In 2001, the 7th COP of the UNFCCC recognised that developing countries needed assistance in developing plans to address the adverse effects of climate change. In particular, the COP decided that the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) “should be assisted in preparing National Adaptation Programs of Action (NAPAs) to address urgent and immediate needs and concerns related to adaptation to the adverse effects of climate change.” The COP also requested the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to provide funding for preparing NAPAs as the first activity supported by the LDC Fund (which the COP had just established). The next month, the GEF Council authorized GEF support to LDCs for the preparation of NAPAs.
NAPAs seek to provide a basic framework for communicating “the urgent and immediate adaptation needs of the LDCs.” The 7th COP recommended that NAPAs should be action-oriented, country-driven, and widely endorsed. To achieve this, the COP issued several recommendations regarding the process for preparing NAPAs. For example, NAPA teams should include Government and civil society, and the teams should “identify key climate-change adaptation measures, based, to the extent possible, on vulnerability and adaptation assessment.” However, “if a State wishes to depart significantly from the process recommended by COP 7”, the GEF will consider the reasons for the alternative process.
NAPAs also provide an avenue for linking issues associated with implementing the three Rio Conventions (CBD, UNCCD, and UNCCC).
The implementing agencies through which GEF will provide assistance are UNEP, UNDP, and the World Bank. Because NAPAs and initial national communications are closely interlinked, GEF recommends that a State keep the same agency for both. The preparations of NAPAs are expected to be completed within 12 to 18 months of the availability of funds, but it depends on each State’s situation.
For more information, see http://www.gefweb.org/NAPA_guidelines_revised_
_April_2002_.pdf