Questions:

1. What is the mandate of the CTCN with regard to the collection of data, information and
   knowledge management?
2. Does the CTCN have an obligation to share data with other organisations, specifically those
   that provide funding, such as the GEF or GCF?

Summary: 

The mandate of the CTCN – established at COP 16 (decision 1/CP.16) – includes a requirement to facilitate the provision of information. 

Subsequent decisions, notably those adopting the CTCN’s functions and modalities, have detailed the breadth of this provision. Since COP 19, the CTCN has a clear duty to foster collaboration and access to information and knowledge to accelerate climate technology transfer. It also has a duty since CMA.1 to include methods for monitoring and evaluating its activities in its workplan and programme of work. It does so, through its Knowledge Management System (KMS), through the Technology Portal, TT: Clear, and through its Monitoring and Evaluation System. 

Although the CTCN does not have an obligation to share data with other organisations, including those that provide funding, there is an expectation of collaboration with funding organisations reflected in agenda items and many Decisions. 

1. The CTCN 

Under the UNFCCC, developed countries have an obligation to support developing countries in the implementation of their commitments through, inter alia, the transfer and access to technology (Article 4 paragraphs 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9). COP 16 established the UNFCCC’s Technology Mechanism with the objective of enhancing action on technology development and transfer to support action on mitigation and adaptation in order to achieve the full implementation of the Convention (Decision 1/CP.16, para. 117). The Mechanism consists of two bodies: the Technology Executive Committee (TEC), its policy arm, which analyses and provides recommendations on key technology policy issues, and the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN), its implementation arm, tasked with supporting countries in enhancing the implementation of climate technology projects and programmes. The Paris Agreement reiterated the obligation to support developing countries through technology development and transfer, highlighting its importance to the response to climate change (Article 10) and later incorporated the Technology Mechanism, as Article 10.3 recalls “the Technology Mechanism established under the Convention shall serve this Agreement.” 

The CTCN is envisioned as a centre and a network of national, regional, sectoral and international technology networks, organisations and initiatives. One feature of the CTCN mandate is that it is demand driven, which emerges from Decision 1/CP.16 that established that technology needs must be nationally determined and based on national circumstances and priorities (para. 114).  Moreover, some of the CTCN functions -including the provision of information, training and support described above- are ‘at the request of a developing country party.’ (para. 123 a.) This demand-driven character of the CTCN has also been highlighted in their Programme of Work 2023-2027.¹ The CTCN is also under strict reporting and review constraints. According to its Terms of Reference adopted in Decision 2/CP.17, it must provide an annual report on its activities and those of the Network and on the performance of their respective functions.  

2. Mandate of the CTCN with regards to the collection of data, information and knowledge sharing 

Part of the CTCN mandate, as described in Decision 1/CP.16, para. 123(a)(ii)), extends to engaging the participants of the network in facilitating the provision of information, training and support for programmes to build or strengthen the capacity of developing countries to identify technology options, make technology choices, and operate, maintain and adapt technology. Moreover in Decision 25/CP.19, paragraph 4, when adopting the modalities and procedures of the CTCN, Parties noted that these are based on the CTCN functions and include six key elements, including: “fostering collaboration and access to information and knowledge in order to accelerate climate technology transfer” and “information and knowledge sharing.” 

The CTCN’s modalities and procedures, contained in Annex I Decision 25/CP.19 contain further guidance relating to the CTCN’s information related functions.  

Firstly, in Section IV (paragraph 5) of the modalities and procedures entitled ’Foster collaboration and access to information and knowledge to accelerate climate technology transfer’, it is indicated that the modalities will consist of catalysing and developing “information and knowledge regarding climate technologies”. Secondly, in Section VII (paragraphs 8 and 9) of the modalities and procedures entitled ‘Information and knowledge-Sharing’, it is indicated that the “CTCN should disseminate its outputs and facilitate knowledge-sharing through a well-functioning online platform”. The role of this platform would be to foster collaboration and cooperation. It would also support capacity capacity-building work of the CTCN. Interestingly, for the purposes of this advice, the platform would also serve to “collect, analyze, and communicate CTCN results and lessons learned and continuously gather external feedback”. It would also serve as a library of up-to-date information on CTCN activities. Additionally, it is worth noting that according to the CTCN’s 3^rd Programme of Work, the CTCN intends to deliver on its mandates through three components. The first component of ‘enhancing collaboration with the Technology Executive Committee (TEC)’ would be reinforced through the ‘Facilitation of information sharing across countries via south-south and triangular collaboration’.² Thus, the Programme of Work further relies on the CTCN’s function of sharing and facilitating the sharing of data and information. 

