A fantastic interview of two main brains behind UNDP's REDD initiative. You need a consultant to explain the work that the full-time Analyst supposedly does.

These are the brains behind the upcoming Global TAX on Carbon

Click here to view this video here @ UBRAINTV: http://www.ubraintv.com/watch.php?id=548

Interviews

Nina Kantcheva & Silje Haugland, UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)

Nina Kantcheva, Consultant, Stakeholder Engagement

Silje Haugland, Programme Analyst, UN-REDD, Environment & Energy Group
UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)

www.un-redd.org

Click here to view this video here @ UBRAINTV: http://www.ubraintv.com/watch.php?id=548

UNDP Bid: Audit of the UN-REDD programme in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Audit of the UN-REDD programme in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Procurement Process :	RFP - Request for proposal
Office :	OAI - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Deadline :	01-Nov-12
Posted on :	12-Oct-12
Development Area :	OTHER
Reference Number :	9950
Documents : Request for Proposal and TOR
Overview : The United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD Programme) was created in September 2008 to assist developing countries to build capacity to reduce emissions and to participate in a future REDD+ mechanism. The UN-REDD Programme builds on the convening role and technical expertise of its three participating UN organizations: the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).   UNDP, through its Multi Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTF), administers and transfers the funds upon instruction of the UN-REDD Board. Each organization has agreed to maintain a separate ledger account. Funds transferred to the agencies should be used for the activities approved in the project document or amended by the UN-REDD Policy Board. Each organization is responsible for the implementation of their share of the work plan.  The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of the original 9 pilot countries of the UN-REDD Programme. It  launched a REDD+ national process in 2009 along with a first “Quick Start Project” under UN-REDD financial and technical support. In October 2009, a second programme was designed to develop the REDD+ strategy, the institutional framework for implementation and a monitoring system, up to March 2013.  The audit of UN-REDD project in DRC  is carried out to provide assurance to FAO, UNDP and UNEP senior management as well as partners and donors, that resources are being used effectively and efficiently for the purposes intended and in accordance with each organization’s respective policies and procedures. In accordance with the provisions of the UN-REDD Framework Document and the Framework for Auditing Multi-Donor Trust Funds, the audit will be carried out in the three participating organizations for their respective share of expenditure and activities, resulting in three individual audit reports.   As the Internal Audit Service of the Administrative Agent, OAI undertakes to contract out the audit of The UN-REDD programme in DRC on behalf of all participating organizations.

Jens Stoltenberg gives $255.4 Million Norway Taxpayers money a year to UNDP to buy what? A partner who does everything ....and nothing ? No results, no audits, no access to financial expenditures...Way to go Jens !!

UNDP - United Nations Development Programme : Norway and UNDP reaffirm strategic partnership

09/27/2012 | 01:22pm US/Eastern

26 September 2012

Click here to read this @ 4-traders.com : http://www.4-traders.com/news/UNDP-United-Nations-Development-Programme-Norway-and-UNDP-reaffirm-strategic-partnership--15240619/ 

New York - UNDP Administrator Helen Clark has met with Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Minister of Development Cooperation Heikki Holmaas in the wings of the UN General Assembly and thanked them for Norway's strong partnership with UNDP.
Prime Minister Stoltenberg co-chairs the UN Commission on Life Saving Commodities for Women and Children which has today released its recommendations for increasing access to life-saving medicines and health supplies in the world's poorest countries, with a focus on reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health.

The Commission's recommendation to stimulate research into new medical commodities for low and middle income countries is of particular interest to UNDP.

""UNDP is currently exploring opportunities to enhance South-South co-operation platforms for innovation and research and development for treating HIV and neglected tropical diseases, and looks forward to engaging further with the Commission," Helen Clark said.

Also high on the agenda of the high-level meetings was Norway and UNDP's quest for inclusive and green growth.

Combatting deforestation has been an issue Norway has addressed through its engagement with the UN-REDD Programme and where UNDP has been an important partner.

Helen Clark said UNDP was encouraged by the progress of UN REDD and looked forward to further cooperation with Norway on deforestation and related issues, including joining forces in making the private sector part of the solution in the sphere of sustainable development.

Having both participated in the Open Dialogue with the High-Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, Minister Holmås and Miss Clark further discussed UNDP's ability to implement a post 2015 agenda with focus on equity and sustainability.

In 2011, Norway was UNDP's third biggest donor with a total contribution of US $255.4.

Click here to read this @ 4-traders.com : http://www.4-traders.com/news/UNDP-United-Nations-Development-Programme-Norway-and-UNDP-reaffirm-strategic-partnership--15240619/

Greenpeace: California's forest conservation-based carbon offsets are false and could lead to social conflict

Read this in full at MONGABAY.COM: http://news.mongabay.com/2012/0925-greenpeace-gcf-redd.html

California's forest conservation-based carbon offsets in its climate change legislation may not lead to net reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and could exacerbate social conflict in places like southern Mexico, argues a report released Monday by Greenpeace. But the activist group faced sharp criticism from backers of California's initiative.

