NAP Posted: November 1, 2021 

 

  1. Vision, goals and objectives

Overall vision

The vision of the NAP is to mainstream adaptation planning within South Sudan’s development planning across different government line ministries and climate-resilient communities.

Objectives

(1) To reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change by building adaptive capacity and resilience;

(2) To facilitate the integration of climate change adaptation, in a coherent manner, into relevant new and existing policies, programmes, and activities, in particular development planning processes and strategies, within all relevant sectors and at different levels, as appropriate.

  1. National circumstances

South Sudan is an LDC and is currently one of the poorest and most underdeveloped countries on the planet. Food security is among the most pressing issues in South Sudan. It is the most oil-dependent country on Earth, but the reserves will be depleted by approximately 2035. Furthermore, there are various issues that hinder climate change adaptation, such as LGA being unclear about the role of the states in government and weak and inadequate coordination between the central government and states.

  1. National Policies as indicated in the NAP

  • National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA 2016);
  • Second Nationally Determined Contribution (to the Paris Agreement; SNDC 2021);
  • Initial National Communication to the UNFCCC (INC, 2018);
  • South Sudan Vision 2040: Toward Freedom, Equality, Justice, Peace and Prosperity
  • for All (2011);
  • National Development Strategy (NDS) 2018-2021;
  • National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2018-2027 (NBSAP);
  • National Environment Policy 2015-2025; National Gender Policy (NGP);
  • Comprehensive Agriculture Master Plan 2015-2040 (CAMP); Irrigation Development Master Plan 2015-2040 (IDMP)

  1. Specific NAP mandate if developed yet

The mandate for the NAP is embedded in the Transitional Constitution of 2011 which guarantees all South Sudanese communities the right to a clean and healthy environment, stating that every individual is obligated to conserve the environment for the benefit of present and future generations.

  1. Institutional arrangements

  • Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) serves as the lead agency responsible for addressing the challenges of climate change over the medium and long term.
  • The Climate Change Working Group (CCWG) was established in 2019 as the essential stakeholder body and mechanism for ensuring the technical review of proposals and alignment with national priorities and policies.
  • Community-Based Organization (CBO)/NGO Advisory Committee and Forum.
  • Private Sector Advisory Committee and Forum.
  • Climate Change Finance Inter-ministerial Steering Committee.

  1. Alignment with other frameworks

SDGs

Aligned long-term national development priorities with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework and 2030 Agenda with a special focus on SDG 5: Gender Equality.

Sendai Framework

South Sudan declared its intention to implement the Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction in the East African region.

Others

South Sudan is a partner to Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forests Degradation (REDD) and completed a REDD+ Country Needs Assessment in 2017.

  1. Key climate hazards and risks

Increasing temperatures; Increasing atmospheric circulation; decreased rainfall; increased frequency of seasonal flooding and droughts; longer drought duration and higher intensity

 

  1. Resource mobilization strategies (international and domestic)

The NDC estimates that over $50 billion will be required for both the mitigation and adaptation actions across all sectors in South Sudan until 2030. Department of Climate Change will also work with the newly established Inter-ministerial Committee on Climate Finance to identify funding sources, including domestic sources, private sector possibilities, and international financiers to provide grants and loans to support the priorities.

  1. GCF Country Programme

GCF Country Program has been prepared and NAP sectoral priorities are to be formulated with GCF aligned concept notes and cost estimates are to be developed. Furthermore,  South Sudan is eligible to access up to $1 million annually from the GCF’s Readiness Programme for short-term implementation programs.

  1. Guiding principles

    1. Integration and adaptation of needs from multiple sectors that contribute to South Sudan’s social and economic development trajectory and goals
    2. Alignment of actions that should advance South Sudan’s peacebuilding processes
    3. Promotion of gender equality and equity in a manner consistent with South Sudan’s National Gender Policy
    4. Focus on groups that are most vulnerable to climate change impacts
    5. Contribution to the further development of legislative and regulatory frameworks in South Sudan
    6. Promotion of capacity building of human, institutional, technical, and financial resources
    7. Promotion of long-term research on climate change adaptation
    8. Full integration of indigenous knowledge into South Sudan’s adaptation response
    9. Consideration of land tenure issues
    10. The NAP process should be fully owned and driven by the people of South Sudan

  1. Other cross-cutting issues

Private sector engagement

Private Sector Advisory Committee and Forum will serve as an entry point for activities aimed at capacitating the private sector, catalyzing private sector investment in adaptation, introducing adaptation technologies, and catalyzing a greater role for the private sector in financing adaptation and resilience-building measures in South Sudan.

Gender

South Sudan’s first NAP prioritizes gender-sensitive and equitable approaches to building resilience. The Ministry of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare (MGCSW) is one of the key stakeholders.

ACE-Youth

Up to 85 percent of youth depend on agriculture for livelihood sustenance and changes in climate can cause mental health issues.

Indigenous Peoples

South Sudan is home to over 64 major ethnic groups speaking at least 50 different indigenous languages and ten of the largest groups account for 80 percent of the total population. One of the major issues is that some groups consider their traditional leaders to be more legitimate than local government officials.

  1. Monitoring and evaluation of the adaptation process (M&E)

Since climate change is a cross-cutting issue, NAP prioritizes 9 sectors (1) agriculture, livestock and fisheries (2) disaster risk reduction (3) energy (4) environment, ecosystems and biodiversity conservation (5) health (6) human settlements (7) tourism and recreation (8) industry, infrastructure and transportation (9) water resources.

  1. Related NAP outputs

Stocktaking reports

The entire NAP stocktaking, consultation and drafting process was conducted under the guidance of the Deputy Director for Climate Change, who serves as the UNFCCC focal point within the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

Vulnerability assessment reports

There are few vulnerability assessments that have been conducted at local levels, and so currently there is an insufficient evidence base for planning and implementation of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction measures.

Implementation strategy

The implementation plan for South Sudan’s NAP responds to the LEG Guideline’s vision through various short-term programmes. Programme 1: Improved coordination to support climate change adaptation and planning;  Programme 2: Improving human and institutional capacities to support the NAP process; Programme 3: Data, information and knowledge management systems enhanced to support climate change adaptation planning processes.