Zimbabwe seeks increased climate financing at COP17 to combat drought impacts
Zimbabwe is advocating for greater climate financing to support drought management, focusing on prevention and resilience, due to increasing threats to food production, water security, and rural livelihoods. This call is being made at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification UNCCD 17th Conference of the Parties COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, which runs from August 17 to 28 under the theme "Restoring Land. Restoring Hope." Samuel Masanga, permanent secretary for the Environment, Climate and Wildlife ministry, highlighted that recurrent droughts necessitate stronger international support for countries like Zimbabwe. The country, alongside the Southern African Development Community SADC and the Africa group, is pushing for a legally binding global drought protocol to shift international response from emergency relief to prevention, early warning, risk management, and preparedness. Zimbabwe also seeks improved access to international climate and environmental financing through mechanisms such as the global mechanism, global environment facility, and green climate fund. Innovative financing instruments, including drought-resilience bonds, carbon credits, and micro-insurance, are being explored, with potential opportunities from the Riyadh global drought resilience partnership to fund the country鈥檚 drought investment plan. Masanga noted that this financing could support practical interventions like conservation agriculture under Pfumvudza/Intwasa, restoration of the
