Celebrating a decade of NAP Global Network support to developing countries

Over the last several years, countries have made significant progress in planning and implementing their National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), which remain a critical process to drive adaptation action. The NAP Global Network has contributed to this work by catalyzing action through mobilization of resources, provision of technical assistance, and facilitation of peer-to-peer learning to help formulate, implement, and scale up adaptation plans. This side event showcased NAP Global Network’s work over the past decade with developing countries as they aim to accelerate and strengthen NAP processes.

Orville Grey, Head, NAP Global Network Secretariat, moderated the event. In her opening remarks, Patricia Fuller, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), International Institute of Sustainable Development (IISD), lauded the work of NAP Global Network over the last 10 years. She highlighted its significant progress in supporting developing country partners with adaptation planning and implementation such as in the Maldives, Ghana, and Liberia. She pointed out that the stories shared by the partners during the event serve to further embolden the Network now and in the future.

Jake Levine, National Security Council, US, praised the work of the NAP Global Network, noting its “thoughtful leadership” and direct technical assistance to developing countries for the past decade, adding that its work will “usher a new reality.” Noting that NAPs have evolved to include gender-responsiveness, inclusivity, sub-national implementation, and implementation evaluation, he commended the Network’s work in raising the profile of these critical issues and for putting countries on the path to long-term resilience. As the Network continues to evolve, he encouraged countries to join the US in supporting developing countries and emphasized that “equity, justice, adaptation, and resilience” are embedded in all US work on climate.

Thoriq Ibrahim, Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, Maldives, shared the critical role that the NAP Global Network played in supporting his country, from enabling capacity building to connecting them with experts around the world to help with NAP planning and implementation. He discussed the peer learning cohort workshop organized by the Network that enabled Maldives to exchange information with other countries on how to effectively develop adaptation plans. He expressed Maldives’ determination to continue its partnership with the Network.

George Anthony Manful, Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana, shared the country’s experience working with the NAP Global Network, which provided significant support to develop Ghana’s NAP and extended adaptation planning across the “depth and breadth of the country.” He said his country’s NAP, thanks to the Network, considers water resources, energy, and transport infrastructure. The Network, he explained, also enabled the district level to integrate the NAP and develop their own adaptation plans. In turn, Manful noted, the district helped other districts plan their own adaptation measures. He commended the Network’s assistance in developing Ghana’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Platform to ensure successful implementation of adaptation plans.

Urey Yarkpawolo, Executive Director, Environmental Protection Agency, Liberia, discussed the NAP Global Network’s assistance in helping Liberia develop its 10-year NAP from 2020-2030, which provides a framework to guide the country in developing, coordinating, and implementing its NAP process. He commended the Network’s capacity building for key government staff, citing one example of a staff member who was trained in California and now leads Liberia’s process for multilateral agreements on adaptation. He called on donors to increase funding to enable developing countries, particularly Liberia, to plan and implement their NAPs.

Joyelle Clark, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment, Saint Kitts and Nevis, shared her country’s experience with the NAP Global Network. She emphasized the importance of technical assistance, partnership, and resources in fighting climate change and the need for more investment opportunities, tangible action, and accessibility to climate finance, particularly for small island developing States (SIDS). She commended the scope and reach of NAP Global Network's Open Call for Expression of Interest: Technical assistance to develop climate change adaptation investment plans, which has just been launced. Accessing this grant could go a long way to mobilize her country’s priorities and propel adaptation efforts for SIDS.

Anne Hammill, Director, NAP Global Network, and Associate Vice President, Resilience, IISD, described the work of the Network over the past 10 years. She highlighted its slow beginning from several countries forming a partnership to provide support and opportunities for peer learning to its growth as a network of countries providing technical support and helping scale up adaptation action in developing countries.

Grey introduced “Stories of Change,” a video presentation with NAP Global Network partners sharing their stories of how the Network helped them plan and implement their countries’ NAPs. In his closing remarks, Grey highlighted the importance of adaptation planning and the NAP Global Network’s continued plans to develop knowledge products, provide support in building the capacity of Global South countries, and assist with their country partners’ implementation of adaptation priorities.

Organizer: IISD

Contact: Christian Ledwell | cledwell@iisd.ca

Website: https://napglobalnetwork.org