Additionally, the current Joint Work Programme of the Technology Mechanism (bringing collaborative actions between the CTCN and the TEC) also highlights the provision of information and knowledge as one of the CTCN three core services, which include “creating access to information and knowledge on climate technologies”.³ 

Thus, in summary, the CTCN’s mandate from COP 16 includes a requirement to facilitate the provision of information. Subsequent decisions, notably those adopting the CTCN’s functions and modalities, have detailed the breadth of this provision. Since COP 19, the CTCN has a clear duty to foster collaboration and access to information and knowledge to accelerate climate technology transfer. This mandate is further recognised by the programme of work of the CTCN and the Joint Programme of the Technology Mechanism.  

3. Implementation of the mandate:   

Decision 15/CMA.1 on implementing Art.10.4 of the Paris Agreement, which establishes the Technology Framework to give guidance to the Technology Mechanism, requested the Technology Executive Committee (TEC) and the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) to incorporate the guidance contained in the technology framework into their respective workplans and programmes of work, which should also include methods for the monitoring and evaluation of their activities.⁴ 

As a result of this, the CTCN’s revised Monitoring and Evaluation System (M&E) was launched in 2020 and acts as the key implementation tool of the CTCN’s data collection mandate. The M&E is crucial in ensuring the effective monitoring and evaluation of the work of the CTCN and its intended long-term impacts.  Monitoring takes the form of a continuous process of performance reporting to the COP and the CTCN Advisory Board, on an annual basis.⁵ The Evaluation component relates to the periodic and final assessments of projects, notably, after the activities and/or funding has ended.  

The monitoring of knowledge sharing-related activities is conducted through the Performance Measurement Framework (PMF), which acts as the key management tool to collect, analyse and report on the performance data and indicator guides support the quantification of indicator data in a harmonised and standardised manner. It involves indicators that are compared against baseline data and targets.  

The CTCN Secretariat is principally responsible for data collection and works with stakeholders to capture a wide range of data covering many indicators. This data is disseminated through its annual CTCN Progress Report. 

The CTCN has implemented its knowledge-sharing mandate partly through the Technology Portal, in collaboration with the Technology Executive Committee (TEC), TT:Clear, and through the Knowledge Management System (originally KMS), now found on the webpage: <www.ctc-n.org>. This includes climate information and tools, organised geographically and sectorally. 

4. Data sharing: 

There is no indication in the examined Decisions, reports or communications from the CTCN that there is a specific obligation to share data with specific financial organisations or constituted bodies, such as the GEF, GCF or Adaptation Fund. 

Nevertheless, in the CTCN’s Resource Mobilization Strategy, it is indicated that “donors receive a consolidated annual financial statement and narrative report”. Thus, although there may not be an obligation to provide data and information to other organisations, those that form part of the FM and are donors to the CTCN will receive annual reports on the use of the funds. 

Additionally, it is worth noting that there is a repeated call for increased collaboration between the Technology Mechanism (TM) and the Financial Mechanism (FM). As the CTCN forms a part of the TM, and the GEF and GCF form part of the FM, there is an expectation of increased collaboration between these organisations.  

This is most evident in the existence of the ‘Linkages between the TM and FM’ agenda item. Decision 13/CP.21 is another example of this expectation which “underlines” the need for the CTCN and the FM to enhance cooperation and collaboration with a view to fulfilling and implementing their respective mandates effectively. The Global Stocktake 1 Decision (Decision 1/CMA.5 para 105) also encourages this cooperation. 

There are many examples of the CTCN, GEF, GCF and Adaptation Fund collaborating through the CTCN’s sharing of data. For example, in the context of the Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA), which was launched by the Adaptation Fund at COP 25 and is executed by the CTCN to administrate and aggregate 25 micro-grants, the AFCIA will facilitate knowledge sharing and the exchange of best practices, through the CTCN’s experience and mechanisms.  

Further, the CTCN is executing the GEF’s project ‘Piloting Innovative Financing for Climate adaptation Technologies in Medium-sized Cities’. This is of relevance as for the purposes of this project they are leveraging the CTCN network for climate change technology data.  

These two examples demonstrate how the CTCN data and knowledge can be used by other organisations, such as the GEF, GCF and AF.