Costa Rica hosts GEF Knowledge Exchange with five African countries

The first GEF Knowledge Exchange for Policymakers was launched in Costa Rica this week. Ministers and representatives from Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Kenya, Senegal, and Zimbabwe saw first-hand how Costa Rica has effectively leveraged GEF resources, partnerships, and policies to transform the country’s ecosystems while improving lives of local communities.

The agenda included meetings with government officials and visits to Monteverde and Guanacaste National Park to see the results of successful ecological restoration, ecotourism, and conservation projects supported by the GEF which transformed the environment over the past decades and vastly contributed to Costa Rica's economic and social development.

The effective use of GEF resources, institutional capacity building, political coherence, and creation of financial instruments such as Payment for Ecosystem Services pioneered by Costa Rica were highlighted as pieces of a sustainable model that addresses multiple challenges and can be adapted and replicated by other countries.

"Costa Rica showed African policymakers its exemplary GEF projects implemented in partnership with local communities with access to financial resources, technical advisory, and other instruments," said Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, CEO and Chairperson of the GEF.

Costa Rica is globally recognized as a model in the implementation of environmental conservation practices. The GEF has been the financial mechanism of choice for the country to accelerate its transformation, investing in biodiversity and forest protection and enacting forward-looking environmental protection policies. Costa Rica’s economic transition to a sustainable and robust growth model demonstrates that the environment and development can work together.

The seven-day program was a successful opportunity for participant countries to share common experiences on policies and institutional models, best practices, challenges, and collectively design solutions that make sense for Global South countries.

"This exchange was more than a dialogue. It was an opportunity to build a collective vision of a future in which conservation and development go hand-in-hand,” said Arnoldo André, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica.

Key takeaways from the participants:

1. Leadership and vision: The importance of strong and visionary leadership was emphasized. Leaders need to foster connectivity, integration, and a holistic approach to create buy-in and ensure the success of initiatives.
2. Science and decision-making: The linkage between science and decision-making is crucial. Research and scientific data should inform the decision-making process to ensure effective and sustainable outcomes.
3. Youth and community engagement: Training and engaging the younger generation, including children, and the local community is vital. This includes promoting bio-literacy, private ownership, and hybrid management to build a knowledgeable and involved society.
4. Public-private partnerships (PPPs): Efficient use of PPPs is a key strategy for achieving goals. Learning how governments can involve the private sector and maximize the use of funding - such as from the GEF - is essential.
5. Communication and visibility: Effective communication is necessary to ensure the visibility and success of projects. This includes simplifying and making platforms accessible, as well as fostering collaboration and understanding between different stakeholders.
6. Institutional coherence and implementation: Establishing institutional coherence and strong implementation of policies and frameworks on the ground is critical. This involves turning environmental challenges into opportunities for wealth and socioeconomic development and ensuring that projects are adapted and strengthened for long-term success.