On December 16, during the closing ceremony of the 3rd China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Blue Economy Development Cooperation, Ms. Beate Trankmann signed two Financial Agreements with China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) on a multi-country initiative to develop actionable early warning systems (EWS) in Maldives and Pakistan that help to strengthen the resilience of coastal communities to climate change through South-South Cooperation. As climate-related natural disasters become increasingly frequent, having effective early warning systems in place and mainstreaming disaster risk mitigation into development strategies are more important than ever, to protect lives, safeguard marine ecosystems, and advance the blue economy and the livelihoods that it supports.
 
The two proposals kick off a series of joint initiatives in partner countries as part of a new engagement with CIDCA in support of UNDP’s Global EWS initiative. This will take the UNDP-CIDCA partnership to the next level by leveraging UNDP’s global network to co-create toolkits and integrated solutions around common development challenges facing countries of the global south for greater, combined SDG impact.
 
In addition to that, Ms. Trankmann also joined the launch of the Global Development Project Pool Information Management System together with H.E. Luo Zhaohui, Chairman of CIDCA, H.E. Zhao Fengtao, Vice Chairman of CIDCA, H.E. Reginald R. Farley, FB, JP, FCA, CPA, President of the Senate of Barbados and H.E. Uz. Hussain Mohamed Latheef, Vice President of the Maldives. The System aims to build an open, inclusive and efficient digital platform to enhance transparency and accessibility of China’s international development cooperation while amplifying its impact in accelerating the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
 
The Forum was co-hosted by CIDCA, the People’s Government of Yunnan Province, the Government of Barbados and the Government of Maldives. It took place from 15th-17th December, 2024 in Kunming, Yunnan.