In which areas in Africa are food security interventions likely to be most successful, in light of climate change and the geo-political context? To assist in answering this question, the DSU developed a tailored approach for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It also made a 'proof of concept' for Mali and Burkina Faso.
The choices that the Netherlands makes on the use of biofuels for transport have global effects on land use, GHG emissions, food prices and livelihoods. These effects were analysed by the DSU. Its report influenced the recent government letter to Parliament on implementation of the EU directive on indirect land use change.
The DSU and Ms Kadi Warner (WRI/IGG/EKN Kampala) facilitated a climate change workshop in Kigali (October 2016). Technical experts and heads of development cooperation from 8 Dutch embassies in Africa participated. A key topic was the synergy between embassy programmes and national climate goals defined for the World Climate Summit 2015 (INDCs).
Updated climate change profiles
The new country profiles on climate change, initially prepared in 2014 and annually updated for embassies in partner countries, are now available. The profiles have been expanded to include new policies and proposed climate change related actions (in particular the INDCs) and the current state of climate finance in the country.
The DSU advises the alternate Dutch board member of the Green Climate Fund. To that end, it joined the 14th board meeting in South Korea (October 2016). The board discussed the contribution of funding proposals to sectoral paradigm shifts (e.g. in energy) required to reach the Paris goals of climate mitigation/adaptation.