Introduction

The UNFCCC knowledge-to-action hub on climate resilience and adaptation, Nairobi work programme (NWP), facilitates the brokering of adaptation knowledge to scale up adaptation action in all countries, in particular Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The NWP helps achieve the Paris Agreement's goals by enhancing country- and region-specific actions and providing practical and relevant adaptation knowledge in response to Parties’ knowledge needs.
To address knowledge needs of Parties, as part of its mandates the Nairobi work programme has established engagement with its partners on a range of priority thematic areas. The NWP has established a methodology for the thematic areas which has a knowledge to action life cycle that guides knowledge co-development through partnerships.
Parties at SBSTA 48 and SBSTA 50 mandated the NWP to focus on agriculture and food security. The NWP will work with its thematic expert group to link with and build on existing evidence and initiatives to identify critical knowledge gaps and proposals for collaborative engagement to address these gaps. This collaborative effort will boost the exchange of knowledge, experience and best practices to support Parties.

Role of the thematic expert group on agriculture and food security

The NWP expert group on agriculture and food security is expected to guide and build collaborative efforts under this thematic work. The expert group will help address key adaptation knowledge gaps through collaboration among members to enhance collaborative solutions and know-how. They will work closely with constituted bodies and relevant programmes, NWP experts, and relevant communities of practice. The expert group will apply the NWP knowledge-to-action methodology focusing on agriculture, food security, and climate change adaptation.
The first expert group meeting was virtually held in September 2022 with 30 expert group members from UN agencies, INGO, Results for Development (R4D) organizations, development agencies, global and regional networks, development banks and academia. The group identified knowledge gaps on agriculture and food security and had substantive and rich exchanges on good practices that strengthen adaptation actions. Shared examples included building the capacity of local experts, upscaling climate-smart agriculture, innovative financial initiatives, and effective governance structures which respect traditional knowledge and diversity. UNFCCC constituted bodies and relevant work programmes also highlighted potential areas for synergies to strengthen countries’ adaptation responses.

Objectives and expected outcomes of the second meeting

The objectives are to:

• Facilitate the implementation of the thematic work on agriculture and food security through collaboration with partners, Parties and the development of policy advice and knowledge products
• Identify and co-design potential short- and mid-term action plans among expert group members and with UNFCCC constituted bodies and relevant work programmes
• Build collaborative actions to close adaptation knowledge gaps and scale up adaptation action in countries.

The key deliverables include:

• Clarification of knowledge gaps, case studies and strategic opportunities for this thematic area to be included in the scoping paper
• A draft plan of collaborative actions that will be undertaken in 2023 which also identifies knowledge products and other outputs/activities to be provided for SB58 and COP28
• Identification of leads/co-leads nominated for each collaborative action on the plan
• Elaboration of a timeline for the scoping paper and collaborative action plan

Agenda Day 1, (Monday, 6th March, 15:00-17:30 CET):

Agenda Day 2 (Tuesday 7th March, 15:00-17:30 CET):