Transcript brief on ldc expert group - European Capacity Building Initiative

BRIEF ON LDC EXPERT
GROUP
LDC Workshop
29 to 30 November 2007
Bali, Indonesia
Chanel Iroi
Director Meteorology
Solomon Islands Meteorological Service
LDCs
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Least Developed Countries (LDCs) – group of 50
countries identified by UN as the poorest and
weakest segment of the international community
Characterised by their acute susceptibility to
external economic shocks, natural and man-made
disasters, communicable diseases, limited access
to education, health and other social services and
to natural resources, poor infrastructure, and
poor access to information and communication
technologies.
THE UNFCCC PROCESS
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Recognise the specific situation of LDCs in Article 4.9 of the
Convention with regards to funding and technology transfer
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COP at its seventh session adopted a package of decisions
(decision 5/CP.7, 7/CP.7, 27/CP.7, 28/CP.7 and 29/CP.7) to
support LDCs to adapt to climate change. This include
establishment of a LDC Work Programme, which provided
support for development of NAPAs
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Decision 28/CP.7 sets guidelines for National Adaptation
Programme of Action (NAPAs)
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NAPAs will allow LDCs to set priority activities to be
undertaken to meet their immediate needs and respond to
their urgent concerns with regards to adaptation to the
adverse effects of climate change
The LDC Expert Group
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Decision 29/CP.7 provides for the establishment of an
LDC Expert Group (LEG)
Mission is to provide guidance and advice on the
preparation and implementation strategies of the
NAPAs
Not to be involved in the execution of identified
activities and projects in NAPAs.
LEG consisted of 12 experts – 5 from Africa LDCs, 2
from Asian LDCs, 2 from SIDS-LDCs and 3 from
Annex II Parties
Members served in personal capacity and shall have
no pecuniary or financial interest in the issues
considered by the group
Serve in the LEG for two years with possibilities of
continuation or nomination of new members
LEG Mandate
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Contained in paragraph 9 of the Annex to Decision 29/CP.7
Specifically:
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To provide technical guidance and advice on the preparation
and on the implementation strategy of NAPAs, including the
identification of possible sources of data and its subsequent
application and interpretation, upon request by LDC parties
To serve in an advisory capacity to the LDCs, for the
preparation and strategy for the implementation of NAPAs
through inter alia, workshops, upon request by LDC Parties
To advise on capacity-building needs for the preparation and
implementation of NAPAs and to provide recommendations, as
appropriate, taking into account the Capacity Development
Initiative of GEF and other relevant capacity-building initiatives
To facilitate the exchange of information and to promote
regional synergies, and synergies with other multilateral
environmental conventions, in the preparation and
implementation strategy of NAPAs
To advise on the mainstreaming of NAPAs into regular
development planning in the context of national strategies for
sustainable development.
Mandate Cont’d
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Decisions 7/CP.9 and Decisions 4/CP.11 provide for the extension
of the mandate of the LEG
Dec 4/CP.11:
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request LEG to develop a work programme that includes
implementation of NAPAs for consideration at SB 24 (May 2006). At its
9th meeting, LEG developed its work programme for 2006-2007
COP extend LEG mandate until 2007 under its original mandate and at
its 13th seesion is seeking to review the progress, need for
continuation and TOR of LEG and adopt a decision thereon.
LEG Work Programme – Activities undertaken
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Synthesis of information from submitted NAPAs and usage
of NAPA guidelines
Provision of advice to LDCs during final phase of NAPA
preparation
Provide support and input to training workshops and
advised LDCs to consider including of a NAPA
Implementation Strategy in the final NAPAs
Periodic update information on status of NAPA preparation
through questionnaires and interaction with LDC Parties
Identify problems, constraints and capacity building needs
for implementation of activities and projects identified in
NAPAs
Interacted with NAPA teams (Bangladesh,Uganda, Maldives,
Tuvalu, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu) during LEG
meetings
Work Programme – Cont’d
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Collaboration with other actors engaged in providing
technical support to LDCs and disseminate info on financial
and technical support for NAPA implementation
Identify technical needs in relation to access to and
management of NAPA related data and info
Cooperate with EGTT on adaptation technology and project
training and CGE on integration of info in NAPA into SNC
Examine submitted NAPAs to know if efforts are made to
integrate NAPA into national development and national
strategies for sustainable development
Need for continuation of LEG
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About 50% have yet to submit their NAPAs so need
technical advice and continued support to NAPA teams,
especially in reviewing draft NAPAs upon request
On NAPA implementation, immediate need to provide
information on project development and implementation
Further work needed to disseminate information on project
preparation process and provide training on this issue to
LDC Parties
Exploration of additional synergies with other expert
groups, in particular the efforts of the CGE to provide
guidance on the integration of NAPA info into SNC
Support to francophone and lusophone NAPA teams to
overcome language barriers and provide feedback on the
Nairobi work programme on impacts, vulnerability and
adaptation to climate change
Monitor bottlenecks in NAPA preparation
Cont’d
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Efforts to identify and communicate information through
public outreach activities
Provide more detailed info on a thematic basis on areas
identified in submitted NAPAs proposed for implementation
Provide support for integration of climate change
adaptation related activities in national sustainable
development planning
Further guidance on development of an implementation
strategy for NAPAs
Changes to TOR – issues on NAPA preparation
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See Annex II of the Report of 12th Meeting of LEG
Specifically:
In keeping with NAPA guidelines, inclusion of info on climate change risk in the
projects or activities proposed for implementation
Possible inclusion of climate indicators, where info is available, to demonstrate the
impacts of climate change on economic development
Alignment and prioritization of NAPAs with other development plans (such as PRSPs
and MGDs) is needed
Infrastructure projects are eligible for funding under the LDCF
Important to have scientific/technical data and info on local communities and
circumstances as well as information on climate impacts on the economy for policy
makers and other stakeholders
Need feedback mechanism on NAPA status; work with GEF agencies and country to
monitor the bottlenecks
Need to include better variability (hot-spots) maps for policy makers to be able to
understand the magnitude of climate impacts
Support from agencies to explain how the implementation of the activity would
increase the resilience of infrastructure to climate change
Updated and detailed info needed from GEF and its agencies at the country level on
funding modalities for NZAPA preparation
Expedited feedback/comments from agencies on project statues
Cont’d
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Need to form sectoral WG at country level that draft sectoral chapters as part of
NAPA team-building exercise
Languages support for all LDCs Parties and especially for lusophone countries
Changes to TOR – issues in NAPA implementation
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Need stronger political will for NAPA implementation
Strengthen institutional arrangements to promote implementation
Advise NAPA team of utility of clustering related projects and activities for
submission for funding
Summary of thematic issues (eg water, health, agriculture and coastal
zones) contained in NAPAs
Improve the preparation of project proposals/detailing project costs at the
initial stage (PIF) to expedite implementation
In the process of identifying additional technical and financial resources for
implementation, countries could establish forum/existing donor
coordination mechanisms involving a broad stakeholder base, to select
partners for project or activity implementation
Updated and detailed information needed from GEF and its agencies at the
country level on funding modalities for GEF operational procedures and
LDCF modalities and on the GEF agencies comparative advantagesd
THANK YOU