Pacific Islands Climate Change Assistance Progamme (PICCAP)

2. Pacific Islands Climate Change Assistance Progamme(PICCAP) CLIMATE CHANGE V & A: AIACC PROJECT DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP 3-14 June, 2002 Trieste, ITALY Kanayathu Koshy Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development The University of the South Pacific Suva, FIJI

3. Objectives of This Presentation Report on findings of PICCAP Terminal Project Report conducted in March, 2002, and specifically: • Success stories • Lessons learned

4. Background/ 1 • A GEF/UNDP project, executed by SPREP, to build capacity of 10 Pacific Island Countries to address climate change issues • Commenced 1 July, 1997, initially for three years; plus a one year “top up” • Supported by many partners: international and regional

5. Background/ 2 During the PICCAP EA the countries developed and finalised: 1. 10 x GHG Inventories 2. 1 x Regional GHG Synthesis 3. 10 x Preliminary V&A Assessment and Statements 4. 1 x Regional V&A Synthesis 5. 1 X Regional Mitigation Synthesis 6. 9 x Initial National Communication 7. 1 x High-Level Regional Statement 8. 6 x Draft National Implementation Strategies 9. 1 x PICCAP CD-Rom containing PICCAP Products

6. Background/ 3 • During the Top-Up • The top-up was designed to include technology, systematic observations and emission factors, but most countries could only continue PICCAP EA type activities

7. What were the Success Stories? /1 • Robust project design: • regional coordination and cooperation, with national implementation • Initial focus on building in-country capacity • improved coordination and consultation • a pool of human resources - “country teams” fundamental • National and regional experts • Improved Training: the V&A Training Program • Played critical role, eliminating need for international experts

8. What were the Success Stories? /2 • Enhanced information base and understanding of climate change • across all sectors and key groups • enhanced project management and design process • First National Communications • submitted by ten countries • Many other countries benefited from PICCAP

9. What were the Lessons Learned? /1 • In Country Capacity: the country team approach - works well when the teams have a clear mandate and line of responsibility, transparent, inclusive and lead by team leaders who are trained in project management and coordination. • Improving Sector Coordination: the country teams must be sectorally diverse, well coordinated and ‘mainstreamed’. • Project Design: The EA part itself was well designed but not the top-up phase.

10. What were the Lessons Learned? /2 • Management and Approach:regional coordination with national implementation. This required expert full time training assistance which was less than forthcoming. This slowed down the top-up phase. • Reporting and Disbursement: considerable delays resulting from reporting and disbursement of funds requirements. • Implementing and Executing Agencies: lack of knowledge ofdifferent management and accounting systems slows progress.

11. Key to Mainstreaming Adaptation? • Make adaptation an integral component of the national risk management strategy • Countries already have policies and plans to manage: • Financial risks • Human health risks • Agricultural risks • Risks in the transport sector • Energy supply risks, Etc • Need to add climate change and variability to that portfolio of risks

12. How do we Mainstream Adaptation? /1 • Recognise that climate change is a significant impediment to successful economic development – i.e. a risk • We are experiencing a foretaste of that risk – climate variability • Manage that risk in an integrated manner – through adaptation • Ensure National Development Plans and sectoral plans include adaptation measures that will ensure risks are reduced to acceptable levels

13. How do we Mainstream Adaptation? /2 • Undertake institutional strengthening that results in Economic Ministries having a mandate and responsibility for ensuring that climate change is reflected in national policies and programmes • Improve decision making processes - require that specific programmes and projects include strategies and measures to manage risks associated with climate change and variability • Create an attitude of “Environment for Development”, as opposed to “Environment and Development”

14. How do we Mainstream Adaptation? /3 • Quantify and Characterise the risks and costs of climate variability, and adapt in ways that reduce them • Inform all groups and sectors of these risks and costs, their origins, and practical ways to reduce them – transparency and consultation important • Emphasise “no regrets” approaches, including those based on traditional knowledge and practices

15. How do we Mainstream Adaptation? /4 • Document and Communicate success stories, best practice and lessons learned • Motivate and empower all stakeholders and key players • Utilize international understanding and support Quantify and Characterise the risks and costs of climate variability, and adapt in ways that reduce them

16. Conclusions/ 1 • PICCAP has laid a strong foundation for mainstreaming adaptation, but full potential not realised • Climate change is one end of the weather, climate variability/change spectrum • Risk is common to all three

17. Conclusions/ 2 • Risk management already part of the national “toolbox” • Adaptation should be a key risk minimization strategy in the national risk management portfolio

24. Thank you.....