SBI 48, April / May 2018, Bonn

SBI 48 considered the LEG work programme for 2018-2019 contained in the report of the 33rd meeting of the LEG (see document FCCC/SBI/2018/4). It also considered report on the provisions for support and flexibility provided to the LDCs under the Convention and the Paris Agreement and on how the provisions can assist the LDCs in making a smooth transition from LDC status, in the light of United Nations General Assembly resolution A/67/221 prepared by the secretariat as requested at SBI 47  (see document FCCC/SBI/2018/8). Furthermore, it continued its consideration of the joint recommendations forwarded by the LEG and the Adaptation Committee on the joint mandates stemming from decision 1/CP.21, paragraphs 41 and 45.

Documents for the session:
•    The 33rd meeting of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group. Report by the secretariat (see document FCCC/SBI/2018/4)

•   Provisions on support and flexibility for the least developed countries and the assistance needed thereof to a smooth transition from least developed country status. Report by the secretariat (see document FCCC/SBI/2018/8)

Related events:
LEG side event entitled "Work of the LEG in supporting the LDCs on adaptation", Tuesday, 1 May 2018

SBI 47, November 2017, Bonn

SBI 47 considered the LEG work programme for 2017-2018 contained in the report of the 32nd meeting of the LEG (see document FCCC/SBI/2017/14). It also considered joint recommendations prepared by the LEG and the Adaptation Committee arising from the Paris Agreement for consideration and adoption at CMA 1 in accordance with decision 1/CP.21, paragraphs 41 and 45 (see document FCCC/SB/2017/2/Add.1–FCCC/SBI/2017/14/Add.1).

Documents for the session:
•    The 32nd meeting of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group. Report by the secretariat (See document FCCC/SBI/2017/14) 
•    Report of the Adaptation Committee. The 32nd meeting of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group. Addendum. Recommendations of the Adaptation Committee and the Least Developed Countries Expert Group for addressing decision 1/CP.21, paragraph 41, and, in collaboration with the Standing Committee on Finance, decision 1/CP.21, paragraph 45 (See document FCCC/SB/2017/2/Add.1–FCCC/SBI/2017/14/Add.1)

Related events:
LEG side event entitled "Work of the LEG in supporting the LDCs on adaptation", Tuesday 7 November 2017

SBI 46, May 2017, Bonn

SBI 46 considered the LEG work programme for 2017-2018 contained in the report of the 31st meeting of the LEG (see document FCCC/SBI/2017/6). It also considered information from the LEG on ways to further enhance the provision of support to the least developed countries for accessing funding from the GCF for the process to formulate and implement NAPs.

Documents for the session:

• The 31st meeting of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group. Report by the secretariat (FCCC/SBI/2017/6)

Related events:

• LEG side event entitled Work of the LEG in supporting the LDCs on adaptation, Tuesday 9 May, 18:30-20:00, Room Bonn.
   
• Joint AC and LEG special event on progress towards implementation of the Paris Agreement mandates, Friday 12 May, 10:00-13:00.

SBI 45 / COP 22, November 2016, Marrakech

SBI 45 considered progress made by the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) in implementing its work programme for 2016-2017.

Documents for the session:

•  The 30th meeting of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group. Report by the secretariat (FCCC/SBI/2016/18)
   
• Progress in the process to formulate and implement national adaptation plans. Note by the secretariat (FCCC/SBI/2016/INF.11)

Related events:

• Work of the LEG in supporting the LDCs on adaptation, Tuesday 8 November 2016 from 18:30 to 20:00
   
• Joint AC and LEG side event on interim results towards implementation of the Paris Agreement mandate, Thursday 10 November 2016 from 13:15 to 14:45

SBI 44, May 2016, Bonn

SBI 44 considered the LEG work programme for 2016-2017 contained in the report on the 29th meeting of the LEG (see document FCCC/SBI/2016/7). 

Documents for the session:

The 29th meeting of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group. Report by the secretariat (FCCC/SBI/2016/7)

The LEG side event at SBI 44 took place on Tuesday 17 May from 18:30-20:00.

SBI 43 / COP 21, November/December 2015, Paris

SBI 43 considered progress made by the LEG in implementing its work programme for 2015.

Documents for the session:

• Report on the 28th meeting of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group. Note by the secretariat (FCCC/SBI/2015/19)
• Information paper on the NAP Expo and the regional training workshops on national adaptation plans: experiences, good practices and lessons learned in addressing adaptation in the least developed countries. Note by the secretariat (FCCC/SBI/2015/INF.14)

The LEG side event at SBI 43 entitled Work of the LEG in supporting LDCs on NAPs and NAPAs" took place on Tuesday 1 December from 18:30 to 20:00 in Observer room 4.

Outcomes: Conclusions adopted by the SBI can be found in document FCCC/SBI/2015/22. In Paris, the COP (decision 19/CP.21) renewed and extended the mandate of the LEG.

SBI 42, June 2015, Bonn

SBI 42 considered progress made by the LEG in implementing its work programme for 2014-2015 and considered the LEG work programme for 2015 contained in the report on the 27th meeting of the LEG (see document FCCC/SBI/2015/7, Annex II). 

Documents for the session:

• Synthesis report on the progress, need for continuation and terms of reference of the LEG. Note by the secretariat (FCCC/SBI/2015/6)
• Views on the work of the LEG. Submissions by Parties (FCCC/SBI/2015/MISC.2)
• Report on the stocktaking meeting on the work of the LEG. Note by the secretariat (FCCC/SBI/2015/8) 

The LEG side event at SBI 42 took place on Tuesday 2 June from 18:30-20:00, in Berlin Room (112).  

