Background

Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), established under the Paris Agreement, requires all Parties to submit their Biennial Transparency Reports (BTR) by the end of 2024. The ETF builds on and enhances the existing measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) arrangements under the Convention. With adopting the modalities, procedures, and guidelines (MPGs) for the ETF by COP 24 and the corresponding common reporting tables, common tabular formats, and outlines by COP 26, developing country Parties are taking steps to implement the ETF.

The Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT) was established pursuant to decision 1/CP.21, paragraph 84, and will continue to support developing country Parties, upon request, to build their institutional and technical capacity, both pre- and post-2020. 

The Gambia, like many developing nations is transitioning its current reporting under the Paris Agreement to the Biennial Transparency Report (BTR), which has additional reporting requirements as compared to Biennial Update Report (BUR). This includes using the newly developed Enhanced Reporting Tool – ETF which was launched in June 2024. 

The overall purpose of the ETF (Article 13) of the Paris Agreement is to build mutual trust and confidence that all Parties are contributing their share to the global effort in climate action and promoting effective implementation. This agreement mandates Parties to provide transparent and comprehensive information regarding their national actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change, track progress toward their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and highlight international cooperation efforts. However, due to inadequate capacity in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) management, The Gambia is encountering significant obstacles in fulfilling these critical reporting requirements. 

In light of the above and considering the need to familiarize and use the ETF reporting tool, especially given the imminent December 2024 deadline for CMA to submit the first BTRs, The Ministry of Environment Climate Change and Natural Resources solicits support from CBIT-GSP for a capacity building on BTR development. The capacity building will include hands-on training on every aspect of ETF and IPCC 2006 guidelines, as well as the interoperability of the two reporting tools.

1.3      Objective

The training aims to provide a general overview of reporting requirements under Article 13 of the Paris Agreement, focusing on key elements identified to fast-track BTR development in The Gambia. The training will enhance the capacity for technical preparation of the Biennial Transparency Report (BTR), including practical hands-on exercises to identify relevant information in the BUR, NDC, and other sources for use in the future.

Specifically, the event aims to achieve the following learning objectives: 

• To provide participants with an understanding of key components/contents of BUR and BTR  in accordance with the (MPGs).
• Promoting the understanding of provisions related to modalities, procedures, and guidelines (MPGs) for the enhanced transparency framework. 
• Practical hands-on exercise on using the ETF | PROGRESS Reporting Tool.
• Practical hands-on exercise on identifying relevant information in the BUR/other sources for use in future BTR in all the IPCC sectors.