGO

National Designated Authority(ies) (NDA):

Environment Branch/Ministry of Environment and Forest resources

Accredited Entity(ies) (AE):

UNDP

Date of first submission/ version number:

2019-07-26

Date of current submission/ version number

2019-07-26

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Notes

• The maximum number of pages should not exceed 12 pages, excluding annexes. Proposals exceeding the prescribed length will not be assessed within the indicative service standard time of 30 days.

• As per the Information Disclosure Policy, the concept note, and additional documents provided to the Secretariat can be disclosed unless marked by the Accredited Entity (ies) (or NDAs) as confidential.

• The relevant National Designated Authority (ies) will be informed by the Secretariat of the concept note upon receipt.

• NDA can also submit the concept note directly with or without an identified accredited entity at this stage. In this case, they can leave blank the section related to the accredited entity. The Secretariat will inform the accredited entity(ies) nominated by the NDA, if any.

• Accredited Entities and/or NDAs are encouraged to submit a Concept Note before making a request for project preparation support from the Project Preparation Facility (PPF).

• Further information on GCF concept note preparation can be found on GCF website Funding Projects Fine Print.

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A. Project / Programme Information (max. 1 page)

A.1. Project or programme ☒ Project

☐ Program

A.2. Public or private sector

☒ Public sector

☐ Private sector

A.3. Is the CN submitted in

response to an RFP?

Yes ☐ No ☒

If yes, specify the RFP: ______________

A.4. Confidentiality1 ☐ Confidential

☒ Not confidential

A.5. Indicate the result areas for the project/programme

Mitigation: Reduced emissions from:

☐ Energy access and power generation

☐ Low emission transport

☐ Buildings, cities and industries and appliances

☐ Forestry and land use

Adaptation: Increased resilience of:

☒ Most vulnerable people and communities

☒ Health and well-being, and food and water security

☐ Infrastructure and built environment

☒ Ecosystem and ecosystem services

A.6. Estimated mitigation impact (tCO2eq over lifespan)

Not applicable

A.7. Estimated adaptation impact (number of direct beneficiaries and % of population)

Target: 400, 000 beneficiaries (approx. 15% of the population of the basin of Mono; approx. 5% of the population of Togo)

A.8. Indicative total project cost (GCF + co-finance)

Amount: USD 46 M A.9. Indicative GCF funding requested

Amount: USD 16 M

A.10. Mark the type of financial instrument requested for the GCF funding

☒ Grant ☐ Reimbursable grant ☐ Guarantees ☐ Equity

☐ Subordinated loan ☐ Senior Loan ☐ Other: specify___________________

A.11. Estimated duration of project/ programme:

a) disbursement period: 6 Years

b) repayment period, if applicable: not applicable

A.12. Estimated project/ Programme lifespan

20 Years

A.13. Is funding from the Project Preparation Facility requested?2

Yes ☐ No ☒

Other support received ☐ If so, by who:

A.14. ESS category3

☐ A or I-1

☒ B or I-2

☐ C or I-3

1 Concept notes (or sections of) not marked as confidential may be published in accordance with the Information Disclosure Policy (Decision

B.12/35) and the Review of the Initial Proposal Approval Process (Decision B.17/18). 2 See here for access to project preparation support request template and guidelines 3 Refer to the Fund’s environmental and social safeguards (Decision B.07/02)

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A.15. Is the CN aligned with your accreditation standard?

Yes ☒ No ☐ A.16. Has the CN been shared with the NDA?

Yes ☒ No ☐

A.17. AMA signed (if submitted by AE)

Yes ☒ No ☐

If no, specify the status of AMA negotiations and expected date of signing:

A.18. Is the CN included in the Entity Work Programme?

Yes ☒ No ☐

A.19. Project/Programme rationale, objectives and approach of programme/project (max 100 words)

This project aims to reduce the impacts of climate change induced floods and droughts through targeted interventions within the Mono Basin of south east Togo. The project will employ a two-pronged approach:

1) Strengthening institutional and community capacity through the development and implementation of climate resilient Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) plan and system. 2) Improve agriculture livelihoods through sustainable soil conservation and riverine stabilization measures (ecosystem-based adaptation).

