Parallel Session 4.4: Water security in NAPs (GWP)

Introduction

Water drives climate adaptation action: according to a 2016 UNFCCC survey of adaptation components of 137 NDCs, water is the most-cited pathway through which countries experience climate impacts; it is also the most-often prioritized sector through which countries seek to build resilience in their economies, their populations, and their natural ecosystems. A subsequent in-depth analysis of adaptation components of 80 NDCs by the GWP showed that 90 percent of countries prioritized investing in water infrastructure, institutions, or governance for adaptation. While 86 percent of countries condition the delivery of their NDC commitments on international support in the form of finance, technology development, and capacity building, only 10 percent have detailed project proposals that be packaged to access the external support countries say they need to implement needed adaptation action. Overcoming this ‘appetite-design’ gap is an urgent need of the day, particularly in the most vulnerable countries where climate change is exacerbating existing water insecurities that threatens people’s wellbeing, their livelihoods, and valuable developmental progress.

Now at the cusp between the Global Stocktake of the NDCs in 2018, and the first round of revised, more ambitious NDCs in 2020, we are faced with a dual challenge – how do we ensure that countries are able to access the financial, technical, and capacity building support they need to translate their water related adaptation priorities to action on the ground? And how do we do so in the most effective and efficient way, in a context of multiple global agenda faced by countries at the national level – the Paris Agreement, the SDGs, and the Sendai Framework – all of which aim to achieve sustainable, climate resilient development?

The process to formulate and implement NAPs can play a critical role in addressing this dual challenge.

Water, as a major channel through which climate impacts are experienced, can offer significant opportunity to build cross-sectoral resilience; ensuring that the NAP includes specific steps towards strengthening management and governance structures for water are critical to avoid costly consequences in terms of affected lives and livelihoods and foregone economic growth due to climate change.

The GWP’sWater Supplement to the UNFCCC’s NAP Technical Guidelines aims to support countries in mobilizing their NAP to translate their water related resilience priorities to action, sustain outcomes, and to do so in ways that coherently deliver on the Paris Agreement, SDGs, and Sendai Framework.

Objectives

This session will share experiences and lessons from countries and development partners in two areas, in the context of applying the Water Supplement in the process to formulate and implement NAPs:

• How do we ensure that countries are able to access the financial, technical, and capacity building support they need to translate their water-related adaptation priorities to action on the ground?
• And how do we do so in the most effective and efficient way, in a context of multiple global agenda faced by countries at the national level – the Paris Agreement, the SDGs, and the Sendai Framework – all of which aim to achieve sustainable, climate resilient development?

Expected outcomes

This session is expected to:

• Enhance understanding of how the Water Supplement to the NAP Technical Guidelines can be useful for countries to integrate water perspectives effectively in national adaptation planning and decision-making processes, and access finance for implementation;
• Share experiences and lessons on how countries have accessed climate finance, adopted technology, and built capacity to design and implement water-related adaptation priorities;
• Enhance understanding of what forms of technical and financial support are available to countries to strengthen integration of water perspectives into the design and implementation of NAPs.

Draft agenda

• Introduction: Opportunities and challenges to build resilience via water: the role of the NAP in bringing together the NDCs, SDGs, and Sendai Framework principles, Monika Weber-Fahr, Executive Secretary, GWP (10 min)
• Keynote address: How can the NAP process help identify the right GCF climate resilience water projects? Ania Grobicki, Deputy Director for Adaptation, GCF (20 min)
• Presentation: The Water Supplement to the NAP Technical Guidelines, Alex Simalabwi, Global Climate Lead, GWP (15 min)
• Moderated discussion: How can the Water Supplement be useful for countries in their NAP process, in the context of GCF support for country readiness and for climate resilience water projects? (50 min)
  • Country & DP Panel
    • Element A. Lay the groundwork and address gaps: taking integrated approaches to adaptation via water
    • Element B. Preparatory elements: outlining a strong climate rationale for water and adaptation plans and projects
    • Element C. Implementation strategies: accessing climate finance
  • Q&A with audience
• Wrap up & conclusion, Monika Weber-Fahr (5 min)