Four Nepali executives recently completed the Australia Awards Regional Short Course on Accessing Climate Finance, delivered by Griffith University in Australia. The Regional Short Course included a total of twenty-five participants from Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Mongolia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, as well as Nepal.
The Short Course focused on equipping participants with the key knowledge, skills and tools needed to navigate the complex landscape of climate-related finance, contribute to sustainable development and support the global transition to a low-carbon economy. It aimed to enhance participants’ knowledge, increase their capacity, facilitate decision-making, promote sustainable investments, encourage policy understanding, foster collaboration and promote innovation.
The Short Course consisted of three components: the Preliminary Learning Activities (carried out online on 12–14 December 2023), the Core Learning Elements (conducted in Australia on 17 February – 3 March 2024) and the Applied Learning Activities (delivered online on 13–15 May 2024).
Before departing to Australia, the participants met with Kavitha Kasynathan, Head of Development at the Australian Embassy in Nepal. Encouraging them to make the most of their participation in the Short Course, Kavita [or Ms Kasynathan] said, “You are a change agent in your workplaces playing an important role in accessing financing for climate resilience projects. I am confident that you will find ways to work together more effectively as changemakers in your field and organisations, which are crucial in accessing climate financing effectively.”
The Core Learning Elements of the Short Course were delivered in Brisbane, Canberra and Sydney. This component incorporated presentations, workshops, mentoring sessions and site visits. It provided participants the opportunity to meet each other in person, hear from Australian experts and see firsthand the outcomes of successful financing for climate projects, including a visit to Solar Share near Canberra, the largest community-owned solar farm in Australia.
Another participant, Smriti Regmi Sharma (Head of Public Engagement and New Initiatives, Nepal Infrastructure Bank Limited), said, “The knowledge I gained from the course in climate action and adaptation has enabled me to approach all issues and projects with a climate-focused perspective.
After returning from Australia to their home countries, the participants attended the Applied Learning Activities. This component was an online event where they shared the progress of their Return-to-Work Plans and celebrated their achievements. Through their Plans, participants develop projects that put into practice the information and learning gained from participating in the Short Course.
After completing the Applied Learning Activities component of the Short Course, the Nepali participants met officials from the Australian Embassy in Nepal and were presented with their Certificates of Completion. During this meeting, the Nepali participants shared their experiences and learnings from the Short Course, presented their Return-to-Work Plan activities, and expressed their commitment to take further steps in accessing climate finance for Nepal through the knowledge and linkages gained from the Short Course.