B. Project / Programme details (max. 8 pages)

B.1. Context and Baseline (max. 2 pages)

B.2. Project / Programme description (max. 3 pages)

20. Objective: The objective of the project is to strengthen the resilience of the Mono basin communities’ livelihoods and socio-economic assets against climate change-induced floods and droughts risks. This project uses integrated flood and water resources management approach to protect communities and livelihoods in the Maritime and SE Plateaux (Lower Mono) region from climate change-induced floods and droughts, while also building their resilience to anticipated extreme weather events through capacity building, climate information provision, and governance improvements.

21. The integrated flood and water resource management approach combines hard interventions that build resilience to climate change-induced flooding and droughts with governance and capacity building interventions that serve as key elements in maintaining the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of the proposed project, demonstrated through the following project outputs:

22. Output 1: Institutional and community capacity for the development and implementation of climate resilient IWRM is strengthened

a. Under the coordination of the Basin Management Authority, setting up climate resilience IWRM local and regional committees in the targeted districts and community levels to coordinate, communicate and manage efforts for the climate resilient management of the basin. They will coordinate land use management, water resource management and agricultural practices to support climate resilient practices.

b. Develop a coordinated drought and flood risk information and early warning system, involving IWRM committees, for the targeted zones of the basin and integrated with national information systems to support communication via local radio, social media or through a mobile app and community-based communication mechanisms to increase community engagement and two-way flow of information.

c. Acquisition and installation of complementary weather and hydrology monitoring and forecasting equipment (automated level measurements systems, flow rate meters, rain gauges, agrometeorological stations and related telecommunication equipment) to have the required minimum information to effectively utilize the flood and drought risks monitoring tool.

d. Supports the development and training to utilize a drought and flood risks monitoring online tool that incorporates additional river flows depth and flow measurements, rainfall variability and hydrological data for the basin. This tool will provide on-time information reports relating risks of flooding and droughts with analysis of real time weather forecasts and climate projections impacts. This will be used to update and help inform developed risk and vulnerability assessment models (to be developed as part of the funding proposal).

e. Strengthen the capacity of the IWRM local and regional committees, the Nangbeto dam Management Authority and the Basin Management Authority to mainstream the drought and flood risk monitoring tool in the land use planning, water resource management and usage planning, livelihood management and other socio-economic development investments. In this perspective, the project will support the replication of the SIIEAU portal at the targeted zone level and the integration of drought and flood risk monitoring tool in this localized SIIEAU

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23. Output 2: Improve agriculture livelihoods through sustainable soil conservation practices and riverine stabilization measures (ecosystem-based adaptation) are implemented to protect the most vulnerable communities and their assets against flood and drought risks

This output focuses on implementing combined hard and nature-base structures to reduce the runoff and erosion potential and promote water distribution in the basin and reduce flooding and drought risks. Emphasis will be placed on reinforcing the capacities and leadership capabilities of women and other disadvantaged groups to address existing social disparities. This will be achieved by:

a. Implementing riverine stabilization measures through bioengineering, relief level curves and treatment of gullies with gabion and/ or masonry thresholds in 40,000 ha (estimate) within the basin and;

b. Build and rehabilitate rain water and river flood water catchment systems in strategic areas of the basin to reduce the likelihood of flooding (including drainage and sediment control) and conserve water for drinking water and agriculture irrigation purposes.

c. Raising awareness of women and men in communities to understand how to climate-proof existing infrastructure (such as strengthening embankments and canals to ensure water flow management during floods) and continue to strengthen their capacity (by training) and support to maintain these systems to cope with extreme rainfall events.

d. Train and provide advisory support to farmers to integrate best agricultural and land management practices compatible with the climatic conditions. Building on the results of the PGICT project which led to the identification of practices to be promoted on a large scale.

e. Reinforcement of a local technical support: Capacity building of the existing institutional structures and CSOs supporting rural development to support sustainable and climate resilient agricultural production practices and system.

24. Social issues form an integral part of the climate change driven flood and drought management process. In addition to extreme weather events linked to climate change, the community's vulnerability and capacity to anticipate and cope with risks heavily determine the socio-economic impact of flooding. Therefore, effective integrated flood and water resource management requires appropriate options for managing risks for different social groups. Social norms and values also determine how well the negative impacts can be effectively overcome and how well the positive effects of resource management use can be utilized and shared equitably. Therefore, the proposed project will give special attention to the gender and social dynamics that influence access to flood management decision-making, with emphasis on promoting the empowerment of women and other disadvantaged groups.

