Advancing medium and long-term adaptation planning in Côte d'Ivoire

The Government of Côte d’Ivoire initiated consultations with national stakeholders in October 2015 to kickstart the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process. The project aimed to address gaps in the country’s adaptation toolkit, focusing on areas such as financing, data availability, and technical capacities, in line with the comprehensive institutional framework for adaptation outlined in the 2015-2020 National Climate Change Programme (PNCC). The NAP process is considered a key step for achieving adaptation objectives specified in its 2015 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and revised version submitted in 2022.

The project collaborated with the government to address the existing barriers to the integration of adaptation into national and sub-national planning and budgeting, as identified in previous stakeholder consultations and stocktaking reports. This involved developing a NAP targeting priority sectors highly vulnerable to climate change, including agriculture, livestock, and aquaculture; forestry and land use; water resources; energy; and coastal areas. The NAP process focused on establishing and strengthening research institutions and universities, coordinating efforts among stakeholders, and exploring private sector engagement for long-term sustainability.

It is likely that multiple iterations of adaptation planning will be required to fully integrate climate change considerations into decision-making. By concentrating on priority sectors and attracting private financing through risk reduction, the project helped mainstream adaptation planning. Local research enhanced the effectiveness of gathered information, predicting climate change effects under business-as-usual scenarios. In addition, the PNCC's oversight and coordination capabilities have ensured that climate action remains a national priority during the country's economic resurgence.

Context

Côte d’Ivoire, a West African nation with a population of over 28 million people, is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its economic dependence on agriculture, representing one-quarter of its GDP. The country was ranked 159 out of 191 on the 2021 Human Development Index. Between 1985 and 2011, Côte d’Ivoire’s economy suffered due to political instability and civil unrest, which pushed many residents into poverty. Since 2012, the national economy has rebounded, possessing a GDP growth rate of 6.7 percent in 2022, making it one of the most dynamic economies in Africa. However, Côte d’Ivoire remains highly vulnerable to climate change due to its economic dependence on agricultural exports, notably as the world’s leading exporter of cocoa and cashews. 

NDCs and NAPs

Côte d’Ivoire’s vulnerability to climate change requires that adaptation becomes a fully integrated factor in national and sub-national policy-making and planning, especially in priority sectors. In 2015, the Government of Côte d’Ivoire made steps toward this goal by compiling a Stocktaking Report, which laid out the NAP process, stakeholder interests, and recommendations for the next steps toward adaptation planning, including the need for workshops to educate workers in relevant Côte d’Ivoire agencies about the NAP process. 

Côte d’Ivoire’s NAP process was aligned to the adaptation portion of the country’s NDC in 2015 and revised version in 2022, calling for adaptation support in agriculture, livestock and aquaculture; forestry and land use; water resources; health; and coastal zones. While forestry will be most directly addressed by REDD+ projects, these sectors are the focus of adaptation projects undertaken through government policy and planning and private sector investments. In 2019, the government of Côte d’Ivoire prepared a Readiness Proposal highlighting the importance of local research and private sector financing.

Baseline Situation 

In Côte d'Ivoire, a lack of coordination between national and sub-national levels led to confusion regarding roles and responsibilities for climate change adaptation. Critical sectors such as water, energy, agriculture, land use, and coastal resources have lacked integrated adaptation planning. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Sanitation, Environment, and Sustainable Development serves as the national authority on climate change and the National Designated Authority (NDA) for the Green Climate Fund (GCF). While existing national plans and frameworks have addressed climate change impacts, the PNCC and the NDC provide the most comprehensive strategies for coordinating and implementing climate action in Côte d'Ivoire.

Stakeholder Consultations

The Government of Côte d'Ivoire has prioritized stakeholder consultation in the NAP process, beginning with workshops in Abidjan before the 2015 Stocktaking Report. The report identified a significant barrier to engagement in climate change adaptation—namely, the lack of shared, public information. Stakeholders, including professionals from various ministries, UNDP staff, media, and local community organizations, were consulted to reach this conclusion. The 2015 Stocktaking Report also highlighted a lack of coordination and communication among stakeholders, an issue that persists and requires ongoing attention. 

The government initiated actions, such as the PNCC, to enhance shared knowledge on climate change and strengthen capacities. Initiatives like the REDD+ project serve as models for building stakeholder networks essential for the NAP process. Additionally, recognizing gender equality under the SDGs, the stakeholder consultation plan for Côte d'Ivoire's NAP has included measures to ensure inclusivity for women, who face unique climate change impacts and often experience exclusion from policymaking decisions. This inclusive approach is expected from both public and private stakeholders.

Results Summary 

The project emphasized a participatory and nationally-owned approach for integrating climate change adaptation into development planning. The NAP formulation involved drafting workshops with key stakeholders from ministries and NGOs across five vulnerable sectors (agriculture, water resources, land use, coastal resources, and health), with gender as a cross-cutting consideration.

Key project results include strengthening the institutional framework for climate change adaptation, identifying sectoral adaptation priorities, formulating the NAP, and enhancing integration into national development planning. Sustainable financing mechanisms were also established, emphasizing private-sector engagement and innovation.

The project provided technical support for other national adaptation initiatives, contributing to the revision of the NDC and building government capacity. Additionally, the project demonstrated the value of collaboration, synergies with other projects, and regular dissemination of research results on adaptation to climate change.