The report, titled Outsourcing Hot Air, looks at a project in Mexico's Chiapas state which could potentially generate carbon credits under California's climate law by protecting forests against future clearing. The credits could be used to "offset" some greenhouse gas emissions from activities in California, such as emissions from Chevron's oil refinery in Richmond. By buying such carbon credits, a company could effectively reduce the amount of emissions they would be legally obliged to cut.

The Greenpeace report takes exception to both the concept of carbon offsetting, as well as the process California and states and provinces in Mexico, Indonesia, Brazil, Peru, and Nigeria are using to establish criteria for the forest projects that would qualify as sources for carbon credits. California’s process is driven by the Governors’ Climate and Forests Task Force (GCF), a body that was established in 2008 by then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and involves policymakers, experts, and a panel of top forest scientists. 

Read more at http://news.mongabay.com/2012/0925-greenpeace-gcf-redd.html#DYdvrHoelToU6Pzs.99

National Geographic: Do REDD Trees Make Forest Green?

Click here to read the full article on National Geographic 

For REDD+ initiatives to achieve substantial reductions in GHG emissions while doing no harm and, wherever possible, benefiting indigenous peoples, it is crucial to develop and implement legal, social, environmental and accountability safeguards. The approaches being developed to address social safeguards and ensure meaningful and equitable participation of indigenous peoples and communities must integrate indigenous worldviews and be closely monitored throughout all phases of REDD+ project development and implementation.

Recognizing the importance of these issues, the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) committed to conducting an assessment of how indigenous peoples’ rights and safeguards are being addressed in REDD/REDD+ projects. The report will be presented at the Forum’s 12th session, in 2013. UNU-IAS TKI has been assisting UNPFII with the preparation of the REDD/REDD+ report (due out in May 2013) to help delegates and indigenous peoples around the world achieve a better understanding of the likely benefits and risks of REDD+ proposals.

Click here to read the full article on National Geographic  

UNDP: Durban - What is at stake for Africa?

• Date:29 Nov 2011
• Source(s):United Nations Development Programme - South Africa (UNDP South Africa)

At its most fundamental, climate threatens to negate the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and hinder positive movement in the areas directly related to UNDP’s mandate. Ensuring that developing countries are best able to tackle the many dimensions of climate change is therefore core business for our organization. The mechanisms established by the Cancun Agreements provide new opportunities for countries to develop, finance and deliver climate change programming. UNDP's role will be to help them to make the most of the emerging mechanisms.

Why is the current round of climate negotiations important for Africa?

The current round of climate negotiations, known as 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), will take place in Durban. It is hoped that Africa will be better represented than in the past. As a region, Africa is the least responsible for climate change but it will be most affected. The region has been speaking with one voice but is struggling to be heard. For Africa, the requirements are the same as in previous years. First, countries from the region are asking that global warming be kept below a 1.5 degrees temperature increase by the end of the century – which is almost impossible now given the current trends in emissions. Secondly, African countries are asking that developed and emerging countries (China, India, Brazil, etc.) agree to massively reduce their emissions. The third requirement is for the international community to help Africa adapt to the impact of climate change because its economies are fragile, like their agriculture which is often rain-fed.

What should be the most important message for developed countries?

Developed countries must fulfill their previous commitments. The Bali Roadmap had created opportunities in the area of technology transfers, adaptation, mitigation and financing. On financing, developed countries had estimated the needs at USD 30 billion by 2012 and 100 billion annually by 2020. But the current economic downturn has made it much more difficult to confirm these commitments. Today, some Northern countries are proposing that we should include private sector investments in these global commitments. Africa is calling for new and additional financial commitments.

What are the most important mechanisms which will be discussed in Durban?

In Cancún, one of the agreements was to establish a Green Climate Fund. Since then, a few great ideas have emerged, such as the adoption of an international currency tax to feed that fund. The Adaptation Fund will also be on the agenda, currently financed by a 2 percent levy on all carbon credits, which allow Northern countries to reduce emissions in Southern countries by purchasing emissions permits. The future of the fund will obviously be uncertain if the Kyoto Protocol is not extended. Another issue in Durban will be technology transfers, including the creation of a center and a network devoted to the issue. There is already a consensus and this point will probably constitute a real step forward in the negotiations. Durban will also see further progress on REDD, which allows developing countries to finance their reductions in carbon emissions by protecting their forests.

What is the role of UNDP and can you provide some examples of our work on the ground?

In general terms, UNDP aims to build the capacities of developing countries, particularly in the climate change negotiations. In addition, UNDP assists them in accessing the funds that are being gradually established, helping them to define strategies for developing low- carbon and climate resilient economies.

Another example is our “Boots on the Ground” programme, through which we mobilized 26 climate change focal points from UNDP in the Least Developed Countries, including 14 African countries. This initiative aims to support African decision-makers in their approach and understanding of the problem. Climate change cannot be the sole jurisdiction of Environment Ministries – all government departments must be involved. Tackling climate change involves designing policies on land use, agriculture, the economy, energy, etc. UNDP is also following countries in their application for direct access to international funds, which will allow for more flexibility and better responses to their requests. So far, international funds were available through implementing agencies. Now, we are helping them to meet the fiduciary requirements for direct access. Thus, Senegal became the first African country to identify a national agency that will have direct access to financing from the Adaptation Fund.

Additional information

http://www.undp.org.za/cop17-information/416