Paul V. Desanker Team Leader, LDC Unit , UNFCCC Secretariat Bonn, Germany

1. IFAD 2nd CLIMTRAIN Workshop, November 2008 Adaptation Planning and Practice The NAPA Approach:Vulnerability Analysis and Prioritization Paul V. Desanker Team Leader, LDC Unit,UNFCCC Secretariat Bonn, Germany

2. Context for NAPA • NAPAs in broader Adaptation • Practical approach to adaptation, not study or case study • Original rationale for NAPAs was for a rapid response, win-win actions that would reinforce building capacity for coping with climate change, address obvious obstacles to achieving sustainable growth and development, etc • Based on concept of addressing most limiting factors • End-to-end solution: funds for preparation and then implementation, LEG to provide technical support

3. What you see in a NAPA • Synthesis of key vulnerabilities • Adaptation needs, ranked based on national criteria • Priority adaptation actions that form a programme of action to address urgent needs • A serious attempt at planning adaptation, ready for implementation

5. How did a country get there? • Set up a multi-stakeholder, multi-sectoral team to conduct rapid assessment • Synthesized available knowledge on vulnerabilities to climate change • Developed framework for adaptation taking into account national plans and policies • Conducted consultations at multiple stages of the assessment, including in establishing criteria to guide ranking • Identified key needs for adaptation • Ranked priorities based on agreed criteria • Identified adaptation actions to address the key adaptation needs

6. V&A assessment • Adaptation defined as actions to minimize, remove vulnerability • Vulnerability a function of 3 groups of factors: • Exposure to climate change, changing variability (interface between place and incoming climate through weather) • Potential impact of climate change on system • Adaptive capacity/coping ability (social, economic, human capital; the target system)

7. V&A assessment • National development policies and priorities underpin sectors and regions targeted in NAPA • Focus on vulnerable communities • Communities addressed in context of broader scales – regional, national etc • National development priorities guide selection of criteria for ranking

8. Survey of National plans for one country – Malawi example

9. Adaptation in Practice • NAPA is a concrete approach to planning adaptation • Funding arrangements for prep and implementation, plus support system • Participatory; rapid integrated assessment of vulnerability and adaptation (PRIVA) • Ranking based on urgency; step in scaling up adaptation over time, targets most vulnerable communities • Integration: programmatic approach but project-based implementation

10. Adaptation in Practice • NAPA is a concrete approach to implementing adaptation • Prioritize based on urgency • Projects integrated into national development plans and activities • Support system through LEG • Piloting of role of GEF – IAs – EAs in implementing adaptation

11. Indicated costs of priority activities identified in NAPAs by country as of 30 October 2008

12. What are implementing agencies expected to do with a NAPA? • Help implement NAPA activities, taking into account need for expedited procedures • Not repeat the assessment carried out by countries, rather take next step of turning concept into actionable projects • Engage NAPA teams fully – not get too attached to the written word: spirit of the priority activity versus semantics used • Agencies should recognize limitations of LDCs in terms of capacity and investment climate • GEF resources not adequate to fully implement NAPAs – need for a lot more

13. Observations and Lessons from NAPA on implementing Adaptation • Concept of addressing urgent and immediate needs has broad appeal beyond LDCs, adaptation • Bottoms-up approach of NAPA has had multiple benefits in countries • Helped engage all stakeholders. • Increased awareness and interest in climate change. • Spawned important role for CBA, local coping and indigenous/local knowledge. • Provided concrete example of how adaptation can be designed and implemented. • Reinforced importance of need for adaptation to be grounded at the local level. • Important methodological advances: ranking, scaling, integration, participatory approach.

14. Thank you pdesanker@unfccc.int Tel: +49 228 815 1362 UNFCCC website http://unfccc.int/ldc