25. The project aims to reach directly about 200 localities (villages) spread over the 3 regions of the basin and the 11 prefectures-approximately 400, 000 beneficiaries (15% of the total population of the basin), in order to cover the different situations of risk and vulnerability of the basin.

26. The project aims at increasing resilience among diverse community members to climate-change induced floods and droughts within the lower Mono Togo Basin and SE Maritime Region. This project is well placed to enhance and build resilience in an issue rarely covered by other initiatives (see baseline section in Pre-feasibility study). The theory of change illustrating the development of the project is summarized in the following diagram:

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The project is directly aligned with 3 of the 4 result areas covered by the GCF relating to adaptation, namely addressing: i) Livelihoods of people and communities, ii) health, food and water security and iii) ecosystem and ecosystem services.

27. The project is compliant with the national regulatory framework. In accordance with the Law N ° 2008-005 Bearing framework law on the environment in Togo, the project will be subjected to an environmental and social impact study in order to mitigate possible negative impacts and to improve the positive impacts of the project. This study will be carried out according to the environmental and social impact assessment procedures in force (Decree No. 2017-040 / PR establishing the procedure of environmental and social impact studies). The project will comply with current technical standards governing infrastructure installations. Where appropriate, international standards will be applied. The Environmental Safeguards study will be completed during the development of the full Feasibility Study and Funding Proposal.

28. As the AE, UNDP provides a comparative advantage for this project given its strengths as a development agency with significant experience in working with the adaptive capacity building and climate-proofing of natural ecosystems in the region. UNDP leads in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and partners with the country in the implementation of major development programmes such as the Community Development Emergency Programme (PUDC). The mobilization of the various partners4 for the implementation of the project is synthesized in the following diagram:

4 Potential partners include: Prefectural directorates of environment, agriculture and water in addition to producer associations at the local level. In addition, the Mono Basin Authority, NGOs – Center for Research and Testing Autopromotion Models (CREMA) and Organization of Youth in Activities for Community Development in Africa (OJADEC)

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29. The project will be implemented according to the National Implementation Modality (NIM). The Ministry of Environment and Forest resources is the national implementation entity, coordinating with the Ministry of Planning and Development. Other sectoral ministries, including ministries responsible for water resources, agriculture, and civil society organizations will be involved in implementation. 30. Specific risk management procedures including environmental and social safeguard clauses will be defined and enforced following the UNDP5 procedures consistent with the recommendations of the GCF. The main risks identified are summarized as follows:

Risk Management Response

The participatory approach for EBA strengthening of infrastructure could be ineffective due to lack of community ownership of lack of understanding on the part of implementers and beneficiaries.

Community projects are generally simple in technical design and training of local committees and inclusive involvement of community members to support short and long term sustainable operational and maintenance practices will help ensure acceptance of responsibility by the stakeholders.

Low level of cooperation between executing institutions.

The implementation arrangements have been discussed in detail with all stakeholders with MERF acting as the coordinating agency. UNDP Country office will monitor the project to ensure effective execution.

Operational and Maintenance budgets allocated are insufficient to finance adaptation interventions after project terminations.

Training shall be provided to both community, Basin Authority and National levels for understanding and supporting the interventions. The project will also take 7 years for implementation and should allow institutions to budget for this support.

Environmental risks associated with ecosystem-based adaptation of water infrastructure

Measures will be taken to minimize further sediment entering waterways as a result of any earthworks. This will be further analyzed during the environmental and social screening during proposal development.

B.3. Expected project results aligned with the GCF investment criteria (max. 3 pages)

31. Impact Potential: This project will achieve results in the GCF results areas on increased resilience of most vulnerable people and communities (by working with some of the most vulnerable poor communities); and increased water and food security (by increasing resilience of the water sector and flood management). The direct beneficiaries of the project were calculated as the residents of the Mono River Basin watershed, totaling 400,000 people of which 52% are female, composed of local rural communities of smallholder farmers in the greater macro-catchment. Indirect

5 UNDP, Social-Environmental-Screening-Procedure, 2015

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beneficiaries are estimated as 1,050,027 residents of downstream urban and rural centers that will benefit from reduced flooding due to project activities upstream.

