Process

Through decision 1/CP.16, the Conference of the Parties (COP) has established the NAP process for least developed country (LDC) Parties. Under it, LDC Parties are invited to identify their medium- and long-term adaptation needs and develop and implement strategies and programmes to address these needs, building upon their experience in preparing and implementing national adaptation programmes of action (NAPAs).

In decision 5/CP.17, modalities for support and financial arrangements have been decided on to further support the NAP process in LDCs. Information on progress made in the elaboration and operationalization of support for the NAP process can be found in the sections below, and under Guidelines and Support programmes.

Furthermore, the NAP Expo, which was held on 9 June 2013 in Bonn, facilitated the launch of the NAP process in LDCs.

Given the progress in enabling support, LDC Parties are encouraged to begin the preparation of their NAP process as soon as possible. This may be undertaken in parallel to the implementation of NAPA projects which will continue to receive support.

Support

a) Technical support

The Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) has been mandated by the COP to provide technical guidance and support for the NAP process for LDCs.

The following activities have been undertaken by the LEG:

• Technical guidelines (7279) for the NAP process have been prepared;

• Other technical support needs have been identified during the twenty-third meeting of the LEG in March 2013, and can be found in the report of the meeting.

In addition the NAP global support programme for the least developed countries, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Environment Programme in partnership with other organizations and agencies,  has been established  to facilitate technical support to the LDC Parties: http://www.undp-alm.org/projects/naps-ldcs.

b) Financial support

A number of financial support channels are available for the NAP process, including under the GEF, and through bilateral and multilateral channels.

The COP, in decision 12/CP.18, provided guidance to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to enable activities for the preparation of the NAP process by the LDC Parties through the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF).

In concrete terms, the GEF has been requested

(a) As a first step under the NAP process, to provide funding from the LDCF, to meet the agreed full cost, as appropriate, of activities to enable the preparation of the NAP process as described in the elements contained in paragraphs 2-6 of the initial guidelines for the formulation of NAPs in the annex to decision 5/CP.17;

(b) To provide support for the NAP process, while maintaining support for the LDC work programme, including NAPAs;

(c) To encourage a flexible approach that enables the LDC Parties to access funding for components of the NAP process as identified by the LDC Parties in response to national needs and circumstances.

For further information on the LDCF, please refer to the webpages of the Global Environment Facility on the LDCF. The GEF response to COP guidance can be found here and in the Report of the GEF to the COP, document FCCC/CP/2013/3.

Reporting

LDC Parties are encouraged, to the extent possible, to provide information on their NAP process through their national communications, as well as other channels (decision 5/CP.17, paragraph 33). Such other channels could include surveys by the LEG, etc.

The secretariat has been requested to collect, compile and synthesize such information needed by the Subsidiary Body for Implementation to monitor and evaluate the progress made on the NAP process.