By Florence Afriyie Mensah
Kumasi, Jan 24, GNA – The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has received an amount of US$ 100,000.00 as an additional funding for its Youth in Climate Change Action project.
This follows the successful implementation and completion of the first round of the climate action programme under the leadership of Mr Samuel Pyne, the former mayor, which had helped positioned the Assembly to receive the second round of funding.
The Youth Climate Action Fund, announced at Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Innovation Studio during the COP28 UAE Local Climate Action Summit on 2nd December 2023, aims to empower young people between the ages of 15 to 24 to co-create and lead climate solutions through technical support and funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies.
In the first round of the funding programme, KMA received US$50,000, which was awarded to fourteen 14 different youth groups that engaged 2,400 young people.
The proposals for participation in the programme, should reflect innovative plans by the youth group engaged in climate-related activities that enhanced sustainable development and aligned with the KMA’s established climate goals.
Mr Francis Dwira Darko, Metropolitan Coordinating Director, told journalists in Kumasi that, the additional funding from the Bloomberg Philanthropies would further enhance the contributions of the youth in climate mitigation initiatives.
“With double the funding and a year of experience, the round two offers more than 90 cities across five continents the opportunity to deepen collaboration, support more impactful youth-led climate initiatives, and inspire the next generation of local youth leaders,” Mr Darko explained.
He indicated that funds would be provided to selected youth groups by the selection committee and the project implementation committee would as well monitor to ensure strict adherence to project implementation and utilization of funds.
Subsequently, a micro-grant of $1,000- $5,000 would be provided to youth groups to fund projects that were in line with the city’s climate action strategies.
From Monday February 3, 2025, he said, all interested youth groups could visit the official website of the city – www.kma.gov.gh to download the application forms for free and submit either in person or through [email protected] after completion on or before Friday 21st February 2025.
Mr Darko called on the youth to show keen interest and participate in the project to help contribute their quota to sustainable climate change mitigation initiatives.
GNA