32. Paradigm shift: The project combines hard disaster risk management approach to CC with a resilience-based approach through adaptation of natural infrastructure along the basin that is sustained through informed communities and sustainable planning mechanisms. Through the two interrelated outputs, the project will support a basin wide application of the proposed protection measures by addressing the baselines of action required for effective EBA (protective ecosystems, communities as active agents of adaptation and planning frameworks). Output 2 will support implementing soil conservation and riverine stabilization measures (ecosystem-based adaptation) to climate proof the most vulnerable communities and their assets. The EBA approach allows for a cost-effective strategy to basin adaptation that builds on educated communities, and implementation of sustainable practices. It does this by enhancing national institutions to work in an integrated manner on adaptation to enhance the protective role of riverine ecosystems. This will be further enhanced by involving local stakeholders as key figures in ensuring the permanent and sustainable functionality of the adaptation measures. Involvement will be achieved through capacity building across the regional districts and the provision of relevant information on climate risks and natural resources management as an adaptation strategy. The monitoring system established in Output 1 will be an essential instrument to enable inter-sectoral integration while providing consistent information on the effectiveness of investments on the natural infrastructure, which will be valuable not only for national upscale but to Togo and Benin basin management initiatives. Through Output 1, the project also provides an important opportunity in the country to enable information to flow back to communities, through consolidating data analytics (providing through web-based services) that combines weather forecasts with indigenous knowledge systems which will be important to community. This helps buy-in at all layers of the country and is supportive of long-term resilience building, especially if implementing IWRM allows realization of government development targets which will lead to more possible increase in private sector engagement. This will make the project a unique experience in the country.

33. Potential for knowledge and learning: The project has a strong component for knowledge and capacity building targeting local communities and stakeholders. Development of a basin-wide modelling tool and dissemination of information, in particular, is a key added value of the project. This tool will enable a detailed understanding and monitoring of the water resource (quality and quantity) incorporating climate change factors. The development of these tools and other knowledge-dissemination activities will give rise to specific activities to share South-south experiences with other countries, especially Benin. Special attention will be paid to the collaboration with Benin in the framework of the establishment of the Mono Basin Authority (Togo-Benin joint organ). On a national scale, collaboration with research and communication institutions such as universities (University Lomé) and WASCAL, will ensure application of the most up to date knowledge via new information sharing tools (e.g. mobile messaging), but also using the existing extension modalities (rural radio and extension agents). Knowledge generation at the local level, building on traditional knowledge, will be promoted via the local community organizations. The Watershed Management Committees will be empowered to be at the centre of those efforts, coordinating land use in the watersheds as recognized authority structure.

34. Contribution to the creation of an enabling environment: The proposed project, which is in line with the country’s NAPA, will promote the establishment of flood governance as a vehicle for better flood protection in activity 2.1 (defining the flood governance framework) and complemented by activities on capacity building (2.c) and multi-stakeholder coordination (2.d). Once developed at the basin level, the conditions for a wider scale deployment will provide support for this planning work. On the other hand, the deployment of support activities at the local level for both the deployment of infrastructure and the deployment of good practices will strengthen local governance systems, through the mobilization of village communities and Institutional actors.

35. Regulatory framework and policies: The proposed project will build on existing Disaster Risk Reduction Frameworks and Watershed Management policy. This project will work with local communities and authorities to incorporate climate change resilience in their planning. It will thus close the gap and duplication of responsibilities of various local bodies and provide the main recognized bodies for coordination of watershed activities.

36. Economic co-benefits: The project will help to secure local livelihoods by strengthening their resilience to the risks of droughts and floods (avoided damage). The proposed project will also create jobs through its direct activities (e.g. by implementing soil conservation measures, reduce losses of vulnerable households (as a benefit of flood management) and support of community driven operations and maintenance programmes).

37. Social co-benefits: The project will increase resilience and stability of livelihoods under conditions of climate change, reduce exposure to health hazards (increase in diarrhoea and malaria due to possible drinking water issues) induced by increased flooding associated to climate change. The communities will be better more informed and with the infrastructure in place adapting to the risks of droughts and floods: positive impacts are thus expected in terms of food security and more broadly from a population health point of view (reducing the spread of flood-related diseases in particular).

