The Dutch Embassy in Rwanda asked the DSU to assess three concept notes for Rwanda's national food security programme. The assessment focuses on different aspects of sustainability, climate, and landscape. The DSU sent its advice (31 March) with observations and recommendations for each of the concept notes.
The DSU also assessed three proposals for the regional Great Lakes programme, focusing on sustainability in (post-)conflict situations. The proposals concern food security in North Kivu and IWRM in the Rusizi region. The DSU used its ‘sustainability assessment framework’ in its advisory reports (March).
Requested by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the DSU issued an advice on making food and nutrition security programmes more climate smart. The advice (20 January) is based on the pillars of Dutch food security policy. Next to the advisory report, there is a one-page interactive matrix with an overview of options.
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked the DSU to propose an innovative geopolitical ‘climate lens’ to food security interventions in Sub Saharan Africa. As a 'proof of concept', areas with high/low food system dynamics and high/low climate dynamics will be identified on a map. These factors together will indicate where priority climate smart interventions may be developed.
Climate change country profiles
The DSU is currently updating its country profiles on climate change in order to reflect the current state of countries' climate change policies/strategies and climate finance. These profiles were made for Dutch Embassies in partner countries in 2014, and have also been updated in 2015.