In Slovakia NVE is donor program partner for a program covering climate change mitigation and adaptation. Being a donor program partner means to provide advisory services in all phases of program and project developments and implementation.
Background
The EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021 represent funding from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to reduce economic and social disparities and strengthen cooperation with 15 EU countries in Central and Southern Europe and the Baltics.
For the period 2014- 2021 (extended to April 2024), a total contribution of €2.8 billion has been agreed. In the Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with the individual countries, the actual allocation is determined. In the MoU it is also determined which Norwegian authorities will be the donor program partner (adviser) for the countries’ respective programs.
Strengthening relations between Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway and the beneficiary countries is the other of the two main objectives of the EEA and Norway Grants.
On program level:
The total budget for this climate change program in Slovakia is 19 mill euros - 85 percent from the EEA- and Norway grants and 15 percent from the Slovakian national budget. The program operator is the Ministry of Climate and Environment in Slovakia.
On project level under the program:
Private businesses, research groups, public sector, and NGOs from the donor and the beneficiary countries were encouraged to establish cooperation for implementing joint projects when applying for projects. NVE as a donor program partner has assisted in facilitating such project cooperation.
Activities
The work in the first phase was mostly related to preparatory activities in connection with developing a concept note for the program. The program agreement was then signed. Two matchmaking events were held in October 2019, first in NVE and then in Slovakia. For all five calls projects are selected and funds allocated, and the project implementation period has started (Dec 2021). NVE has contributed significantly in facilitating Norwegian partnership in projects, which has yielded results, as many projects have Norwegian partners. Work on bilateral activities will continue in full on the program period until April 2024.
The program is divided into 3 areas:
- Action plans for mitigation and adaptation implemented by local authorities in urban areas.
- Awareness raising activities on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
- Restoration of degraded ecosystems.