Country Ownership as the Means for Paradigm Shift: The Case of the Green Climate Fund

Luis H. Zamarioli, Pieter Pauw and Christine Grüning
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Luis H. Zamarioli: Frankfurt School-UNEP Collaborating Centre on Climate Finance, 60322 Frankfurt, Germany
Pieter Pauw: Frankfurt School-UNEP Collaborating Centre on Climate Finance, 60322 Frankfurt, Germany
Christine Grüning: Frankfurt School-UNEP Collaborating Centre on Climate Finance, 60322 Frankfurt, Germany

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 14, 1-18

Abstract: Country ownership echoes from the aid effectiveness agenda in climate finance, becoming a means to ensure that (1) projects are aligned with national climate policies and strategies, (2) national systems are used to increase recipients’ accountability in the use of resources, and (3) national public and private stakeholders are engaged in the process. The concept is a key objective of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), considered in light of the GCF’s goal of promoting the paradigm shift towards low emission and climate-resilient development. In the interplay between international commitments and the progress of its in-country activities, the GCF relies on the agency of National Designated Authorities (NDAs). Based on documental sources, GCF data, and a survey, this article first analyzes whether the GCF’s institutional design creates appropriate responsibilities so NDAs can effectively enhance country ownership. As a second level of effectiveness, the article analyzes whether such an institutional design is currently capable of promoting the desired paradigm shift. In the context of the GCF being a young fund, we found that NDAs have the potential to enhance country ownership, but need more tailored capacity building to ensure that in-country activities are effectively equipped to deliver the paradigm shift.

Keywords: country ownership; climate finance; Green Climate Fund; paradigm shift; agency; effectiveness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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