Macky Sall, President of Senegal, joins GCA Supervisory Board
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otterdam, the Netherlands, 19th September 2023 – The President of Senegal, Macky Sall, has accepted an invitation from the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chairman of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) to join the Supervisory Board of GCA following their meeting on the sidelines of the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.
Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chairman of the Global Center on Adaptation applauded the President’s work on climate adaptation to date:
“President Macky Sall realized early on that climate adaptation is an opportunity to forge a new climate-resilient development path for Africa – a path that is smarter, more effective, more efficient and more productive. I look forward to working with him to turn this vision into a reality over the coming years.”
Senegal was one of the first countries in Africa to draw up an Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) Country Compact – an investment roadmap that outlines adaptation investment priorities, financing needs, and finance mobilization strategies for implementing climate adaptation measures in Senegal. Such Compacts mark a critical milestone as countries aim to secure concrete outcomes at COP28 in December.
Commenting on the launch of Senegal’s Compact, Macky Sall, President of Senegal said:
“During my time as Chairperson of the African Union, I recognised the importance of the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program for the future of Africa. We simply do not have times to lose. The longer we delay action to support those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, the worse the consequences will be, making response even more complex and costly. AAAP is the plan to help Africa to respond and adapt and I look forward to working with my fellow board members to guide GCA’s strategy as a solutions broker.”
Professor Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation said:
“Africa is losing up to 15% of GDP growth a year to the destructive forces of climate change. President Macky Sall has played a critical role in leading Africa’s response to this crisis. I look forward to working closely with the President to accelerate bold adaptation action to strengthen the resilience of Africa and unlock economic growth and opportunity.”
Tackling climate change challenges is essential for Senegal’s long-term macroeconomic resilience. The country is highly exposed and vulnerable to climate change impacts such as flooding and erosion due to its location on a wide coastal strip. Rising temperatures and decreasing rainfall also threaten the agriculture sector, already stressed by overexploitation and degraded soil.
GCA currently provides technical assistance to the International Monetary Fund to enhance adaptation in Senegal’s US$324 million Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). The RSF-supported reforms aim to strengthen Senegal’s climate resilience and reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. GCA also provides provide technical assistance to the design and implementation of the Integrated National Livestock Development Program in Senegal (PNDIES) financed by the African Development Bank as part of the Climate-Smart Digital Technologies for Agriculture and Food Security Pillar of the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP).
Notes to Editors
About the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA)
The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization that works as a solutions broker to accelerate action and support for adaptation solutions, from the international to the local, in partnership with the public and private sectors. Founded in 2018, GCA operates from largest floating office in the world, located in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. GCA has a worldwide network of regional offices in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire; Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Beijing, China.
