Introduction
The Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency - Global Support Programme (CBIT-GSP) is a five-year global climate transparency project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and executed by the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP-CCC), which commenced in 2023. The project is aimed at supporting developing countries in the transition to the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) and its Biennial Transparency Reports under the Paris Agreement.
The CBIT-GSP project includes multiple components and has various support modalities, supporting countries at the global, regional and national level. The main support modality of the project is its ten Transparency Networks, covering all developing countries around the globe, through which key support is provided to countries in the respective networks. The Transparency Networks are organized by region and/or language, and two of the Transparency Networks - the Lusophone Cluster and Francophone Network - are implemented through UNDP's Climate Promise Initiative, with funding from the Belgium government.
As of 2024, the CBIT-GSP has actively supported countries across all 10 CBIT-GSP Transparency Networks, implementing a wide range of activities, events, and technical support tailored to meet the unique needs of participating countries and their governments. This annual report focuses specifically on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Network, providing a comprehensive summary of the work undertaken throughout 2024.
The report details the various initiatives implemented, highlighting their objectives, scope, and impact on enhancing transparency and capacity within the region. It also includes an in-depth analysis of findings from the post-training surveys conducted in November. This survey provided valuable insights into the effectiveness of the activities and the evolving needs of participating countries.
The report is structured into the following sections:
- Overview of Activities and Achievements;
- Annual Post-Training Survey;
- Challenges and Lessons Learned;
- Opportunities for 2025.
The first section gives a comprehensive overview of the Network’s activities, focusing on the preparation of BTRs, GHG inventories, and NDC tracking. The activities are analyzed based on type, geographic coverage, ETF alignment, and participant engagement. This section also includes a detailed comparison of the 2024 Work Plan and actual achievements, highlighting lessons learned and areas for improvement, as well as a gender-focused analysis.
The second section presents the findings from the post-training survey conducted in November 2024. The survey gathered feedback from 65 participants, offering valuable insights into the effectiveness of the training activities. Key findings suggest that the training was well-received, with 93% of respondents expressing satisfaction. Areas for further development include enhanced tool training, longer hands-on sessions, and additional language support.
By integrating the feedback from these assessments, the report identifies key lessons learned, outlines the challenges encountered, and explores emerging opportunities to enhance the Network’s impact. These insights will inform the planning and prioritization of future work Plan for 2025, ensuring that the CBIT-GSP MENA Network continues to address the region's specific transparency and capacity-building requirements while aligning with the global transparency framework under the Paris Agreement.
This document serves not only as a reflection on 2024 but also as a strategic guide for fostering stronger collaborations, refining approaches, and delivering tailored support to meet the diverse needs of MENA countries in the coming year.
Executive Summary
The Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency - Global Support Programme (CBIT-GSP) has played a pivotal role in supporting the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region in fulfilling the climate transparency obligations outlined under the Paris Agreement. In 2024, the CBIT-GSP MENA Network focused on strengthening the capacity of countries to comply with the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), particularly in the preparation of Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventories, and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) tracking. This report summarizes the key achievements, challenges, and lessons learned during 2024.
A total of 37 events were conducted across the region, including 20 regional activities and several in-country workshops. These efforts engaged 1343 attendees, with nearly 47% of them being women. A strong emphasis was placed on gender inclusivity and the active participation of vulnerable countries such as Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The activities were designed to strengthen national systems for climate transparency, especially targeting gaps in the preparation of BTRs, GHG inventories, and NDC tracking.
The first Section provides a comprehensive analysis of the MENA Network’s activities and accomplishments throughout 2024. The activities are categorized by their type, geographic coverage, alignment with the ETF, and the level of engagement from participants. A comparison between the 2024 Work Plan and the actual outcomes reveals several key areas for improvement. A gender-focused analysis of participation shows that efforts were made to ensure equitable representation of women in capacity-building activities. The chapter also identifies lessons learned, challenges faced, and areas where more targeted efforts are needed, such as overcoming logistical barriers and enhancing gender mainstreaming in climate reporting.
In November 2024, a post-training survey was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the activities carried out by the MENA Network. The survey, which gathered feedback from 65 participants, revealed that 93% of respondents were satisfied with the training. The feedback highlighted the effectiveness of the sessions in improving participants’ understanding of the ETF and national reporting processes. However, the survey also pointed to areas for further development, including the need for advanced tool training, the extension of hands-on sessions, and additional language support to accommodate the region’s linguistic diversity. These insights will inform the design of future training programs, ensuring that they better address participants' needs.
Throughout 2024, the MENA Network encountered several challenges, such as delayed support requests, logistical constraints, and limited engagement from certain countries. Four countries did not respond to outreach efforts despite repeated attempts, underscoring the need for continued engagement and perhaps more localized subregional workshops to overcome political and security challenges. Another key challenge was the limited usage of the Global Transparency Platform, with 42% of survey respondents not engaging with it. This indicates a need for greater efforts in promoting the platform and its benefits to the region’s countries.
The feedback gathered from participants also emphasized the importance of language support, with many requesting translations of training materials into Arabic and French. There was also a strong call for extended training durations, as many felt the hands-on components were too brief. These findings suggest that future activities should be more inclusive of the region’s linguistic diversity and should provide more comprehensive training on technical tools.
In response to the feedback and challenges of 2024, the MENA Network plans to intensify its efforts in 2025, focusing on targeted capacity-building activities, particularly for countries facing delays in BTR submissions. This will include regional workshops, webinars, and subregional workshops that can overcome security and logistical challenges. Additionally, efforts will be made to promote the Global Transparency Platform more effectively and encourage its usage across the region.
The MENA Network will also continue to expand its partnerships with organizations such as UNDP, UNFCCC, FAO, and UNEP-ROWA to strengthen the support provided to countries. These collaborations will help share best practices, foster knowledge exchange, and ensure that MENA countries are well-equipped to meet their climate reporting obligations under the Paris Agreement.
The findings from 2024 will guide the development of the 2025 Work Plan, which will focus on inclusivity, multilingual engagement, and proactive planning. Through continued capacity-building efforts, the MENA Network aims to support countries in achieving their climate transparency goals and contribute to global climate action.