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.
