LAKI in the West Asia / GCC subregion

Partnership with Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative

A) Priority Setting Workshop:

As part of the implementation of the Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative (LAKI) for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) subregion, the Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI) collaborated with UNEP and UNFCCC secretariat in organizing the priority-setting workshop held on 15-17 June 2015 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The purpose of this workshop was to identify a set of prioritized adaptation knowledge gaps and a preliminary list of response actions and associated institutions for addressing these gaps in the subregion. Please click here to access the full workshop report.

Expert participants (multidisciplinary stakeholder group or MSG in short) discussed and agreed to the pool of 10 priority adaptation knowledge gaps for the GCC subregion through a multi-criteria analysis approach. The MSG also provided a preliminary identification of potential response actions, in terms of concrete deliverables and target beneficiaries, to address this pool of priority knowledge gaps.

B) Priority Adaptation Knowledge Gaps and Actions Undertaken to Close the Priority Knowledge Gaps:

Over 2020 and 2021, the LAKI has engaged international regional, national and local partners to identify and co-design joint actions to close the knowledge gaps noted in the priority setting workshop. 

Related resources: 

The organizations convened, expressed an interest to work together to address the priority adaptation knowledge gaps. In addition to a pre-engagement virtual process (which including one-to-one meetings with each participating organization), three other technical meetings were convened to:

encourage representatives from the participating organizations to share ideas on potential proposals to close priority knowledge gaps with target users in mind

support discussions to unpack the proposals including the knowledge outputs in more depth

provide guidance on access to finance to implement the proposals suggested.

Progress for each action was showcased at events throughout 2021–2022, including the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 and the MENA Regional Climate Week (March 2022).

For the West Asia-GCC subregion, the work has been undertaken in collaboration with the UNFCCC-WGEO Regional Collaboration Center for the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia based in Dubai (RCC MENA and South Asia), the UNEP Regional Office for West Asia, and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).

In the West Asia / GCC subregion, LAKI helps translate priority adaptation knowledge gaps into practical, partner-led responses. It convenes regional and national institutions to align on what knowledge is missing, identify who needs it, and co-design tools, guidance, and investment-ready concepts that can support implementation.

The priority knowledge gaps identified for the West Asia-GCC subregion are provided in the table below.

No.	Thematic area	Gap Description	Cluster	Knowledge user	Proposed Actions to close the Priority Gaps
1)	Water	Limited availability and access to observed data on quantity and quality of conventional (groundwater reserves, surface water, shared transboundary flows, recharge levels) and non-conventional (treated wastewater, desalinated water) water resources	Lack of data, lack of access [Mix]	Decision makers, planners, media, researchers, civil society including non-governmental organizations. Ministries of environment, water, agriculture and energy
2)	Cross-Cutting	Limited availability and lack of access to scenario data at various spatial scales for projected climatic variables, including temperature, precipitation, wind, evapotranspiration, drought, flash floods, sea level, extreme events, etc.	Lack of data, lack of access [Mix]	Climate modelers, researchers, climate change stakeholders	Water Governance capacity-building, guidelines and implementation. Lead organization: International Water Management Institute (IWMI) [ongoing] Drought and Forecasting Management Tool. Lead organization: International Water Management Institute (IWMI) [ongoing] Urgent Interventions to Build Socio-Ecological System Resilience to Natural Hazards in MENA region. Proposed by: UNESCO Regional Bureau for Sciences in the Arab States [ongoing] Enhance the Arab member states capacities to incorporate water into their national climate planning, mainly National Determined Contributions (NDCs) of the Arab Countries. Proposed by: UNESCO Regional Bureau for Sciences in the Arab States [ongoing] U & I Build our Resilience: A toolbox to strengthen socio-ecological systems resilience to natural hazards in the Arab Region. Proposed by: UNESCO Regional Bureau for Sciences in the Arab States [ongoing] Smart Agriculture Application (mobile app) - Jordan. Proposed by: National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) [ongoing]
3)	Terrestrial ecosystems	Fragmented baseline data (biological, ecological and climate) and lack of standardized methodologies for consolidating information on terrestrial ecosystems at the subregional level	Lack of data, lack of access [Mix]	National implementers, environmental agencies, research institutes, public authorities, academia	Enhance the Arab member states capacities to incorporate water into their national climate planning, mainly National Determined Contributions (NDCs) of the Arab Countries. Proposed by: UNESCO Regional Bureau for Sciences in the Arab States [ongoing]
4)	Marine ecosystems	Incomprehensive data and information as well as lack of integrated approaches related to climate change impacts on coastal and marine ecosystems’ goods and services	Lack of data, lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge), lack of tools/methods [Mix]	Environmental hubs in the region, decision makers	UAE Mangrove Annual Carbon Sequestration Project. Lead Organization: Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI) [ongoing]
5)	Marine ecosystems	Inadequate knowledge and awareness on coastal defense and protection services provided by coastal and marine ecosystems and their response to a changing climate	Lack of data, lack of access [Mix]	Decision-makers, academia, civil society including non-governmental organizations	UAE Mangrove Annual Carbon Sequestration Project. Lead Organization: Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI) [ongoing]
6)	Marine ecosystems	Insufficient technical capacity for monitoring, assessing and projecting impacts of climate change in the marine ecosystems	Lack of access, lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge), lack of tools/methods [Mix]	Municipalities, planners, policy makers
7)	Food security	Limited knowledge of climate smart agricultural practices	Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]	Consumers and producers, farmers, decision makers, ministries of agriculture	Innovation Hub-Scaling up and enabling environment. Lead organization: International Water Management Institute (IWMI) [ongoing] Drought and Forecasting Management Tool. Lead organization: International Water Management Institute (IWMI) [ongoing] Smart Agriculture Application (mobile app) - Jordan. Proposed by: National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) [ongoing]
8)	Health	Lack of information and knowledge on the direct and indirect impacts of climate change on human health	Lack of data, lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [Mix]	Ministries of health, faculties of medicines, syndicates of pharmaceuticals, World Health Organization, health agencies	Enhance the Arab member states capacities to incorporate water into their national climate planning, mainly National Determined Contributions (NDCs) of the Arab Countries. Proposed by: UNESCO Regional Bureau for Sciences in the Arab States [ongoing]
9)	Cross-cutting	Limited knowledge on developing adaptive measures and projects	Lack of tools and methods [4]	Local communities, civil society including non-governmental organizations	Urgent Interventions to Build Socio-Ecological System Resilience to Natural Hazards in MENA region. Proposed by: UNESCO Regional Bureau for Sciences in the Arab States [ongoing] U & I Build our Resilience: A toolbox to strengthen socio-ecological systems resilience to natural hazards in the Arab Region. Proposed by: UNESCO Regional Bureau for Sciences in the Arab States [ongoing] UNESCO Biosphere Reserves: Platform to upscale IEAs to national levels in the Arab Member States. Proposed by: UNESCO Regional Bureau for Sciences in the Arab States [ongoing]
10)	Marine and terrestrial ecosystems	Lack of knowledge of the costs of climate change impacts and adaptation investment opportunities for sustainable development in the marine and terrestrial ecosystems	Lack of tools and methods [4]	Gulf Cooperation Council Secretariat General Ministries	Urgent Interventions to Build Socio-Ecological System Resilience to Natural Hazards in MENA region. Proposed by: UNESCO Regional Bureau for Sciences in the Arab States [ongoing] UNESCO Biosphere Reserves: Platform to upscale IEAs to national levels in the Arab Member States. Proposed by: UNESCO Regional Bureau for Sciences in the Arab States [ongoing]

Partnership with Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative

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