Outcomes: Conclusions adopted by the SBI at this session can be found in document FCCC/SBI/2015/10, page 14.

Draft decision on the extension of the mandate of the LEG, for consideration and adoption at COP 21 can be found in document FCCC/SBI/2015/10/Add.1, page 6.

At SBI 40, the SBI considered the LEG work programme for 2014-2015, which included, inter alia, the provision of technical support for an effective implementation of NAPAs. The work programme is contained in the report on the LEG twenty-fifth meeting.

The LEG presented its work on NAPAs and NAPs at a side event, Thursday 5 June 2014, Room Solar (Ministry of Environment). The programme is available here.

At SBI 39/COP 19 in Warsaw, the SBI welcomed the completion of the regional training workshops on adaptation for LDCs for 2012-2013. The SBI also welcomed the LEG work programme for 2013-2014 (FCCC/SBI/2013/8, Annex II).

The  COP (decision 10/CP.18) welcomed the increased allocation and disbursement of funds to LDCs and requested the GEF to :

• Continue mobilizing resources to ensure the full implementation of the LDC work programme, including the implementation of the elements of the work programme other than NAPAs, through, inter alia, capacity-building to improve coordination at different levels of government and across sectors in order to improve project performance in the LDCs, with regard to the implementation of the Convention;
   
• Further facilitate access to the LDCF by the LDCs;
   
• Further enhance a country-driven process for the implementation of NAPA projects and the implementation of programmatic approaches;
   
• Continue raising awareness of the need for adequate and predictable resources under the LDCF to allow for the full implementation of the LDC work programme, in particular NAPAs;
   
• And to enhance communication with its implementing agencies on the updated operational guidelines for the LDCF.

As of June 2013, 50 countried have received funding for the preparation of their NAPAs, including Cape Verde which graduated in December 2007 and Maldives in January 2011. 49 of them have already submitted their NAPA to the UNFCC secretariat. Out of these 49 countries, as of March 2013, 45 had officially submitted one or more NAPA projects to the GEF.

The COP requested the GEF (decision 9/CP.17) to provide information to the LDCs to further clarify baselines and the application for accessing funding from the LDCF in order to develop and implement projects under NAPAs to address the effects of climate change. It also asked the GEF to support the development of a programmatic approach for the implementation of NAPAs, for the LDCs that wish to do so. In the same decision, the GEF is requested to further explore opportunities to streamline the LDCF project cycle and improve the provision of information to LDCs on the project development process for projects being considered under the LDCF.

In Cancun, the COP (decision  6/CP.16), renewed and extended the mandate of the LEG and requested the expert group to provide, inter alia, technical advice and guidance for the revision and update of NAPAs to further improve their quality, to facilitate the integration of adaptation actions of LDCs into development planning and to reflect increased adaptation knowledge and changed priorities in the countries, upon request by LDC Parties. By the same decision, the COP also requested the LEG to provide technical advice and guidance to LDCs for the strengthening of gender-related considerations and considerations regarding vulnerable communities within LDC Parties.

The Cancun Adaptation Framework (decision 1/CP.16), one of the outcomes of the AWG-LCA, established a process to enable LDC Parties, building upon their experience with the NAPAs, to formulate and implement national adaptation plans (NAPs) and sent an invitation to other developing countries to employ the modalities formulated to support those plans.

In parallel, the COP reiterated its request to the GEF (decision 5/CP.16) to work with its agencies to improve communication with LDC Parties and to speed up the process by, for instance, establishing a time frame within which LDC Parties can access funding and other support for the preparation and implementation of projects identified in their NAPAs. By the same decision, the COP also requested the GEF to provide funding from the LDCF to LDC Parties, upon request to enable the update on their NAPAs with a view to improving their quality, in order to facilitate the integration of LDC adaptation actions into development planning and to reflect increased adaptation knowledge and changed priorities in the countries.

By its decision 3/CP.11, the COP requested the GEF to make provision for the operationalization of the LDCF to support the implementation of NAPAs. In response to the COP mandate, in May 2006, the GEF released the Programming Paper for Funding the Implementation of NAPAs under the LDC Trust Fund.

In November 2004, the first NAPA was submitted to the UNFCCC secretariat.

The COP (decision 6/CP.9), requested the GEF to support the implementation of NAPAs as soon as possible after their completion. In addition, it requested the GEF to take into account the elements its suggested when developing operational guidelines for funding for the implementation of NAPAs.

The COP (decision 8/CP.8) requested the GEF, including its implementing agencies, to ensure the speedy release and disbursement of funds and timely assistance for the preparation of NAPAs. The same year, the GEF released its Operational Guidelines for Expedited Funding for the Preparation of NAPAs by Least Developed Countries.

At its seventh session, in Marrakech, the COP adopted the LDC work programme (decision 5/CP.7). This programme is the most substantial support that had, as yet, been given to the LDCs in relation to climate change over the decade 2001-2010. Under this programme, the COP established the LDCF (decision 7/CP.7), as well as the LEG (decision 29/CP.7). The LEG was initially mandated to provide technical support and advice to LDCs for the preparation and implementation of NAPAs. The same year, the COP also adopted guidelines for the preparation of NAPAs (decision 28/CP.7, Annex) .

At its sixth session, the COP adopted a resolution as input to the Third United Nations Conference on LDCs. This Conference adopted the Brussels Programme of Action for LDCs for the decade 2001-2010.

The UNFCCC, entered into force on 21 March 1994 and recognized LDCs in Article 4, paragraph 9 of the Convention which states that the Parties shall take full account of the specific needs and special situations of the least developed countries in their actions with regard to funding and transfer of technology.