Technology Needs Assessments

Definition

Technology needs assessments (TNAs):

• Are a set of country-driven activities that identify and determine the mitigation and adaptation technology priorities of developing country Parties

• Involve different stakeholders in a consultative process to identify (i) the barriers to technology transfer and (ii) the measures to address these barriers through sectoral analyses

• May address soft and hard technologies for both mitigation and adaptation, identify regulatory options, develop fiscal and financial incentives and build capacity

Purpose

The purpose of TNAs is to assist in identifying and analysing priority technology needs, which can be the basis for a portfolio of environmentally sustainable technology (EST) projects and programmes. This can facilitate the transfer of and access to ESTs and know-how in the implementation of Article 4.5 of the Convention.

Progress

Collaboration between the GEF, UNDP, UNEP, UNEP Risoe centre, CTI, EGTT and the secretariat has resulted in financial and technical support to assist non-Annex I Parties to conduct TNAs. The secretariat has published three synthesis reports on technology needs identified by non-Annex I Parties. These reports highlight priority technology needs identified in various sectors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and facilitate adaptation to the adverse impacts of climate change. They also draw attention to specific barriers to technology transfer and suggest measures to address them.

In the TNAs completed by Parties as part of the recent global TNA project, Parties also prepared technology action plans (TAPs) and project ideas. A TAP is an action plan consisting of a group of measures to address identified barriers to the development and transfer of a prioritized technology. In the context of their TNAs, Parties envisaged project ideas as concrete actions for the implementation of their prioritized technologies.

At COP 16, Parties established the Technology Mechanism, consisting of the Technology Executive Committee (TEC) and the Climate Technology Centre and Network. Parties decided that the TEC shall further implement the Technology Transfer Framework, including work on TNAs.

Activities	Results and products
• TEC 7 held an in-session workshop on TNAs • The EGTT, the GEF, UNDP, UNEP, CTI and the secretariat collaborated to provide financial and technical support to assist non-Annex I Parties to conduct TNAs • The EGTT, CTI, UNDP, UNEP and the secretariat held three regional workshops on conducting TNAs • The EGTT assisted the secretariat in organizing a regional workshop for the Caribbean on TNAs and technology information • These entities have also collaborated to improve the quality of the TNA process and TNA reporting, and facilitate the implementation of the TNA results	• GEF has provided funding to more than 80 non-Annex I Parties to conduct TNAs • 78 non-Annex I Parties have completed TNAs • Secretariat has prepared three synthesis reports on technology needs identified by non-Annex I Parties • Parties now include TAPs and project ideas in their TNAs • UNDP and the GEF have produced a handbook on conducting TNAs • Expert meetings and workshops on TNAs • TEC Brief: Results and success factors of TNAs • TEC Brief: Possible integration of the TNA process with the NAMA and NAP processes • TNA flyer: What are the technology needs of developing countries?

Activities

Results and products

• TEC 7 held an in-session workshop on TNAs

• The EGTT, the GEF, UNDP, UNEP, CTI and the secretariat collaborated to provide financial and technical support to assist non-Annex I Parties to conduct TNAs

• The EGTT, CTI, UNDP, UNEP and the secretariat held three regional workshops on conducting TNAs

• The EGTT assisted the secretariat in organizing a regional workshop for the Caribbean on TNAs and technology information

• These entities have also collaborated to improve the quality of the TNA process and TNA reporting, and facilitate the implementation of the TNA results

• GEF has provided funding to more than 80 non-Annex I Parties to conduct TNAs

• 78 non-Annex I Parties have completed TNAs

• Secretariat has prepared three synthesis reports on technology needs identified by non-Annex I Parties

• Parties now include TAPs and project ideas in their TNAs

• UNDP and the GEF have produced a handbook on conducting TNAs

• Expert meetings and workshops on TNAs

• TEC Brief: Results and success factors of TNAs

• TEC Brief: Possible integration of the TNA process with the NAMA and NAP processes

• TNA flyer: What are the technology needs of developing countries?

Current Work

Phase II of the current global TNA project provides financial and technical support to assist 25 non-Annex I Parties to conduct their TNAs and prepare TAPs and project ideas. The GEF, through the Poznan strategic programme on technology, is supporting this project. UNEP, in collaboration with UNEP DTU, is implementing the project.

Concluded in 2013, Phase I of the global TNA project, also supported by the GEF and implemented by UNEP and the UNEP DTU, provided targeted financial and technical support to 36 non-Annex I Parties to undertake TNAs and prepare TAPs and project ideas. More>>