Freetown WASH and Aquatic Environment Revamping Program

T he Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is working with the African Development Bank and the Green Climate Fund to secure finance for climate adaptation investments for the Freetown WASH and Aquatic Environment Revamping Program. GCA is supporting this project through the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP).

The objective of the program is to improve the water supply and sanitation services while ensuring the sustainability of the vital aquatic ecosystem in the Western Area/Freetown. The program will directly benefit an estimated 1,400,000 people (51% women) by providing access to safe water, including new access for 1,000,000 people and the restoration of regular daily water service for 400,000 people.

GCA is supporting a key sub-project within the program: the Freetown Water and Sanitation Resilience-building Project. This project seeks to mainstream climate resilience and adaptation measures into the strengthening of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) systems in Sierra Leone.

Upon the African Development Bank’s request, GCA is providing technical and financial expert inputs to support the revision of the funding proposal submitted to the Green Climate Fund to secure additional funding for the project. GCA is bringing in specialized technical expertise around climate resilient water resource management and catchment protection to enhance the viability of the proposal.

Investment Value Influenced by GCA

US$189 million + US$43 million requested from the Green Climate Fund

Beneficiaries

1,400,000 people (51% women)

Implementation Period

2018-2023

Partner

GCA’s Added Value

GCA is supporting the development of the Green Climate Fund funding proposal through the following activities:

  • Improving the integration of climate adaptation into the overall funding proposal.
  • Economic and financial analysis to quantify the benefits and costs related to the proposed interventions.
  • Gender vulnerability assessment and gender action plan, that identify and address the specific impacts of climate change on vulnerable groups, particularly women.

Expected Outcomes

GCA’s support will contribute to the following outcomes:

  • Strengthened climate adaptation measures tailored to local needs.
  • Enhanced gender equity and social inclusion by identifying measures which empower women, improving their access to resources, and enhancing their overall capacity to adapt to climate change.
  • Mobilization of additional financing towards increasing resilience of WASH systems in Sierra Leone.