Background

The African Regional Workshop on Adaptation was held at the M Plaza Hotel in Accra, Ghana, from 21-23 September 2006. The workshop aimed at facilitating exchange of information and integrated assessments in order to assist in identifying Africa’s needs and concerns related to adaptation. About 60 participants, including representatives of 33 African Parties, 10 Annex I Parties and a number of international, intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations participated in the workshop. Mr. William Kojo Agyemang-Bonsu, from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Ghana, chaired the workshop on behalf of SBI Chair Mr. Thomas Becker of Denmark.

The workshop was convened at the request of COP 10 by its Decision 1/CP.10, that called for the UNFCCC secretariat to organize three regional workshops and one expert meeting for small island developing States (SIDS) to enable exchange of information and integrated assessments to assist in identifying specific adaptation needs and concerns. The reports on the outcome of these workshops and the expert meeting will be considered by the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) with a view to making a recommendation on further action to COP 13 in November 2007.

The highlight of the workshop was its success in fostering an exchange of experience on good practices on adaptation, many of which could be replicated. The workshop also provided for a fruitful sharing of information between African participants and support organizations, whether the GEF and its implementing agencies, or bilateral institutions with a strong focus on the African region. From this, an evident need emerged for enhanced access to funding and broadening the sources of support for adaptation activities, particularly those that build upon indigenous coping strategies. Participants articulated a number of needs and concerns relating to adaptation, which will need to be taken up in the negotiating process. Many of these were identified through the process of preparing National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs) in African least developed countries. Finally, a session devoted to South-South cooperation revealed ample opportunities for further promoting such collaboration and streamlining its effectiveness.

Report of the African regional workshop on adaptation

International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) coverage of the workshop

Background paper on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change in Africa

Agenda

Presentations

 

Objectives of the workshop and background presentation

Session 1: Impact and vulnerability assessments

Systematic observation, data, climate methods and tools - availability, applicability, accessibility

Impact and vulnerability assessments

Session 2: Adaptation planning and implementation

Agriculture and food security

Water resources

Health

Coastal zones

Support for adaptation in the context of sustainable development

Synergies: the experience of UNCCD

Session 3: Regional collaboration

Roundtable on South-South collaboration

Roundtable on North-South collaboration

* These presentations were not delivered in person because their authors were unable to attend the workshop.