Technology Needs Assessment
Pathways for climate tech implementation
Guidance
Implementing climate technology projects is a desire of all countries, but it is often also a challenge. On the one hand, countries often find it difficult to determine which climate technologies they should prioritize for implementation. On the other hand, once they have prioritized climate technologies, they also have to achieve implementation. Supporting countries to overcome these challenges is a key focus of the UNFCCC.
This page provides guidance to support countries to overcome both of the challenges described above. It provides information and guidance on conducting technology needs assessments (TNAs), which may support a country to prioritize climate technologies. The webpage also provides guidance which may support countries to enhance the implementation of these technologies. A key tool for supporting countries to achieve this is the technology action plan (TAP).
Conducting technology needs assessments
Currently, the UNEP DTU Partnership and the Global Environment Facility are supporting 23 developing countries to undertake TNAs in Phase III of the project. This global TNA project assists developing countries to determine their technology priorities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change. UNEP DTU and the GEF have a wealth of experience in supporting countries to undertake TNAs, and have developed guidebooks to support countries as they conduct them. You may access these guidebooks through the dedicated website. Visit the project website to find out more.
Technology Executive Committee
The Technology Executive Committee (TEC) analyses TNAs and develops guidance to support countries to enhance the effectiveness and utility of the TNA process. The TEC has provided policy messages to the COP on TNAs and has also produced specific policy briefs. Find out more about the TEC’s work here. Here are two of the TEC's policy briefs on TNAs:
TEC Brief 2013: Results and Success Factors of TNAs
TEC Brief 2013: Possible integration of the TNA process with NAMA and NAP processes
Climate Technology Centre and Network
The Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) is also available to provide guidance to developing countries for undertaking and implementing TNAs. Through its three core services, technical assistance, capacity-building and knowledge sharing, the CTCN can provide countries with support for the TNA process. Find out more.
Implementing Technology Needs Assessments
With more than 85 developing countries undertaking their TNAs since 2001, and with countries now preparing national determined contributions (NDCs), the UNFCCC is now focusing on supporting countries to implement their identified technology needs.
Preparing a technology action plan
One of the key outputs from the TNA is a technology action plan (TAP). A TAP is a concise plan for the uptake and diffusion of prioritized technologies that will contribute to a country’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and adapt to climate change.
To support countries to develop TAPs that achieve implementation, the Technology Executive Committee has worked with UNEP DTU and the UNFCCC secretariat to develop guidance for preparing TAPs.
The TEC has also developed policy messages for supporting TAP implementation. See the TEC policy messages here.
Preparing projects for financing
In addition to the TAP guidance, the UNFCCC secretariat has also developed guidebooks aimed at strengthening the capacity of project developers to prepare technology projects for financing.
UNFCCC guidebook on preparing technology projects for financing. This guidebook assists project developers to prepare financing proposals that will meet the standards of international finance providers. Download the complete guidebook.
Guía sobre la elaboración de proyectos de transferencia de tecnología para obtener financiación
Guide d’élaboration de projets bancables pour le transfert de technologies
Training package for Instructors
To support in-country capacity building, the UNFCCC developed a training package which provides the material required for instructors to train project developers on how to prepare technology projects for financing. It builds on the experiences of regional training programmes and the UNFCCC guidebook on preparing technology projects for financing. Download training package.
