On April 24, on the margins of the ninth NAP Expo 2024 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the NAP Global Network hosted a unique consultation meeting with 12 representatives of least developed countries (LDCs), as well as the Network’s funders and steering committee members. In this meeting, attendees reflected on a decade of support to advance national adaptation plan (NAP) processes for developing countries.
Representatives from Ethiopia, Haiti, Kiribati, Liberia, Tuvalu, Rwanda, and Somalia actively participated in the meeting. They shared their invaluable insights, experiences, and ideas on the NAP Global Network’s support of LDCs’ NAP processes. A representative from the host country, Bangladesh, also attended to receive insights and share their lessons.
“Bangladesh is the first LDC country to host the NAP Expo, and I cannot think of a better occasion to reflect on climate change adaptation planning and action for the most vulnerable to the climate crisis. For this reason, the NAP Global Network remains unwavering in its commitment to supporting LDCs’ efforts to scale up national adaptation planning and implementation, making communities, ecosystems, and economies more resilient to the impacts of climate change,” said David Hoffmann, coordinator of the NAP Global Network.
The event celebrated the NAP Global Network’s longstanding partnership with the attending LDCs. The Government of Kiribati commended the Network’s continued availability: “NAP Global Network, when the door is open, we see you at the door. When we close the door and reopen, you are still there.”
LDC participants shared advice on areas the NAP Global Network should prioritize in its future support to LDCs and its next strategic plan. These areas include, among other things, support for the transition from planning to implementation, capacity building for adaptation for local and national actors, and support for monitoring, evaluation, and learning for NAP processes.
For nearly a decade, the NAP Global Network has supported over 80 developing countries in advancing their NAP processes to help accelerate climate change adaptation efforts worldwide. Since 2014, the Network has provided technical support to 25 LDCs and engaged representatives from 27 LDCs in the Network’s peer learning and exchange events. The Network’s strategic plan for 2025 is committed to ensuring that at least 30% of technical and peer learning support is for LDCs.
This consultation reaffirmed the importance of the NAP Global Network’s work. It provided a launchpad as we look beyond a new decade of supporting countries in moving from planning to implementing ambitious adaptation actions to build resilience to the challenges of climate change.