PACJA 2022-2025 GUARD AFRICA

The GUARD AFRICA project leverages on previous works of PACJA accomplished largely through the financial support from Sweden, with a primary focus on strengthening the voice of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to influence global, regional, and national governments and institutions and countries towards fulfillment of climate change commitments including the Paris Agreement. The major targets for the contribution are the African Union, Pan-African Institutions, UN Agencies in Africa, together with Regional Economic Integration Communities (RECs) as critical intergovernmental continental actors to engage, lobby and support in the climate change dialogue and response strategies. Accordingly, the partner seeks to robustly engage these actors through creating strong and vibrant CSOs in countries hosting RECs and Pan-African institutions to ensure consistent and sustainable policy outreach and actions. In this respect some intermediate results have been registered in all the five result areas envisaged by the contribution. The year 2023 is the second year of implementation of the contribution. During the reporting period all planned activities accomplished as per the work plan approved at the beginning of 2023. In the reporting period PACJA raised the profile of its advocacy work in the continent by catalysing partnerships across multi stakeholder groups and Platforms and strengthen its campaign approaches, developed, and adopted the Keep Your Promise campaign, a multi-pronged campaign approach that solidifies mobilization on key critical issues while demanding political leadership in Africa to pursue accountability on climate action. Notable achievements in 2023 are Successful development and implementation of a strategy towards COP 28, cementing of PACJA's governance system, enhanced fundraising capabilities towards sustainability, improved capacity communication and enhanced capacity for regional and global partnership. PACJA and all its 12 Designated National Platforms (DNPs) are now in good shape with improved execution capacity. Sida has been successively financing PACJA for the last 12 years. PACJA is now in a better position and capable of securing fund from different source. As 2024 will be the last year of the cooperation agreement it is suggested to initiate the dialogue to develop a phase out strategy regarding the Swedish support. The project is on track to achieve the objectives. PACJA has been registering significant improvement both in its institutional capacity and credibility at regional and global level. Parallel to this implementation capacity of all the 12 Designated National Platforms (DNPs) has significantly improved, playing a pivotal role in country-level implementation of key interventions. Thus, it is likely that the intended outcomes will be achieved. The Mid Term Review (MTR) conducted (October 2023) with the goal of providing PACJA, Sida and relevant stakeholders an independent assessment of performance against set targets using the OECD-DAC criteria has provided relevant information about the progress and challenges of the project. The recommendations that come out of the Mid Term Review (MTR) has been identified as a valuable input to make the necessary adjustment to achieve the five result areas identified by the contribution. The smooth communication between Sida and the partner would be additional opportunity to make the necessary adjustments in the remaining segment of the project period.

GUARD-AFRICA project is regional in scope that utilizes country-level initiatives and influence to leverage impact at scale across various other countries as well as at regional scale. The overall objective of the initiative is to mobilize and empower African civil society to secure environmental and climate justice for all peoples in Africa. The four outcome areas of the intervention are: 1) National, Sub-regional and Regional Policies, Plans and Programmes are influenced by evidence based CSO narratives and policy analyses and advice, 2) Accountable national government and private sector institutions that uphold Business and Human Rights principles including implementation of NDCs in line with the Paris Agreement, 3) Public awareness raised and African CSOs are mobilized and empowered to engage in post-Paris climate change dialogues and response strategies in the context of SDGs, and 4) Enhanced capacity of PACJA organs, national platforms, and dedicated sector-based initiatives to be effective catalysts for galvanization of action for resilient development in Africa.