VANUATU’S GCF ACCREDITATION PROCESS: ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIAL SAFEGUARDS ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

 The VANUATU’S GCF ACCREDITATION PROCESS: ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIAL SAFEGUARDS ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.  This report responds to a request for assistance from the Government of Vanuatu (GoV) to the USAID Climate Ready program regarding GoV’s efforts to secure accreditation to the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Accreditation would allow GoV to submit climate change adaptation and mitigation project concepts and proposals directly to the GCF without having to go through an external partner, thus streamlining the process and establishing a greater degree of country ownership over GCF activities in Vanuatu. In order to secure accreditation, GoV must demonstrate institutional and human competencies in several areas related to the preparation, review, administration, and implementation of climate change projects. This report focuses on the requirements related to environmental and social safeguards (ESS). The overall objective of the report is to provide specific recommendations as to how GoV can meet GCF’s ESS requirements for accreditation.