The Adaptation Policy Framework

1
The Adaptation Policy Framework
An overview of the new UNDP-GEF product

• Bill Dougherty
• Stockholm Environment Institute Boston Center
• Manila April 2004

2
Outline

• Background (context, vision, objectives,
  approach)
• APF materials
• APF in practice
• Next steps

3
Context

• Previous studies/guidance Builds on earlier work
• National Communications, NCSP
• Previous methodologies
• IPCC Third Assessment Report, 2001
• UNFCCC/UNDP workshop, 2001
• Lack of progress on adaptation First NC
• Countries reported difficulty in prioritising
  adaptations
• Few adaptations implemented
• Many studies remained as reports

How to Move from Studies to Policy Action?
4
APF Guiding Vision

• A society whose response to climate change
  combines national policy-making with proactive
  bottom-up or grass roots actions

5
APF Goals and Objectives

• Ultimate goal is to protect and, when possible,
  enhance human well-being in the face of climate
  variability and change
• Development objective is to facilitate the
  incorporation of adaptation into a countrys
  national development strategy by promoting
  sustainable policy processes and reducing climate
  vulnerability
• Operational objective is to provide technical
  guidance to national climate change teams for
  developing and assessing climate change
  adaptation policies and measures

6
APF Approach Guiding Principles

• Place adaptation in a development context
• Build on current adaptive experience to cope with
  future climate
• Recognize that adaptation occurs at different
  levels -- in particular, the local (bottom-up)
• Recognize that adaptation will be an ongoing
  process

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APF Approach Innovations

• The APF aims to
• Link grassroots with national policy-making,
  utilizing a stakeholder-driven and bottom-up
  approach
• Focus on recent climate experience
• Coordinate with current development policies,
  priorities and commitments (e.g., MEAs) as well
  as proposed future activities and investments,
  focusing on maladaptive activities
• Integrate assessments across sectors and scales

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APF Structure
1. Scope project

2. Assess current vulnerability
3. Characterize future climate-related risks
Increase adaptive capacity
Engage stakeholders
4. Develop adaptation strategy

5. Continue adaptation process

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APF Structure Steps and Guidance
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APF Structure Resource Package

• Executive Summary
• Users Guidebook
• 9 Technical Papers (TPs)
• Project scope and design
• Stakeholders
• Vulnerability assessment
• Current climate risks
• Future climate risks
• 5-Module Training Package
• trainers packet (slides, notes, background
  reading),
• trainees packet (exercise workbook, case
  studies, background reading)
• Illustrative Case Study Series
• CD-Rom of Guidebook, TPs, Case Studies, and
  related tools and resources

• Socio-economic conditions
• Adaptive capacity
• Formulation of adaptation strategy
• Evaluate, monitor, and review

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APF in Practice Framing the Policy Question

• What kind of policy instruments will reduce
  vulnerability to climate change?
• What kind of policy decisions might be influenced
  by a project?
• How might project results be introduced onto the
  local, or national policy agenda?

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APF in Practice Target audience
Initial Primary audience Climate change teams in
developing countries GEF projects Secondary
audience Policy makers Sectoral/environmental
managers Experts (including developed
countries) Multilateral and bilateral agencies
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APF in Practice Operations

• Coordination and implementation achieved with
• An APF team that is representative of studies
  specific priorities (as identified in scoping
  process)
• Broad, active stakeholder participation, from
  communities to line agencies
• Incentives for stakeholders to continue the
  process beyond the project lifetime

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APF in Practice Flexibility

• Use of APF steps can be tailored to suit
• national priorities (key vulnerable systems)
• previous national assessments
• national team capacities
• budget
• time

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APF in Practice Outputs

• Self-sustaining stakeholder process
• Increased national capacity for adaptation
  assessment
• Recommendations for adaptation strategies,
  policies and measures
• Strategy for continuing adaptation process

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APF in Practice Outputs (2)

• Strategies
• Re-align national sustainable development goals
• Re-align poverty reduction programmes
• Policies
• Develop a portfolio of adaptations
• Implement guidelines for adaptation in national
  and local planning
• Measures
• Overcome barriers to adaptation
• Enhance adaptive capacity
• Alter investment plans

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APF Next steps

• Phase I Methodologies (2001-2004)
• Development of methodological material (Users
  Guidebook, Technical Papers, case studies)
• Development and provision of training on methods
• Phase II Implementation Support (2004-2006)
• New TP series, focused on implementation
• Planning and implementation of continuous
  professional development activities
• Promotion of region-specific methods and
  expertise
• Promotion of learning networks
• Development of a web-based support tool
• Translation