USAID South Africa Low Emissions Development (SA-LED) Embedded Staff Activity FY2023 Annual Report

The U.S. Government sees South Africa as a leader in the region and as a country that has the potential to serve as a model for climate mitigation moving forward. USAID hopes to accelerate South Africa's transition by providing targeted technical assistance to enhance the foundation of analysis and policy work related to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and shifting South Africa away from the use of coal. The SA-LED Activity supports these areas by providing five technical experts to work directly with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) in the Government of South Africa (SAG). The DFFE works within the National Climate Change Response Policy of 2011, which formally announced South Africa's responses to climate change. Building upon this policy, the Government of South Africa implemented the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy in 2020, which sought to align climate change adaptation priorities and actions to promote resilience among national government departments, regional provincial governments, and municipalities. The primary monitoring system in South Africa that SA-LED staff engage with is the National Climate Change Response Monitoring & Evaluation System Framework. This framework serves as a country-wide monitoring tool in support of mitigation tracking of indicators, including emissions reduction. In line with system developments, the provinces of Mpumalanga and Limpopo have exemplified leadership as shown in the establishment of a provincial climate change information system. The Mpumalanga Climate Change Information System is a database of past, current, and future climate interventions throughout the province in efforts to record climate change adaptation and mitigation interventions. The SA-LED Embedded Staff Activity has a three-year period of performance, from July 18, 2021, to July 17, 2024. The objectives are to 1) recruit, hire, and embed the specified staff in the DFFE, 2) manage and administer payment of the specified positions in collaboration with DFFE and USAID/SA, and 3) obtain all required documentation and provide ongoing logistical support required by SA-LED staff, including travel support. The five embedded staff have expertise in climate change monitoring and evaluation to bolster the technical capacity of the DFFE to carry out National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Management System (NGHIS) and other climate-related activities. The SA-LED Activity supports the DFFE in various projects, including Working for Forests, Working for Ecosystems, and Working for Waste. These projects aim to quantify the shortfall in the supply of woodland and natural forest resources, reverse environmental degradation through ecological restoration and maintenance programs, and address inadequate waste services, respectively. The SA-LED staff work closely with the DFFE to provide technical assistance and support in these areas, with a focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting climate-resilient economic growth. The SA-LED Embedded Staff Activity has made significant progress in its first year of implementation. The five embedded staff have been recruited, hired, and embedded in the DFFE, and have begun working on various projects and activities. The staff have provided technical assistance and support to the DFFE, including training and capacity-building programs, and have helped to develop and implement climate-related policies and strategies. The SA-LED Activity has also established a strong partnership with the DFFE and other stakeholders, including the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).