ECOWAS gets $6.7m Swedish aid to reduce climate change woes

Sweden is to provide $6.7 million grant over four years to support West Africa’s programme to reduce the region’s vulnerability to climate change.

The support comes under an agreement signed on April 9, 2013 between the Swedish government and ECOWAS.

ECOWAS President, Kadre Desire Ouédraogo and the Swedish Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, Ambassador Svante Kilander inked the agreement on behalf of both parties, said a communique issued April 15, 2013.

According to the statement, the ECOWAS chief praised Sweden for the gesture, describing the timing of the grant as apt and would boost the region’s capacity to pursue its climate change adaptability programmes.

The Swedish envoy commended ECOWAS for being the first among Africa’s five Regional Economic Communities to develop a strategic programme to address vulnerability to climate change.

The Swedish ambassador used the occasion to highlight the consequences of climate change on the region mainly in the form of increased temperatures, more extreme weathers and coastal erosion.

He warned that “West Africa has to be prepared for a range of different climate scenarios,” including adaptations in the areas of agriculture and building construction to improve their resistance to flooding and the consequences of coastal erosion.

By Ekow Quandzie