The Government of Flanders granted a subsidy of almost 4 million euros to the ‘DEA Adaptive Capacity Facility’ project. The key challenge the South African government aims to address, is the lack of effective climate change implementation at a local level in South Africa.

The project is coordinated by the South African ‘Departement Environmental Affairs’ (DEA). The department is responsible for the national response to climate change and the transition to green economy.

The project focuses on strengthening the capacity for implementing climate adaptation, developing partnerships, setting up pilot projects and gathering and sharing knowledge. About 60% of the budget will be spent on the financing of the pilot projects.

The primary focus of the Country Strategy Paper 2017-2021 between Flanders and South-Africa is the fight against climate change.