38. Environmental co-benefits: The activities proposed by the project are aimed at improving climate resilience and have significant environmental benefits in the target areas. Specifically, benefits include: attenuation of flood flows through increased soil-water retention and infiltration; soil conservation and reduction of erosion and sedimentation by restoring natural ecosystems and mobilizing local populations to support implementation of the activities – supports sustainability.

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The restoration of natural ecosystems will also contribute to a have a more favourable environment for the protection of biodiversity.

39. Gender-sensitive development impact: Fifty-two percent of direct beneficiaries of the project are female. As described above, the project will have a particular focus on promoting gender equality and the use of a community-based approach which will promote social equity and equality, in particular their effective participation in skills-building activities will be included. Activities for the promotion of good practice, through the establishment of initiatives specifically focused on benefitting women a gender assessment and action plan will be developed during the full proposal stage.

40. Needs of recipients: In Togo, climate change threatens key sectors of the economy: Energy; Agriculture; Human settlements and health; Water resources; Coastal erosion; and land use, land-use change and forestry. Without an organized intervention and the anticipated level of governance of these sectors in order to meet these challenges, climate change could be very threatening on the development of Togo. Consultations held, since the beginning of the project formulation process with the decision makers and national experts from different relevant sectors as well as the Basin communities, have stressed the need for actions and initiatives to anticipate and integrate the following climate change risks for the Mono Basin in whole and in priority for the South-East part of the Basin:

Water resources:

• Decrease in water stocks resulting from changes in the distribution of precipitation on different spatio-temporal scales, pollution of drinking water supplies by flooding, saline intrusion into coastal aquifers.

• Problems of congestion, siltation and erosion specifically having three major consequences: I) the filling and a gradual reduction of the depth of the water bodies, (ii) The disappearance of certain fish species for reasons of natural habitat that have become inappropriate; and iii) increasingly difficult water transport.

• Flood management is a main priority for the government, as it is key to promoting water and agricultural security for the population, supporting the main economic sector (agriculture) and key to improving health (by reducing cases of waterborne diseases caused by extreme climate events). The need for flood management is very pressing and has been defined as a priority by GoT.

Agriculture, forestry and land use (AFAT)

• Declining agricultural yields due to worsening droughts (resulting from higher temperatures and limited variation in precipitation, increased aridity and evapotranspiration), agricultural losses due to flooding and more generally worsening soil degradation-the plateaux region appears to be particularly exposed to the process of lateralization of soils. This is already observable in the east of the plateaux region (prefectures of the eastern Mono and medium mono) and which could intensify with the combined effect of high temperatures and humidity of the fertile soil.

Human settlement and health:

• These include the consequences of extreme events (floods, drought, forest fires, landslides, violent winds) on the living conditions of populations, with impacts on housing and infrastructure (e.g. socio-economic services and transport infrastructure) as well as on the means of production (including agricultural land). At the health level, risks are associated with the intensification of diseases affecting vulnerable populations as a result of increasingly frequent flooding, more intense periods of drought and high heat.

These priorities are also identified in the key development documents of Togo.

The dimension "climate change" is taken into account in the national strategic orientations through the third priority area of Axis 5 of the SCAPE entitled:" Environment, sustainable management of natural resources and a framework of life "as well as in the risk analysis of the implementation of the strategy. Since April 2014, Togo has embarked on a process of developing the Vision Togo 2030 and, starting from 2016, in the elaboration of its National Development Plan (PND 2018-2022) which integrates the objectives of sustainable development (ODD), particularly the ODD 13 entitled "Urgently taking action to combat climate change and its impact".

Within these plans, the risk of climate change impact to the agriculture and water resources sectors are highlighted as the most critical to address including:

• Construction and/or rehabilitation of water deductions for micro-irrigation and livestock watering in rural areas in all regions;

• Definition/development of corridors and areas of transhumance;

• Promotion of highly resilient varieties plants to climate change;

• Combating land degradation through the strengthening of integrated soil fertility management (FAO – Global Integrated Pest Management Facility (GIFS)).

The project proposed by its specific objectives and planned activities is thus directly aligned with these strategic priorities: it contributes to the mobilization of funding for the implementation of the priority measures by geographically targeting the Mono Basin.

