Background
As we approach COP27 and the second technical dialogue of the Global Stocktake, parties and non- parties of the UNFCCC embrace a collective assessment of the world’s progress towards the Paris Agreement. Findings on how much progress the world has made and identifying the critical areas to advance is key to setting the agenda for climate action in the coming years.
Within the scope of the Paris Committee on Capacity-building (PCCB) and its PCCB Network activities, the focus on adaptation planning is fundamental to our collective actions and reactions to the climate crisis.
Panel: Research Findings
In that context, climate researchers from six developing countries – Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Madagascar, Niger, Uganda and Zambia– , supported by Impulsouth, presented findings on needs and gaps that need to be urgently addressed to advance in adaptation planning, and especially regarding the assessment of climate impacts, vulnerabilities and risks with a emphasis on gender. The reports were presented during an event co-organized by Avina Foundation and its Impulsouth partners, IDRC Canada, the Adaptation Fund and the PCCB Network.
The research had a particular scope in each of the countries:
- Dominican Republic focus in the tourism and agriculture sectors.
- Niger also opted for its agricultural sector.
- Guatemala focus their assessment in the marin-coastal areas.
- Madagascar in the water sector of the capital, Antananarivo.
- In Uganda the study focus in Nakasongola District located within the cattle corridor of the country.
- Zambia put its focus in the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment.
The studies concluded that there is a lack of standardised and robust databases, limited access to information and the available data is not downscaled to the local and practical level. There is also a lack of technical capacities and insufficient coordination of actions between stakeholders. Furthermore, there is also a need to strengthen actions for public information and awareness and the need to secure adequate funding and infrastructure.
The research reports included a set of recommendations to address those needs and gaps identified. For instance, by standardising data collection and methods, by developing instruments to transfer capacities and information generated at national level to the local level, by creating new schools and training institutions and by strengthening technical capacities of key official institutions for assessing climate vulnerability and risk and ensuring funding, with a focus on women capacities and initiatives.
Funding based on Capacity Needs Assessment – Expereiences Shared by Adaptation Fund
In that sense, after the studies results were launched, Farayi Madziwa, Readiness Team Lead at Adaptation Fund presented the readiness support available based on capacity needs.
He highlighted that various project and programme funding windows under the Fund could be used to address some gaps identified in the research such as developing data collection and processing systems, as well as knowledge systems. The Fund also provides support to developing countries through a range of online and in-person capacity-building events including publications on thematic adaptation related topics. This relevant presentation for the researchers authoring the reports concluded the event launch, demonstrating the need to interconnect national institutions to global means of funding.
Find out more about the reports and its methodology at https://impulsouth.org/research/
For further information on the webinar, its recording and materials, please visit the event’s webpage