Background to GAEC
The government of Japan has actively supported initiatives to combat climate change both domestically and internationally. The Japanese government's 2008 ODA White Paper pledged 1.25 trillion yen (about U.S. $10 billion) over five years to combat climate change. This support is being delivered under an ODA programme known as the "Cool Earth Partnership," under which Japan aims to help developing countries achieve both emissions reductions and economic growth.
Introduction to GAEC
GAEC is a global programme within the "Cool Earth Partnership" that provides grant aid to selected countries to develop their ability to tackle climate change. It is a flexible programme that is designed to provide equipment from Japanese suppliers to recipient countries and may involve installation/commissioning and training/capacity building components to accompany the equipment.
The goods and associated services provided can provide a diverse range of solutions, including:
- clean energy technology, such as solar and wind energy, to reduce the use of finite energy sources and promote alternative solutions
- energy efficient public vehicles to reduce pollution and climate changing emissions
- disaster prevention equipment and solutions to prepare for climate change induced disasters
- support for the water sector as global warming makes water an ever more important resource
- forestry management and survey equipment to help countries utilise their vegetation to combat climate change
Crown Agents and GAEC
Having worked on government of Japan ODA programmes since 1987, Crown Agents was honoured to be appointed to its first GAEC grant in November 2008. Since then we have been nominated as procurement agent for 27 GAEC grants, which cover a diverse geographical area from the Pacific Islands to Uruguay. The full list can be found in the resources section below.
We manage the entire procurement process in close co-ordination with the other key stakeholders on the programme to ensure all requirements are procured in an effective and timely manner.
Within the three main sectors of solar energy, natural disaster preparedness, and forestry preservation, the Japanese government and recipient government have identified a number of key, differing ways to support these sectors in the various countries in receipt of these grants.
On the solar programme, power generating equipment will be supplied to institutions as varied as hospitals (in Bolivia, Tajikistan and Burundi), airports (in Malawi and Lesotho) a university (in Micronesia) and even a hydro electric power station (in Uruguay).
On the forestry programme, satellite mapping equipment will be provided to a number of countries, whilst the physical capability of forest services to conserve their resources will be supported (in Kenya) and alternative economic activity to forest dwelling people is being supported (in Bolivia).
On the natural disaster prevention programme, flood warning equipment is being supplied (to the Philippines), flood prevention work being carried out (in Burundi, Gambia and Ghana), disaster recovery equipment is being supplier (in Kenya) and famine alleviation measures are being put in place (in Uganda).