Thematic area
UNDP’s policy and institutional support on climate change adaptation planning and policy is delivered through the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes in Developing and Least Developed Countries (LDCs). The NAPs are carried out in an integrated approach linking to NDCs and contribute to UNDP’s Climate Promise. At the core of NAPs is a commitment to accelerate climate action and action on SDGs through mainstreaming climate risk at all levels of development- local, national, regional and global.
National Adaptation Plans – Country Projects
UNDP has supported 35 countries to advance their National Adaptation Plans processes with funding from the Green Climate Fund Readiness Programme. The GCF Readiness Programme grants funding up to $3 million to support country-driven initiatives by developing countries to strengthen their institutional capacities, governance mechanisms, and planning and programming frameworks towards a transformational long-term climate action agenda.
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Scaling up Climate Ambition on Land Use and Agriculture through NDCs and National Adaptation Plans (SCALA)
The UNDP and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are co-leading a new 5-year programme called Scaling up Climate Ambition on Land Use and Agriculture through Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans (SCALA), funded by the German Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) through its International Climate Initiative (IKI). SCALA responds to the urgent need for increased action to cope with climate change impacts in the agriculture and land use sectors and will support at least twelve countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to build adaptive capacity and to implement low emission priorities.
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Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI)
Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI) was launched by the African Heads of States at COP21 in Paris and is supported by UNDP and the European Union. The initiative strengthens collaboration on climate adaptation across the continent through high-level pan-African and regional dialogues, adaptation action on the ground, and addressing the adaptation financing gap. It is designed as the initiative for Africa driven by Africa. The work of the AAI informs the African Heads of States, the African Group of Negotiators, policymakers and others, to accelerate adaptation that supports development priorities in the region as outlined in the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
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National Adaptation Plan Global Support Programme (NAP-GSP)
The joint UNDP-UN Environment National Adaptation Plan Global Support Programme (NAP-GSP), funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), has assisted over 60 least developed and developing countries in identifying technical, institutional and financial needs to integrate climate change adaptation into medium and long-term national planning and financing. The programme has operationally closed in December 2021, but the website portal remains a knowledge hub of training materials, knowledge products and country experiences documented over the programme’s lifespan.
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Integrating Agriculture in National Adaptation Plans (NAP-Ag)
The joint UNDP-FAO Integrating Agriculture in National Adaptation Plans (NAP-Ag) Programme supports partner countries to identify and integrate climate adaptation measures for the agricultural sectors into relevant national planning and budgeting processes. The programme is funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), through its International Climate Initiative (IKI).
Learn moreStories
As countries implement their climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, UNDP’s lead for adaptation planning, Rohini Kohli, outlines seven ways we need to scale up adaptation – and what UNDP is doing, with partners, to help.
UNDP’s climate change adaptation portfolio in Africa represents over US$300 million in adaptation-related investments from vertical funds, so African nations are supported in addressing the challenges of the climate crisis, and can build resilient livelihoods and accelerate action on the Paris Agreement.
The Asia Pacific region is home to over half the world’s population and has challenges such as rapid urbanization, a rising middle class, aging populations, technological changes, and critically, the impacts of climate change. UNDP is supporting countries to accelerate progress through whole-of-society, integrated solutions that address the multi-dimensional nature of the challenges at hand.
Partnerships
UNDP is a steering committee member for the Adaptation Action Coalition launched in 2021 by the UK COP Presidency in partnership with Bangladesh, Egypt, Malawi, the Netherlands and Saint Lucia. The AAC drives global advocacy on adaptation and prioritizes work streams on locally led action, health, water and infrastructure.
The ARA is a global, collaborative effort to increase investment and opportunities for action research to develop and inform effective adaptation solutions. UNDP is a member of the Adaptation Research Alliance with a specific focus on strengthening adaptation metrics as well as knowledge and research for adaptation planning.
The work of UNDP’s Climate and Forests Team contributes to both SDG13 (climate action) and SDG15 (forest ecosystems), addressing their close linkages. When promoting forest and climate policies and investments in countries, UNDP employs a social inclusion approach, wherein effective stakeholder engagement is ensured, the rights of indigenous peoples and forest communities are promoted, gender equality and women’s empowerment principles are mainstreamed, and policy reforms towards more equitable land use and tenure systems are encouraged.
Resources
The UNFCCC Paris Agreement at COP21 introduced Global Goals on Adaptation (GGA) and periodic progress assessments. In December 2023, COP28 adopted the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience, outlining seven adaptation targets and four policy cycle targets to assess adaptation efforts and risk reduction. The first stock take at COP28 revealed insufficient data to determine the adequacy of current and planned adaptation measures against expected climate impacts.
The SCALA programme, through its Private Sector Engagement Facility, collaborated with the Government of The Gambia on a feasibility assessment for potential biogas development.
