The consortium, implementing partners, and government stakeholders of the TRANSCEND Project in its convergence workshop and First Project Steering Committee meeting.

 

MANILA, 20 January 2025 – The Transformative Actions for Climate and Ecological Protection and Development  (TRANSCEND) Project, a joint initiative of the Federal Republic of Germany through the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and the Republic of the Philippines, commenced with a convergence workshop on January 13 and the First Project Steering Committee (PSC) meeting on January 14.

The convergence workshop focused on aligning the project's goals with government priorities. It brought together the consortium, implementing partners, and government stakeholders, including the Climate Change Commission (CCC), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), and Zukunft – Umwelt – Gesellschaft gGmbH (ZUG) which is responsible for IKI programme management. 

CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje emphasized the project's potential to deliver tangible impacts to communities and its role in protecting both ecosystems and the Filipino people.

“Let us remember that our work through TRANSCEND covers the core values, needs and interests of our people. Through TRANSCEND, we are focused on transforming these into core strengths to secure a resilient future for our people,” Secretary Borje said.

Meanwhile, the PSC meeting, co-chaired by CCC Commissioner Rachel Anne Herrera and DENR Undersecretary Analiza Rebuelta Teh, focused on future milestones and the project's steering structure. 

Commissioner Herrera highlighted the importance of collaboration in attaining the goals of TRANSCEND. 

“TRANSCEND is more than a project – it is a catalyst for transformative change toward a climate-resilient, low-carbon, and biodiversity-friendly Philippines. Through our collective wisdom and decisive action today, we set the strong foundation for this ambitious journey,” Commissioner Herrera said.

Undersecretary Teh highlighted the project’s whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, as evidenced by the diverse sectors represented by the committee members.

“There is an urgent need to strengthen the whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to adopt actions that would lead the Philippines towards climate resiliency. As evidenced by your presence in today’s Project Steering Committee meeting, TRANSCEND is designed to work across different sectors and targets a multi-level governance approach.” Usec. Teh said.

This vision was captured in the joint statement developed by the project, which was adopted by committee members through a celebratory signing.

Presenting the joint vision statement, TRANSCEND Program Manager Johanna Sibbert reiterated that the envisioned future would serve as the guiding compass for their work. “May the image of an inclusive, equitable, climate-resilient, and nature-positive future inspire us to act collectively for climate action.”

The TRANSCEND Project, with an implementation period from 2024 to 2029 and a total funding of €32.7 million, aims to support the Philippines' transition to a climate-resilient, low-carbon, and biodiversity-friendly society. It aligns with international and national climate and biodiversity agendas and contributes to the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP).

The project is implemented by a consortium that includes ​​the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH or German Development Cooperation, Conservation International Philippines Foundation Inc. (CIPFI), Rare, United Nations Human Settlements Programme(UN-Habitat), and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). 

The project also receives targeted implementation support from the Foundation for the Philippine Environment, Wuppertal Institute, International Council for Clean Transportation, Clean Air Asia, Climate Analytics, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, and the University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies.