NAIROBI WORK PROGRAMME eUPDATE
Highlights from the UNFCCC's Knowledge-to-Action Hub for Adaptation and Resilience
|
|
|
|
Engage with the UN Climate Change and Universities Partnership
Programme
|
The UNFCCC adaptation knowledge hub, the Nairobi Work Programme (NWP), collaborates with universities to close adaptation knowledge gaps in a number of countries. Working closely with guidance from specific national and regional partners, graduate students from accredited universities undertake specific project as a part of producing their Master’s theses.
These collaborations add value by:
- Producing context-specific research and learning;
- Developing demand-driven knowledge outputs;
- Addressing knowledge needs of targeted users.
The UN Climate Change and Universities Partnership Programme, led by the NWP, invites collaboration with other accredited universities, particularly in the global South. The programme also aims to manage a wider portfolio of projects, thematic areas and outputs, which also respond to the mandates of various UNFCCC constituted bodies.
How do graduate students benefit?
The projects provide opportunities for students to apply their skills to undertake practical adaptation work and collaborate with a local or regional partner. The research findings and knowledge products are also shared within the UNFCCC process, adding visibility to linkages with the intergovernmental process.
One recent example is our partnership supporting local subsistence farmers adapt to climate change in Namibia. Read more about this project in the following section.
If your academic department or university would like to get involved in this programme, please contact us below.
|
|
|
Share Your Case Studies about Biodiversity to Advance Adaptation Knowledge
|
Biodiversity and climate change adaptation, focusing on forests and grasslands, is one of the priority areas under the NWP in 2020-21. In July, we convened the first meeting of the expert group members, representing international, regional and national organizations, indigenous peoples organizations, think tanks and research institutions. We have received a number of case studies detailing lessons learned on this theme and are looking for additional case studies, particularly related to forests and grasslands. If you would like to share a case study with us, please fill out the following form.
We are currently drafting a scoping paper on biodiversity and climate change adaptation with inputs from our expert group. The key findings from this paper will be shared at the NWP’s "Addressing knowledge gaps: biodiversity and climate change adaptation" event during the November Climate Dialogues on 26 November 13:30-15:00 CET. You can find more details below in our Climate Dialogues section.
We also have a biodiversity thematic page on the Adaptation Knowledge Portal. We will be adding new updates, relevant case studies and other resources on this page on a regular basis.
|
|
Prioritizing and Narrowing Knowledge Gaps at National and Regional Levels
|
|
|
|
The NWP is making good progress with regional partners to close pre-identified adaptation knowledge gaps in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries (GCC) and North Africa through the Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative (LAKI). Over the last few months, we have engaged with organizations working in the two sub-regions to map out ongoing adaptation initiatives. Between December 2020-February 2021, we will hold three virtual meetings to:
- Develop a road map of activities and responsible organizations that will address the priority knowledge gaps in the sub-regions, in response to the targeted knowledge users;
- Catalyse new collaborations and strengthen existing partnerships in the sub-regions to address the priority knowledge gaps.
This initiative is being undertaken in partnership with the UNFCCC-WGEO Regional Collaboration Centre for Middle-East, North Africa and South Asia, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) via the Global Adaptation Network, and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia.
|
|
|
Prioritizing Knowledge Gaps in the Pacific Small Island Developing States
|
The NWP in collaboration with UNEP through the Global Adaptation Network, and NWP partner the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Programme, have kickstarted the process of understanding the knowledge gaps in the Pacific Small Island Developing States. Under the LAKI, a rigorous methodology will be applied to identify and prioritize adaptation knowledge gaps for the sub-region.
The ensuing steps will include identifying and engaging a multi-stakeholder group of experts to prioritize knowledge gaps, and scoping knowledge gaps for the sub-region. This virtual priority-setting workshop with the group of experts will convened in early 2021.
For more information on the work in progress, please contact us.
|
|
|
Supporting Local Subsistence Farmers to adapt to Climate Change in Namibia
|
In February 2020, three graduate students from the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability began a research project titled ''Strengthening Adaptation Solutions for Agricultural Development: A Study to Assess Potential
For Innovation in Climate-Smart Agricultural Capabilities in Namibia''.
This project seeks to address two knowledge gaps related to water resources and agriculture identified in the context of the LAKI in the Southern Africa region. COVID-19 has had implications on the research work, but with the support of partners, the University of Namibia, Global Water Partner-ship South Africa and the Namibia Water Partnership, progress is underway. The students have written a news story to share their progress.
Get involved with our United Nations Climate Change and Universities Partnership Programme to catalyze more projects like this one.
|
|
Updates from the UNFCCC constituted bodies and work programmes
|
|
The NWP has new mandates to provide technical support to the UNFCCC constituted bodies and work programmes, building on the collaboration with the Adaptation Committee and the Least Developed Countries Expert Group. These provide opportunities for engagement for the NWP Partners. Learn more about the constituted bodies here.
|
|
|
Least Developed Countries Expert Group
|
The 38th Meeting held virtually
The 38th meeting of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) took place online from 17 to 21 August 2020. In the meeting, the Group updated its activities for 2020-2021 and the modalities of delivering the work due to the COVID-19, to ensure continued progress in supporting the least developed countries (LDCs). The meeting was also attended by representatives from the LDCs to discuss their needs and the provision of technical guidance and support.
The LEG also engaged representatives of the Green Climate Fund and the Global Environment Facility to discuss matters related to funding access for the LDCs, like the formulation and implementation of national adaptation plans. Many organizations continue to actively engage in the meetings of the LEG to coordinate efforts in providing support to LDCs.
|
|
|
Advancing National Adaptation Plans at the National Adaptation Plan Champions Webinar Series
The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Champions Webinar 'Advancing adaptation through National Adaptation Plans' was held on 14 October 2020. The event discussed:
- The importance of having a plan to guide concrete action on adaptation, and subsequent monitoring and evaluation activities;
- Specific experiences with advanced data systems to support systematic observation and monitoring of food systems.
It was conducted as part of the NAP Champions Webinar Series designed to advance NAPs at the highest levels of leadership. The series aims to promote the NAP as the central vehicle to addressing climate change impacts, vulnerabilities and risks at the national level.
|
|
|
The NAP Country Platform showcased adaptation priorities
The second NAP Country Platform was held virtually on 29 October 2020. Organized as part of NAP Expos, developing countries presented their NAPs. Representatives from Guatemala, Paraguay, Uruguay, Suriname and Grenada highlighted their respective adaptation priorities in the NAPs, and showcased how they will implement the identified policies, projects and programmes in their NAPs. The platform encouraged countries to share lessons learned in their work; how collaborations with other countries can be catalyzed; and how progress and effectiveness of their adaptation efforts will be monitored.
|
|
|
Lima Work Programme on Gender
|
Integrating Gender into National Plans
Five regional workshops on gender integration into national climate actions were held between July and October. Countries shared their progress and small group discussions enabled the sharing of best practices and experiences among Parties and observers.
Recordings of the speaker presentations, and participant feedback are available online. As some regional workshops included simultaneous translation, recordings are also available in Spanish for the Northern America and LAC workshop, in French for the Sub-Saharan Africa workshop and Arabic for the MENA workshop.
Make sure to join the Global Gender Event during the November Climate Dialogues to hear about progress on the implementation of the gender action plan in 2020 and share how you plan to work on this nexus to inspire others and identify synergies and room for collaboration.
|
|
|
Technology Executive Committee
|
Innovative approaches to accelerate and
scale up adaptation technologies
Building on past and ongoing TEC work on innovation and climate technologies for adaptation, the deep dive session discussed how adaptation technologies can be deployed, upscaled and disseminated at a faster pace through innovative ways of policy planning, knowledge sharing, communities and women engagement, integration of adaptation with human and economic development efforts.
|
|
|
Paris Committee on Capacity Building
|
Share a Story on Capacity Building with the Network
Every month from August to December 2020, the Paris Committee on Capacity Building (PCCB) Network is releasing a story on concrete examples of climate-related capacity-building led by members of the network from across regions, sectors, and institutions. It is a great opportunity for all capacity-building enthusiasts to stay current, learn more about activities of their peers, and become inspired to share their own stories.
|
|
|
Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform
|
Introducing new Chairs of the Facilitative Working Group
Congratulations to the newly elected co-chairs and vice co-chairs of the Facilitative Working Group (FWG) of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP), Andrea Carmen and Clement Yow Mulalap were elected on 5 October 2020, during the Third Meeting of the FWG. They are supported by their vice co-chairs, Jane Au and Irina Barba.
The FWG annually elects two co-chairs and two vice co-chairs from among its fourteen representatives to serve for a term of one year each. As per the current mandate, there is balance between representatives of indigenous peoples and Parties in these leadership roles. Andrea Carmen and Jane Au represent indigenous peoples, while Clement Yow Mulalap and Irina Barba represent Parties.
|
|
|
Consultative Group of Experts
|
Two handbooks published to support implementation and enhance MRV and transparency
The Consultative Group of Experts (CGE) continued to provide technical support to experts from developing countries on matters related to the measurement, reporting (MRV) and the enhanced transparency framework (ETF). Two handbooks, namely the 'Handbook for country Parties on preparing for implementation of the enhanced transparency framework under the Paris Agreement' and the 'Handbook on institutional arrangements to support MRV/transparency of climate action and support', provide guidance to improve awareness and understanding of the ETF. They also enhance institutional arrangements that promote transparency in climate action and support.
|
|
|
Catch up on the Consultative Group of Experts Webinar Series
The Consultative Group of Experts (CGE) organized two webinar series, one on 'Transitioning from the revised 1996 to 2006 IPCC guidelines for national GHG inventories' and the other on 'Synergies, at national level, to collection information for reporting under MRV, ETF, SDGs and other international instruments.'
|
|
UNFCCC Climate Dialogues
November - December 2020
|
|
The Climate Dialogues will provide Parties to the UNFCCC and other stakeholders the opportunity to continue exchanging views and sharing information to advance work and maintain momentum in the intergovernmental climate change process. The Dialogues are a platform for participants to showcase how climate action is progressing under the challenging circumstances caused by COVID-19.
|
|
|
NWP: Addressing knowledge gaps: Biodiversity and climate change adaptation
|
Climate change threatens biodiversity and ecosystems which people rely upon in order to adapt to the impacts of climate change and reduce (disaster) risk. As part of the Nairobi work programme (NWP) thematic area on biodiversity, experts will discuss the value of integrating forest and grasslands ecosystems into adaptation strategies.
Join us on Thursday, 26 November 13:30 - 15:00 CET when our panelists, including members of the NWP thematic expert group, will explore benefits for mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and avoidance of land degradation and desertification. Panelists will discuss preliminary findings from a thematic scoping paper that will be published in January 2021.
|
|
|
NWP Scaling up adaptation actions through partnerships: addressing knowledge gaps
|
In spite of a growing understanding of adaptation, knowledge gaps remain a critical barrier to countries implementing adaptation measures. As the UNFCCC knowledge-to-action hub on adaptation and resilience, the Nairobi work programme (NWP) will provide Parties and stakeholders an update on partnerships (for example, in the context of the Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative) which are helping close knowledge gaps and meet knowledge needs in various countries and subregions.
On 30 November 2020 12:30 - 14:00 CET, this event will highlight collaboration with universities, global and regional centres and networks to address adaptation knowledge needs of targeted knowledge users in countries and subregions.
|
|
|
Technology Executive Committee:
Innovative Approaches on Technologies and Solutions for Climate Smart Agriculture
|
Join the expert discussion on this topic on Technology Day during the UNFCCC Climate Dialogues, on 25 November 2020.
The session will showcase and discuss various innovation and innovative approaches, including challenges and good practices, to deploying, disseminating and scaling up climate-smart agriculture solutions and technologies. The roles of different roles stakeholders will be discussed along with the effective measures to implement these approaches.
|
|
|
Consultative Group of Experts: Informal forum to show-case progress
|
On 26 November 2020, the Consultative Group of Experts (CGE) plans to organize its informal forum to show-case its work conducted in 2020 and to engage with key stakeholders. Relevant stakeholders will informally reflect and exchange views on country experiences and evolving needs and priorities in the implementation of the MRV arrangements, and preparation for the transition to the enhanced transparency framework under the Paris Agreement.
The feedback gathered from the event will help inform the design of the CGE work plan in 2021.
|
|
|
Paris Committee on Capacity Building
|
Capacity-building Momentum for Recovering Better
The Paris Committee on Capacity-building (PCCB) is continuing to connect climate actors, facilitate collaborative capacity-building activities, and foster engaging discussions through virtual means, despite the current limitations. Focused on capacity-building for a better recovery, the PCCB in collaboration with six members of the PCCB Network will launch a series of events in November entitled Capacity-building Momentum to Recover Better, scheduled to take place every Wednesday of November.
This series of virtual dialogues will be a great opportunity for all capacity-building enthusiasts to come together, add their voice, share their experience, and reflect on critical topics related to capacity-building for climate action in 2020 and beyond. The focus will also include capacity-building at the local level, capacity-building in the virtual space, and a closer look at capacity-building elements in the enhanced NDCs.
Participation is open to everyone, by registration. A webcast link will be available for those that would like to observe the discussions, or could not be accommodated inside the meeting room due to limited space.
|
|
Contribute to the Adaptation Knowledge Portal
|
|
|
Some recent news stories on the Adaptation Knowledge Portal:
We are interested in developing news stories with you, our NWP partners, to showcase your work and initiatives on adaptation. If you have a story idea that you would like to share with us, please get in touch. For example, has the global pandemic fostered new adaptation innovations and initiatives?
|
|
The NWP is responding to the challenges of adaptation and resilience in collaboration with over 400 partners representing a diversity of knowledge and expertise, coalitions and existing networks working in different thematic areas, sectors, regions and countries. Check this page to meet our partners.
|
|
|
Global Fire Monitoring Center monitors the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on landscape fire management
|
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic the Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC) is supporting scientists, policy and decision makers, and practitioners in landscape fire management. The GFMC addresses biological hazards (such as COVID -19) and other hazards related to human health, especially if these hazards are consequences of or related to landscape fires. Individuals suffering COVID-19 infection and additional smoke emissions are at highest risk. Social distancing between firefighters in the field, the role of coupled effects of landscape fire emissions on the respiratory system, and premature mortality is a key concern.
|
|
|
EcoAdapt's National Adaptation Forum’s Global Adaptation Month
|
Global Adaptation Month or GAMeOn! was created to raise awareness of the urgent need for climate adaptation. During the month of April, GAMeOn! recruits adaptation commitments and shares climate adaptation actions to track progress worldwide. The first GAMeOn! was piloted in April 2020. EcoAdapt coordinated GAMeOn! which was planned by a 13-person planning committee. We are recruiting new planning committee members to help guide GAMeOn! 2021 and to elevate the needs and adaptation actions around the world. EcoAdapt is a U.S.-based non-profit organization with the mission of building a robust future in the face of climate change.
|
|
|
Climate Action Youth Dialogue at the Nigerian Conservation Foundation & BirdLife International
|
The Nigerian Conservation Foundation, a member of the BirdLife Partnership, organized a Climate Action Youth Dialogue (CAYD) in 2019 to understand how climate change is affecting the youth across Nigeria.
Hosted by educational and religious institutions, CAYD involved the participation of about 1000 youth from age 10-29 years. Youth Vulnerability Indicators were identified
on issues ranging from youth susceptibility,
the crises faced by farmer-herders, ocean surge and coastal erosion, air pollution and climate refugees arising from militancy and unrest. The outcome of the dialogue led to the development of the first Nigerian Climate Change Youth Action Manual aimed at
enhancing contribution to climate actions and the delivery of the country’s climate plan (Nationally Determined Contributions - NDCs). Youth members are now involved in relevant working groups to provide inputs into the eight sectors of Nigeria’s NDC.
|
|
|
Call for Applications: EPIC expands to the Asia-Pacific
|
The EPIC model, a partnership initiative helping cities and universities to strengthen climate resilience, is coming to Asia! The call for applications for the EPIC Asia-Pacific workshop is now open to cities and universities in the Asia-Pacific region. The workshop will take place virtually on 8-9 March 2021. The event will pair universities and cities to gain skills in the use of the EPIC model for strengthening capacities to build university-city partnerships and to address climate change adaptation and resilience challenges.
The EPIC model builds upon and strengthens existing or interested partnerships within local communities. Interested city managers/ university faculty members in the region are asked to apply as a city-university pair, with names of both counterparts indicated in the
application. The application deadline for the workshop is December 10th. For more information, please click below or contact Mzime Murisa: [email protected].
|
|
Welcome New NWP partners!
Since our last eUpdate, 7 new organizations have joined our network. We would like to welcome them!
Highlight Your Work in the Next eUpdate
We would love to showcase the work of NWP partners in our next eUpdate, which will be published in February 2021. Please share your inputs of maximum 80-100 words with an image with credits. We will send out a reminder via email closer to the time.
|
|
|
Follow us: NWP's @AdaptXChange reaches more than 2,500 followers!
|
We’ve reached over 2,500 followers on our Twitter handle! Be sure to follow us, @AdaptXChange, to get daily updates on NWP's work and the work of our partners. The NWP's twitter profile enables us to promote the NWP and UNFCCC's adaptation work as well as other partners' work on adaptation and resilience. On a daily basis, we share new and emerging adaptation knowledge and related events.
|
|
Interested in the latest adaptation reports, technical papers, methods and tools from the NWP? Follow us on Twitter @AdaptXChange and on Facebook @The Adaptation Exchange, and as always, please email [email protected] with questions or to notify us of a change in your UNFCCC or NWP partner focal point.
|
|
Photo Credits
Photo 1: Nairobi Work Programme, Photo 2: Geoff Whalan (Flickr), Photo 3: Mayur Pixamind (Unsplashed), Photo 4: Nairobi Work Programme, Photo 5: JB Dodane (Flickr), Photo 6: UNFCCC, Photo 7: UNFCCC, Photo 8: UNFCCC, Photo 9: Lima Work Programme on Gender, Photo 10: Technology Executive Committee, Photo 11: Ollivier Girard/CIFOR (Flickr), Photo 12: Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform, Photo 13: CIAT 2016 Georgia Smith (Flickr), Photo 14: John Schnobrich (Unsplashed), Photo 15: Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Programme (Flicker), Photo 16, Yale University News, Photo 17: Technology Executive Committee, Photo 18: Chris Montgomery (Unsplashed), Photo 19: UNFCCC, Photo 20: Markus Winkler (Unsplashed), Photo 21: Global Fire Monitoring Center, Photo 22: EcoAdapt, Photo 23: Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Photo 24: UN Environment Programme Photo, 25: Nairobi Work Programme
|
|
|
|
|
|
|