Learning by doing
When Thuso Tserane first joined a PATPA workshop in 2024, the Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) process was still new territory for him. As Project Coordinator at South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, he was looking for a clearer understanding of what the Enhanced Transparency Framework requires and how countries can meet those requirements in practice. “The global BTR dialogue was my first introduction to the MPGs,” he recalls. “It helped me understand what the BTR requires across the different thematic areas and what countries are expected to report.”
Building on this foundation, Thuso later participated in PATPA’s regional workshops, where the focus shifted from understanding the requirements to applying them. Through technical sessions and practical exercises, participants learned how to use UNFCCC reporting tools and exchanged experiences on compiling their BTRs. “PATPA provided both technical and practical knowledge,” says Thuso. “The hands-on exercises meant that when the time came to work on the reporting tables, we were already prepared.”
“You realise that the challenges you are facing are not unique”
A key benefit for him was the opportunity to learn directly from peers facing similar challenges. Through the regional workshops, participants discussed common issues such as data limitations, institutional arrangements and tight reporting timelines. “You realise that the challenges you are facing are not unique,” he says. “Other countries are dealing with the same issues, and together you can find ways to overcome them.”
For South Africa, this knowledge proved valuable throughout the BTR cycle. The country successfully submitted its first BTR, completed the technical expert review process and participated in the Facilitative Multilateral Consideration of Progress (FMCP). “PATPA helped us understand the entire reporting roadmap and prepare for each step in advance,” Thuso explains. “Knowing what comes next made a real difference.”
“We learn from other countries, and we also share our own experiences”
Today, South Africa not only continues to strengthen its own transparency system but also shares its experiences with other countries through peer-to-peer exchanges. For Thuso, this spirit of collaboration is one of PATPA’s greatest strengths. “We learn from other countries, and we also share our own experiences,” he says. “That exchange benefits everyone and helps countries move forward together.”