News/Capacity building

‘Building climate resilience of urban systems through Ecosystem-based Adaptation in the Asia-Pacific region (Urban EbA Asia)’

November 2019, UNEP and UN-Habitat, recognizing the financial support from GEF-LDCF.

‘Building climate resilience of urban systems through Ecosystem-based Adaptation in the Asia-Pacific region (Urban EbA Asia)’ is a GEF-LDCF project being executed in 5 municipalities in Bhutan, Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar. As part of this project, UNEP is working with UN-Habitat to build capacity of local municipalities map their climate risks and vulnerability (including vulnerability of ecosystems) and use this as a basis for selection and implementation of EbA actions. A set of training modules on climate change impacts and identification of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) approaches in urban areas has been developed following a peer review, which will be rolled out in end of 2019/early 2020 in the 5 pilot municipalities part of this programme (adapting it to each municipality). These will be further adapted to the context of each municipality so as to generate a simple vulnerability mapping. Draft training modules available here

Available technical assistance in the framework of the Urban EbA project for participating counties. Training will be provided to urban and city planners on this Urban EbA tool and will be rolled out in all countries. Furthermore, the training materials can be adapted to other countries and municipalities as well, who wish to use it. Draft training modules available here

The intention is to compile the set of training modules on climate change impacts and identification of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) approaches in urban areas into a publication.

Assisting countries (LDCs and Non-LDCs) with country-driven processes to advance National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)

This is a joint UNDP-UN Environment Programme National Adaptation Plan Global Support Programme (NAP-GSP), funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), assists least developed and developing countries to identify technical, institutional and financial needs to integrate climate change adaptation into medium and long-term national planning and financing. The programme supports the process to formulate and implement National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In doing so, the NAP-GSP works with development partners to implement the Nationally Determined Contributions and promotes ambitious climate action in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals. https://www.globalsupportprogramme.org/nap-gsp

  • Technical Training on NAP: NAP-GSP has trained 375 national technicians from 112 developing (non-LDCs) through 14 regional trainings on NAP guidelines and targeted trainings on technical topics. It has also organized 5 regional workshops for LDCs in Africa, Asia and the Pacific Regional trainings created an opportunity to promote South-South cooperation and knowledge exchange. The project remains committed to work closely especially on technical capacity development of the LDCs with the LEG to accelerate the NAP formulation process in LDCs which is enhancing the LEG’s 2020 vision. NAP GSP through UN Environment Programme shared information at the 35th LEG meeting on supports that can be offered especially on technical capacities, south-south exchange, and knowledge dissemination. The project mobilized technical support to the LEG’s activities. 
  • The LDCs NAP Training Workshop for the Pacific Countries: More than 30 government representatives from 3 LDCs in the Pacific, i.e. Kiribati, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu of which about 60 percent were female have learned including hands on exercises on different methods and tools to apply at different steps of NAP formulation and implementation. This training also offered knowledge on concept of procurement and its process, and elements for developing ToRs. Besides, the workshop provided chances for LDCs to discuss real challenges in advancing its NAPs. It revealed that each LDCs has its own national policy steps and processes of mainstreaming adaptation and climate change into their national planning and therefore country circumstances need to be understood. NAP Global Support Programme (NAP-GSP) organized this training workshop on 16 – 19 July 2019 in Honiara, Solomon Islands. NAP-GSP’s partners, namely World Bank and SPREP have provided resource persons in delivering technical sessions, and Oxfam, Save the Children and Red Cross attended as participants.
  • The LDCs NAP Training Workshop for African Countries: About 35 government representatives from 14 Anglophone LDCs in the Africa of which about 30 percent were female have learned about ‘the need’ and the ‘how to’ develop a robust evidence-based climate rationale, with focus on opportunities, countries experiences and approaches to link climate risk assessments and integrate vulnerability through the NAP process. The workshop also provided information about the different tools and important methods of vulnerability, impact and risk assessments and appraisal of adaptation options, and served an opportunity for countries to understand their own challenges and needs which are inter-agency coordination and climate data for developing evident-based adaptation. NAP Global Support Programme (NAP-GSP) organized this training workshop on 19-22 August 2019, Addis Abba, Ethiopia. This workshop was designed based on the assessment from the 2018 workshop and the need was identified by African countries that there is a need to enhance technical knowledge on evidence-based climate rationale through quality climate risk, vulnerability, impact assessments and integrating appraisal and prioritization of options into National Adaptation Planning. UNCDF, UN Habitat, GIZ and ICCCAC and LUCCC through University of Addis Abba have contributed in delivering technical sessions on localizing climate financing, different tools, DRR and CCA.
  • The LDCs NAP Training Workshop for Asia: About 30 government representatives from 8 LDCs in the Asia of which more than 30 percent were female have discussed importance of integration of transboundary climate risks into National Adaptation Planning Processes, identified possible entry points and needs of regional collaboration as well as engagement of senior policy makers and legislators in this integration process. The training workshop touched upon the transboundary climate risks and how to mainstream transboundary climate risks and their pathways i.e. biophysical, trade, people and finance as well as regional cooperation aspects into NAP process. Participants learned and understood different transboundary pathways and their relationship with vulnerabilities, country needs and challenges. They have also learned about provisional outline of the NAP document developed by LDC Expert Group under UNFCCC. NAP Global Support Programme (NAP-GSP) in collaboration with Korean Environment Institute (KEI/KACCC), the Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea have organized this training on 24 – 27 September 2019, Busan, Republic of Korea. Asian Disaster Prepared Centre (ADPC), Asia Regional Office of Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and Abt Associated, implementing partner to USAID have contributed in delivering technical sessions.

Publications

NAP-GSP has developed three training modules (2019, UNEP, UNDP, UNITAR): i.e. a) Finding the Money - financing climate action, ii) Making the Right Choices - Prioritizing Adaptation Options, and iii) Keeping the Taps Running in a Changing Climate - Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation into Water Resources. NAP-GSP is finalizing training manual. First training module provides an overview of what climate finance is and where countries access different sources of financing including learning and challenges to access finance. Second module provides overview and economic and no-economic tools for appraising adaptation options. Third module provides concept of mainstreaming climate change adaptation and tools to apply with specific focus on water resources. 

Upcoming events

  • Week of 2 December, Kep, Cambodia: Piloting of training on climate change impacts and appropriate urban EbA interventions in Kep, Cambodia. This will be the first in a series of 4 workshops to roll out the training developed under the UNEP-GEF LDCF project ‘Building climate resilience of urban systems through Ecosystem-based Adaptation in the Asia-Pacific region (Urban EbA Asia)’ that will train authorities of local authorities in Kep to map their vulnerability (including vulnerability of ecosystems) and use this as a basis for selection and implementation of EbA actions.

  • February 2020, Senegal: The LDCs NAP Training Workshop for African Countries (Francophone): This workshop will provide information about the different tools and important methods of vulnerability, impact and risk assessments and appraisal of adaptation options, and served an opportunity for countries to understand their own challenges and needs which are inter-agency coordination and climate data for developing evident-based adaptation.

Contact person

Mozaharul Alam, Regional Coordinator, Climate Change Sub-programme

[email protected]

Publication date
Objective
Adaptation