Supporting developing countries to integrate the agricultural sectors into National Adaptation Plans: Guatemala
Supporting developing countries to integrate the agricultural sectors into National Adaptation Plans: Guatemala
Introduction
Guatemala is particularly vulnerable to climate change and extreme weather events. Heavy rains, violent storms and prolonged droughts are threatening the agricultural sectors and consequently the food security in the country. It is not just the country’s geographical location that leaves it susceptible, but poor housing, high malnutrition and unemployment also compound the situation to make the country’s inhabitants more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, with indigenous communities and farmers being among the most affected.
To support these communities build resilience to the effects of climate change and the natural hazards that are increasingly more likely to strike as a result, the Government of Guatemala is developing a policy framework to underpin adaptation efforts, and welcomes the support of the NAP-Ag Programme in mainstreaming the planning of adaptation strategies into national planning and budgeting processes.
Project details
Adaptation policies
In an effort to increase resilience, Guatemala developed a National Climate Change Action Plan (Plan de Acción Nacional de Cambio Climático, PANCC) that incorporates mitigation and adaptation priority actions. Some of the activities that the country is looking to implement include: increasing the production of grains; (2) strengthening early warning systems for food and nutrition insecurity; and providing technical assistance to the farmers to improve resilience and adaptation to climate change.
NAP-Ag activities
The NAP-Ag Programme is supporting the NAP Agricultura Guatemala with the aim to strengthen the adaptation component linked to agriculture, livestock and food security (Result 1) within PANCC. Activities include: (1) dialogues efficient water use for irrigation; (2) capacity development on water use; (3) cost-benefit analysis; and (4) integration of agriculture in the sectoral monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
Dialogues on efficient water use for irrigation
Discussions on the legal, political and institutional framework associated with water use for irrigation include:
• Promotion of the efficient use of water in irrigation units through the National Federation of Irrigation Users -FENURGUA-, as practices of adaptation to climate change in the agricultural sector.
• Promotion of agricultural adaptation practices to climate change at the community, institutional and national levels.
Capacity development of policy makers and extension agents
Capacity development for ministry professionals on efficient use of water for irrigation, as a practice for adapting to climate change in agriculture.
Development of a training program aimed at MAGA extension agents, with the theme of adapting agriculture to change climate.
Cost-benefit analysis and monitoring and evaluation frameworks
Capacity development at the inter-institutional level through workshops on cost-benefit analysis and integration of agriculture in the sectoral monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
Thematic Area
Area
Rural Development
Level of intervention
- National
Key collaborators
- National Governments
Implementing agencies and partnering organizations
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
- Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU)
Project status
Completed
News
> Presentan Proyecto NAP-Agricultura en Guatemala
08 December 2017 - La Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Alimentación y la Agricultura (FAO) en conjunto con el Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (PNUD) presentaron el Proyecto de Integración de la Agricultura en los Planes Nacionales de Adaptación (NAP, por sus siglas en inglés) que apunta a fortalecer los temas relacionados con el riego, adaptación ante el cambio climático en el sector agropecuario del país y el fortalecimiento de las capacidades institucionales a través del desarrollo o actualización de instrumentos de política y planificación en el ámbito nacional, sectorial y local, para contribuir con el Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Alimentación (MAGA).
Related Publications and Documents
- Plan de Acción Nacional de Cambio Climático
- Política Nacional de Cambio Climático
- Estrategia Nacional de Diversidad Biológica y Plan de Acción (2012 – 2022)