The final day of the NAP Expo 2023 and the UN4NAPs focused on the involvement of non-state actors, engaging the private sector in addressing data gaps for adaptation, urban and subnational perspectives in NAP formulation and implementation, and the consideration of positive experiences for scaling up in implementing adaptation projects.
Discussions in the context of the Race to Resilience campaign concluded that catalyzing action of non-state actors to scale up adaptation requires seizing opportunities for innovation, bridging between real economy actors and government, as well as radical collaboration. Monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems, embedded in the formulation and implementation of NAPs, provide a platform to include different actors in the assessment of adaptation progress. No single actor can do it all: Coordination between institutions is critical for vertically integrated and socially inclusive MEL.
The Adaptation Committee-led session on addressing data gaps in adaptation provided insights into relevant work done throughout the years in enhancing the collaboration with the private sector to strengthen and accelerate adaptation planning and implementation. The private sector can contribute in different capacities and through different entry points, including by generating, providing, and processing relevant data, including climate observation data and information. While private sector collaboration remains limited and despite the barriers, partnerships are multiplying worldwide. Innovative examples include GEO partnerships with Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, as well as private satellite companies, for Earth observation projects. Additionally, the private sector is increasingly involved in adaptation funding and investments in adaptation projects, including under the GCF framework. For such collaboration, it will be important to make the business case for adaptation and identify ways to make public-private partnerships sustainable in the long term, after the initial grants have expired, for example, through using revenues from the projects themselves. In addition, governments play an important role in facilitating the participation of the private sector through an enabling environment and conducive regulations.
In a discussion led by the LEG and the NAP implementation support subgroup on adaptation projects under the LDCF and the GCF and potential approaches for scaling up, an infrastructure project in Somalia and a coastal zone management project in Cambodia were discussed as examples, highlighting successful interventions that laid the foundation for subsequent scaling up projects. In Cambodia, a project on coastal adaptation developed district- specific coastal vulnerability and climate adaptation plans leading to highly successful mangrove rehabilitation interventions and integration of climate change into national and local development plans. The project laid the foundations for subsequent actions of capacity to implement regulatory and administrative systems for coastal actions in 4 other coastal provinces. In Somalia an ecosystem project implemented new models for water management infrastructure, creating water harvesting structures that restored water provision to pastoralists, women, youth and the elderly. The project set the foundation for another successful project on building resilience for vulnerable pastoral communities in northern and central Somalia through establishment of seasonal grazing reserves.
Figure 1: Grazing reserve restoration in Somalia through a resilience project
Additional efforts are needed to improve multi-stakeholder engagement, vulnerability monitoring process, and scaling up of adaptation projects. Countries articulated the need for accurate data, proper coordination of all adaptation actions, and clear guidance on project formulation processes, as well as better communication of the results.
In the final UN4NAPs session, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Niger presented lessons learned and needs for technical assistance around integrating urban and subnational perspectives and challenges into NAP formulation and integration. The countries shared how cross-sectoral challenges are being addressed at subnational level, and how local actors are included in the planning and implementation of adaptation actions. Among the key needs for technical assistance identified by the countries were strengthening of institutional capacities at different levels, integration of adaptation action into planning and budgeting, improved monitoring and evaluation and information management, and support for stakeholder engagement. UN4NAPs partners shared existing and upcoming opportunities for technical assistance, including guidance material around the integration of subnational actors in the process to formulate and implement NAPs, including for informal settlements, as well as relevant funding opportunities and support in vertical integration.
During the NAP Country Platform, Ecuador, Haiti, Madagascar and Niger presented their respective NAPs, articulating their adaptation priorities and plans for implementation. Ecuador’s NAP is founded on the country’s principle of good living as included in its constitution. The implementation strategy contains generation of enabling conditions implementation, linkages and synergies, formulation of project proposals to obtain international financing, management of national resources, defining necessary institutional arrangements for implementation, and multi-stakeholder engagement. Haiti, highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, finalized the NAP formulation despite additional social, economic, and political issues. Priority sectors of the NAP are agriculture, water resources, health, and infrastructure, especially coastal infrastructure. The process promoted the participation and inclusiveness of different actors and sectors through workshops for identification and validation of adaptation options, and considered multidimensional aspects of adaptation, based on solid data, gender sensitivity and integration at the local level through communal plans. The mobilization of financial resources includes the private sector and international climate funds. Additionally, a follow up system was implemented for the financial flows to facilitate the reports and management of climate action costs. Niger formulated the NAP based on the identification of core priorities across different sectors. It contains a five-year plan and costed adaptation actions. Additionally, it contains mechanisms for resource mobilization, foreseeing a mobilization of national resources in addition to bilateral, multilateral, and civil society collaboration and support from climate funds. Next steps include awareness raising among different stakeholders across government and civil society. Just as Niger, Madagascar integrated lessons learned from previous processes, including NAPAs and adaptation projects, into the NAP development, while ensuring alignment with the NDC.
Considering the scarcity of resources from developing countries, the priorities are defined in the decision-making process. In this context, there is a need to transform the technical information in economic information and to understand the costs of climate change impacts when defining the investment. Additionally, it will be essential to consider the costs of adaptation inaction, and impacts on the GDP and other economic indicators in the case of inaction.
The NAP Expo closed with a plenary of key takeaways from the various pathways and closing remarks by the Chilean host government, highlighting the need for a follow-up to ensure that the discussions held at the NAP Expo and the UN4NAPs Forum will be impactful and consequential.
The Chile Global Adaptation Week 2023 continues next week with the regional scoping workshop of the Santiago Network.