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41. Country ownership: This project was identified and developed as part of a government-led process with UNDP support, consistent with the country programme and other key national strategic documents namely the NAPA, the first, second and third national communications, the National Plan for climate change adaptation (PNACC-2017), the strategy of accelerated growth and promotion of employment (SCAPE, 2013-2017) and the National Development Plan under development (2018-2022)The PNACC (2017) which emphasize the need for the reduction of the negative effects of climate change and the strengthening of the resilience of populations and Territories at risk. The project formulation process was conducted involving a wide range of stakeholders at the national, provincial and local level, including initial consultation with the Mono Basin communities’ representatives. Country ownership will further be ensured through the leadership role of the MERF, the Ministries in charge of agriculture and water and the Mono Basin Authority during the full funding proposal development process. Furthermore, the MERF will lead the execution of this project in close collaboration with the other executing partners at national, provincial and local levels, the development partners for Togo, the CSOs and the Mono Basin communities among national, provincial and local stakeholders, including government

42. Efficiency and effectiveness: The government of Togo seeks grant financing to address the technical, financial, and institutional barriers impeding long-term adaptation solutions to secure lives and livelihoods of vulnerable communities, especially women, who are disproportionately affected by the adverse impacts of climate-change induced drought and flooding. This proposed project has been designed to build on the existing framework and practices, in order to provide cost-effective solutions and address the recognized barriers. The activities to be financed by this project will reduce the vulnerability to climate change of 400,000 people directly, in addition to providing more long term environmental and social benefits to the community of Lower Mono Togo Basin. A more detailed economic analysis will be conducted as part of the full project proposal development, with methods of measurement and monitoring for efficiency and effectiveness. The interventions financed by the project are of public-good nature and not suitable for revenue generation via service fees. For the sustainable financing of the EWS systems the project will review opportunities to partner with the private sector to support operations and maintenance financing and reviewed as part of the financial evaluation of the full proposal.

C. Indicative financing / Cost information (max. 3 pages)

C.1. Financing by components (max ½ page)

Output / Activity Indicative cost

(USD)

GCF financing Co-financing

Amount

(USD)

Financial Instrument

Amount

(USD)

Financial Instrument

Name of Institutions

O1: Institutional and community capacity for the development and implementation of climate resilient IWRM is strengthened

9.8 M USD 3.7 M USD grant 6.1 M USD

Grant + In-kind contribution

UNDP

(0.3 M USD)

Government (5.8M USD)

O2: Soil conservation and riverine stabilization measures (ecosystem-based adaptation) are implemented to climate proof the most vulnerable communities and their assets.

33.6 M USD 11.7 M USD grant 21.9 M USD

Grant + In-kind contribution

UNDP

(1.1M USD)

Government (20.8M USD)

Project management 2.6 M USD 0.6 M USD grant 2 M USD

Grant

Grant + In-kind contribution

UNDP

(0.1M USD)

Government (1.9M USD)

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Indicative total cost (USD)

46 M USD 16 M USD 30 M USD

C.2. Justification of GCF funding request (max 1 page)

43. Located in West Africa the country requires significant grant support to increase its resilience to climate change and reduce the negative impacts of climate change-induced floods and droughts. Togo is a “Least Developed Country”, with an estimated population of 7.3 million (2018), 60% of whom are under 25 years old, and 51.4% female6. The country achieved a steady economic growth of 5% between 2014 and 2017 but failed to reduce the level of monetary poverty that stands at 53.5% in 20177.

44. The economy is dominated by the informal sector and agriculture represents 41% of the country’s GDP8, and is characterized by low productivity, weak competitiveness and high poverty levels among farmers (72.6% in 2015)9. Agriculture which employs more than 65% of the workforce, amongst which 53.3% are women10, is mainly rain-dependent and applies slash-and-burn farming as the common practice. While poverty rate declined by 5.2 points at national level between 2011 and 2017, the national rate for extreme poverty rose from 28.6% (2006) to 30.4% (2011). Togo has an unemployment rate at approximately 6% (underemployment of 22.8%), with youth unemployment at 8.1%.25 While the country has experienced economic growth in recent years, it still has one of the lowest Human Development Indexes globally (165 of 188 countries). Togo has limited financial resources that prevent it from adequately building resilience to climate change. In fact, the country is faced with significant debt that has increased from 75.6% of GDP to 80.8% between 2015 and 2016; This rate, which exceeds the threshold of 70% required by the West African Economic and monetary Union (UEMOA), in among the highest levels in sub-Saharan Africa.11 The beneficiaries nor the country cannot afford to borrow from financial institutions. These debts have been restructured with the HIPC Initiative. This requires the country to receive authorizations from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to incur new debts. The IMF prefers grants for the country. This limits Togo in its development and particularly in its initiatives to fight climate change. With regard to climate-related projects and given the urgency of the needs on the ground, traditional donors in Togo are trying to find donations to finance these projects or, at least, to improve the loans they give to the country.

