Credit: UN Climate Change

The 2026 CASTT Adaptation Academy for Africa was held from 18 to 21 August 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya. The Academy was organized by the UNFCCC secretariat, hosted by the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD), and delivered in collaboration with the Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency – Global Support Programme (CBIT-GSP), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), IHE Delft Institute for Water Education and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It brought together 20 participants from 16 African developing country Parties, alongside experts and representatives from the partner organizations.

The four-day programme provided a structured and practical walkthrough of adaptation reporting under the enhanced transparency framework (ETF). It began with the broader context of adaptation in Africa, transparency arrangements, adaptation reporting and lessons from the first BTRs, before moving into the development and use of monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) systems and the preparation of adaptation information across the different sub-sections of the Adaptation BTR, including loss and damage information. Sessions also covered testing Belém Adaptation Indicators in national monitoring and reporting, the technical expert review (TER) and facilitative, multilateral consideration of progress (FMCP), action planning for future adaptation reporting, and available support for transparency and adaptation reporting.

The Academy featured interactive peer learning and exchange. Participants shared national experiences and challenges, worked through practical exercises and country examples, and exchanged approaches for strengthening institutional coordination, data collection, indicators and reporting systems.

For more information, please see the agenda of the Academy.

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Credit: UN Climate Change

The 2026 CASTT Adaptation Academy for Asia and the Pacific was held from 25 to 28 August 2026 at UNITAR CIFAL Jeju, Republic of Korea. The Academy was hosted by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment of the Republic of Korea and organized by the Korea Environment Institute – Korea Adaptation Center for Climate Change (KEI KACCC), UNITAR CIFAL Jeju / Jeju International Training Center (JITC), UNFCCC secretariat, and UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP CCC). It brought together 19 participants from 15 Asia and Pacific developing country Parties, alongside experts and representatives from the partner organizations.

The four-day programme progressed from the broader context of climate change adaptation and transparency under the ETF to practical aspects of preparing stronger adaptation reporting. Sessions addressed the Paris Agreement and the enhanced transparency framework; adaptation reporting in BTRs; AI- and data-driven approaches to BTR preparation; loss and damage in BTRs; reporting adaptation progress and results using evidence, indicators and narrative; and improving coherence across BTRs, NAPs and other adaptation-related instruments. The programme also drew on Korea’s experience with its NAP and full BTR cycle.

Practical learning was a central element of the Academy. Participants took part in a guided review of adaptation information in BTRs, hands-on workshops on drafting adaptation information and improving its clarity, consistency and review-readiness, and a mock TER exercise. Country experience sharing and an alumni mentor session complemented these activities. The programme also included field learning in Jeju, providing participants with an opportunity to connect technical discussions with local climate and adaptation contexts.

For more information, please see the agenda of the Academy .

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The UNFCCC-CASTT Adaptation Academy in Asia and the Pacific 2025 took place from 25–29 August 2025 at UNITAR CIFAL Jeju, Republic of Korea, hosted by the Ministry of Environment of Korea with UNFCCC, RCC Asia-Pacific, KEI, UNITAR CIFAL Jeju/JITC, and UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre. The Academy gathered 25 officials and experts from the region under the theme “Climate Transparency and Adaptation Action: Building capacity on adaptation reporting through BTR1 experiences.” Over five days of technical sessions, peer exchanges, and a field trip, participants reviewed lessons from the first Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), identified best practices, and developed strategies to strengthen adaptation reporting under the Paris Agreement. The Academy enhanced technical skills, deepened understanding of linkages between NAPs, NDCs, and BTRs, and fostered a regional network for continued collaboration. Participants completing all requirements received a joint Certificate of Completion from the organizers.

The training aimed to build technical skills for adaptation assessments, planning, policy development, and coordination across ministries and governance levels to address climate change. With the first Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) submitted by the end of 2024, it will help review BTR1 experiences, highlight best practices and lessons learned, and guide improvements for future adaptation reporting.

For more information or enquiries, please contact the UNFCCC CASTT Adaptation Academy Asia and the Pacific Programme or email: cifaljeju.jitc.env@gmail.com.

Workshop Material

• PA, ETF, and BTR Introduction
• BTR1 Adaptation Chapters

Credit: UN Climate Change

Credit: UN Climate Change

UNFCCC-CASTT Adaptation Academy in Asia: Empowering Climate Adaptation Reporting Across the Region

The UNFCCC-CASTT Adaptation Academy in Asia, held from 30 September to 4 October 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand, marked a significant milestone in building the capacity of national experts and stakeholder to meet their climate reporting obligations under the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF). Co-organized by the Korea Environment Institute (KEI), Korea Adaptation Center for Climate Change (KACCC), the Asian Institute for Technology (AIT), UNEP and UNDP, as well as the RCC Bangkok and UNFCCC Secretariat, the Academy brought together more than 20 participants from across Asia to enhance their understanding of reporting on climate change impacts and adaptation, and enhance their skills and technical knowledge in preparing the first Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs).

Driving Climate Transparency

Focused on the theme “Climate Transparency and Adaptation Action: Preparing BTRs under the ETF and Assessing Adaptation,” the Academy provided participants with comprehensive technical knowledge through hands-on sessions, interactive exercises, and country-specific case studies. As the deadline for the first BTR submission approaches in December 2024, the Academy played a crucial role in helping countries prepare high-quality reports that reflect their national circumstances and adaptation priorities.

Paul Desanker, Manager of the UNFCCC’s Adaptation Division, emphasized in his opening remarks that “this Academy represents a vital step in ensuring that adaptation reporting aligns with global climate goals while recognizing the unique challenges faced by developing countries.”

As countries in the Asia region move closer to the 2024 BTR submission deadline, the outcomes of this Academy will play a pivotal role in shaping their adaptation reporting strategies. With the technical skills gained during the Academy, participants are better equipped to align their national adaptation efforts with global climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.

The UNFCCC-CASTT Adaptation Academy has not only enhanced participants' understanding of the ETF but has also empowered them with practical, actionable strategies that will strengthen their countries' capacity to address climate adaptation challenges. As we look ahead, the success of the Asia Academy will serve as a model for future capacity-building initiatives in other regions, reinforcing the importance of transparency in the global fight against climate change.

The full article is available here: https://www4.unfccc.int/sites/transparency/Lists/News/DispForm.aspx?ID=119

Credit: UN Climate Change