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SARW Launches the DRC NDC-JETP Initiative

Supporting increased Climate Ambition in the Democratic Republic of Congo

In June 2024, SARW launched the first phase of its Nationally Determined Contributions initiative for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Running under the theme: Re-imagining the DRC’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) as a tool for Structural Economic Transformation, the project seeks to ensure the development of a Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) to support DRC’s climate action. JETPs have emerged as financing cooperation mechanism with the aim to help a selection of countries to transition away from reliance on coal to clean energy. This model can be extended to the DRC’s NDC.

DRC as a Climate Solution Country

In its approach to the country’s NDC, the DRC has considered itself a climate solution country based on four factors: 1) abundant critical minerals for the manufacture of renewable energy technologies, 2) massive forests for carbon sinks, 3) plentiful water resources for hydro-electricity generation, and 4) vast agricultural land for sustainable food systems. In the context of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, the DRC is one of the key countries that can significantly contribute to finding solutions to the global climate change crisis. This potential is contained in the DRC’s NDC. But SARW knows the NDC management is institutionally weak and requires strengthening; the existence of peace and governance conditions; and international cooperation in the form of increased climate finance and technological cooperation.

Climate Action cannot be divorced from Political Instability, Conflict and War

However, the DRC is experiencing an unstable political environment worsened by intractable violent conflict in the East of the country. The country is also facing governance challenges characterized by incoherent policies and corruption.  Therefore, finding climate change solutions at a country level will require a certain level of social cohesion, policy certainty, and increased action to address country risk.  Both social cohesion and policy certainty require some level of consensus on how to proceed in resolving the country’s multiple and intersecting challenges that disproportionately and adversely affect women, children, and indigenous populations the most. On this basis, efforts to combat climate change should be integrated into a more comprehensive social compact that is in sync with the country’s sustainable development agenda.

Propositions for increased NDC ambition

If the DRC is going to play a positive role in fighting climate change and transforming the fate of millions of Congolese trapped in poverty (including energy poverty), and meet its full potential regarding the global targets, the country needs more international support. In this respect, the DRC NDC-JETP Initiative is a proposal for a new generation of NDCs that are not just climate-focused but embedded in a socio-economic and structural transformation agenda.

“The initiative will facilitate strategic conversations with key intergovernmental bodies such as UNFCCC, Pan African Institutions, SADC, AfCFTA, and other Development Finance Institutions and COP29 addressing questions of finance and investment into the revised 2025 NDC”, says Dr Kabemba, SARW’s Executive Director.

Key Timelines

In going forward, the following phases will be facilitated by the SARW and its partners: Phase 1, the knowledge building phase will run from May to September 2024; public dialogue series will follow between October to December 2024. A total of five consultations (provincial level) focusing on the policy briefs will be hosted. A conference of elected officials (relevant Parliamentarians, and local government officials) and another targeting expert level meeting of academics and scientists (tertiary institutions) conference will be held. This will lead into a National Consultation workshop which shall seek to develop a National Consensus Declaration for JET Manifesto. From February to May 2025, focus will be dedicated to technical work to support the development of DRC’s Revised NDC 2025. This phase will use policy briefs and special studies to enrich technical aspects of NDC revision and mobilise international partnership dialogue and influencing for a DRC JET Partnership.

JETP are aligned with participating countries’ NDCs. Six countries are engaged in such partnerships.

  • South Africa: The first JETP was announced at COP 26 Glasgow in November 2021. Five members of the International Partners Group (IPG) pledged $8.5 billion in the first financing round. South Africa’s JETP Implementation Plan aims to prevent 1-1.5 gigatons of emissions over the next 20 years1.
  • Indonesia: At the G20 Bali Summit in November 2022, Indonesia became the second country to receive JETP funding. It is set to receive an initial $20 billion in public and private financing over the next three to five years1.
  • Vietnam: Vietnam’s JETP was announced in December 2022. It will provide finance, technology, capacity building, and policy improvements to increase private investment in renewable energy. The initial fund for the next three to five years is $15.5 billion.
  • Prospective Countries: Other countries, including the Philippines, Senegal, and India, are also engaging with JEPT donor countries, emphasizing the importance of multinational collaboration in achieving a just global energy transition. The DRC is implored, under this project, to engage with the donors based on a revised NDC and JETP Investment Plan.

Process Convenor 

To ensure better coordination of the initiative, SARW has appointed, Professor Celine Sikulisimwa of the University of Kinsasha, as the DRC NDC-JETP Initiative National Convenor. Professor Sikulisimwa, a leading scientist on water resources based at the University of Kinsasha, is coordinating the work of seven thematic experts who have been commissioned to research and produce evidence-based policy papers. The papers will be developed into policy briefs. The seven policy papers cover key NDC topics that include the Institutional and Legal Framework of the NDC; focus on energy transition minerals and manufacturing of renewable energy technologies (solar, wind, and battery technology); hydro-energy development and clean energy for a Just Transition using the Grand Inga Project as a reference point; forestry and carbon sequestration; climate change action, peace, and conflict and the important role of geo-politics in climate action.

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