45. Barriers to alternative sources of funding: the government’s ability to fund any project from budget sources or sovereign borrowing is severely constrained by very poor fiscal dynamics. Persistent budget deficits coupled with modest growth and natural disaster losses have resulted in increasing public debt to GDP ratios – a dynamic expected to continue for the foreseeable future. International public financing for adaptation were conducted12 by the UN reviewing options for financing adaptation (covering the field impact of natural disasters) over the period 2012-2017, it was estimated in the context of this study at 28 MUSD.

46. As the project targets the very poor, there is limited scope for end users to pay for the services generated through the project. There is no short or medium-term prospect of private sector investment in such public goods for the very poor. The additional investment required to build resilience to climate change in rural communities is prohibitive for a government that is financially constrained. Therefore, the project seeks grant financing for all the requested funding.

C.3. Sustainability and replicability of the project (exit strategy) (max. 1 page)

47. In the face of expected more intense climate impact with the country’s strategic intervention priorities of intervention. The government will ensure key institutional resources for the project and will include strategic lessons learned within planning documents to ensure sustainability and focus of the actions initiated. Capacity building of the executing entities and their related agencies will contribute towards the sustainability of the interventions and better preparation for upscaling and replication. The operations and maintenance plan of infrastructure (Output 1) that increases resilience will be developed as part of the full feasibility study connecting landowners themselves, often grouped in farmer associations, that can support maintenance building ownership.

48. Strengthening and deployment of good practices at the community and farmer level will allow a change in behaviour in the long term.

49. Finally, as discussed previously (Section C.2), while the current context does not allow for the mobilization of the necessary resources for the project, some structural developments in the course of implementation will help to facilitate the scaling up of interventions and their sustainability over time, especially with removal of key technical and capacity barriers.

C.4 Engagement among the NDA, AE, and/or other relevant stakeholders in the country (max ½ page)

6 National Development Plan (NDP), 2018 7 Poverty Mapping, 2018 8 National Program for Agricultural Investment, Food Security and Nutrition 2017-2026 9 Poverty Profile, 2015, Inseed 10 National Agricultural Census 2013 11 World Bank Overview - Togo 12Hans André Lohayo Ding, project of cartography on climate financing of Togo, August 2017

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50. The Project was identified and developed at the initiative of Government. The preparation process is based on intensive consultation work, based on the following steps:

• Project definition (January to July 2017): This work was based on the mobilization of key stakeholders as part of a 3-day workshop held in Lomé.

• Prioritizing the identified interventions.

• Completing the consultation work with the support of the government and UNDP to collect the necessary information and focus the project outputs.

51. To further define and to support the implementation of the project, all planned activities will be conducted in a framework of partnership between stakeholders and local populations including CSOs and NGOs. Planned interventions will require a phased approach, in particular, the social mobilization aspects, the selection of intervention sites and the participatory based practical implementation of project activities. In order to set the conditions for involvement in the project, local conventions will be followed, based on experience in the framework of past initiatives.

52. Supporting documents submitted (OPTIONAL)

☐ Map indicating the location of the project/programme

☐ Diagram of the theory of change

☐ Financial Model

☒ Pre-feasibility Study

☐ Evaluation Report of previous project

Self-awareness check boxes

Are you aware that the full Funding Proposal and Annexes will require these documents? Yes ☒ No ☐

• Feasibility Study

• Environmental and social impact assessment or environmental and social management framework

• Stakeholder consultations at national and project level implementation including with indigenous people if relevant

• Gender assessment and action plan

• Operations and maintenance plan if relevant

• Loan or grant operation manual as appropriate

• Co-financing commitment letters

Are you aware that a funding proposal from an accredited entity without a signed AMA will be reviewed but not

sent to the Board for consideration? Yes ☒ No ☐