Representatives from governments, international organizations, financial institutions, the private sector, and civil society gathered in Kigali, Rwanda, from May 18 to 21, for the global flagship event dedicated to national adaptation plans (NAPs).
At the NAP Expo, the NAP Global Network Secretariat co-hosted sessions with partner countries and organizations to exchange insights and lessons on how to achieve effective, inclusive NAP processes.
Participants in this annual event, organized by the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in collaboration with various bodies and organizations, highlighted the urgent need to accelerate the implementation of countries’ NAPs.
At the 11th NAP Expo, the NAP Global Network’s activities focused on
- advancing climate change adaptation investment plans;
- strengthening monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems for NAP processes;
- integrating the education sector into NAP processes; and
- gender equality and social inclusion in NAP processes.
At this year’s NAP Expo venue, held at Kigali Marriott Hotel, the NAP Global Network co-hosted with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) an ‘Adaptation Investment Matchmaking Symposium’ on May 18-19. Spanning three 90-minute sessions, this interactive sessions were designed to enable direct matchmaking between countries’ adaptation priorities set out in their NAPs and national climate action plans, and available financing.
See below for more details of this symposium and our participation at NAP Expo 2026.
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Sessions
Adaptation Investment Matchmaking Symposium: Accelerating finance for NAP implementation
This symposium, co-organized by the NAP Global Network and UNDP, comprised three 90-minute sessions that brought together government representatives and financing institutions to enable direct matchmaking between countries’ adaptation priorities, as articulated in the nationally determined contributions (NDC) and NAPs, and available financing.
These three events convened government representatives engaged in the NAP process from ministries of finance, planning, and environment across 10 countries. Participants presented priority investments and engage in structured discussions with funders and financiers to facilitate and further connections between country needs and investment opportunities.
This symposium was funded by the Governments of Canada and Italy.
Read key highlights from the sessions in this news piece.
Hosts: NAP Global Network and UNDP
When:
- Session 1 | From NAP Priorities to Projects and Programmes as Part of an Adaptation Portfolio | Rooms: Muhazi + Virunga
| Monday, May 18, 14:00–15:30 Kigali time (CAT/UTC+2)
- Session 2 | Developing Project Concepts and Profiles to Match National Priorities withz Financing | Rooms: Muhazi | Monday, May 18, 16:00–17:30 Kigali time (CAT/UTC+2)
- Session 3 | Pitching Project Ideas to Funders | Rooms: Muhazi + Virunga | Tuesday, May 19, 11:00–12:30 Kigali time (CAT/UTC+2)
2.8.2 Advancing MEL systems for NAP processes
The session allowed country practitioners to share experiences with national MEL systems and identify the specific guidance and support required to sustain and adjust such systems in the evolving adaptation landscape.
After a brief introduction to the MEL Toolkit and country practitioners’ presentations, participants engaged in a facilitated feedback exercise in small groups. Each group focused on one priority theme to identify concrete additions or revisions for a future iteration of the toolkit. The session concluded with a plenary discussion to consolidate findings to inform the toolkit’s update.
Host: Adaptation Committee, NAP GN
Date: Tuesday, May 19
Time: 14:00–15:30 Kigali time (CAT/UTC+2)
Location: Rooms: Rubavu + Nyungwe + Akagera
For a quick overview of this session, check out NAP Expo Day 2 recap.
Integrating the Education Sector into the NAP Process: Informal dialogue and networking opportunity
This informal dialogue provided the opportunity for government and non-government partners to share how they are currently integrating the education sector into the NAP process, common approaches and lessons learned. It also shared a new report and opportunities from the NAP Global Network and Save the Children on the topic.
Host: Save the Children and NAP Global Network
Date: Wednesday, May 20
Time: 8:15 – 8:45 Kigali time (CAT/UTC+2)
Location: Kigali Marriott Hotel
Events featuring NAP Global Network representatives as panelists
3.5.3 Exploring Models of Matching Country Adaptation Needs with Technical Assistance and Finance
At the 2026 NAP Expo, several investment matchmaking models for climate adaptation will be featured in different events organized by technical assistance providers. What lessons learned can be extracted from these different experiences to identify success cases and shortcomings as we aim to design scalable and effective matchmaking approaches?
This session explored matchmaking models and collaboration frameworks for connecting country-driven adaptation needs with the strategic priorities of technical and financial partners. The discussion also focused on fostering conversation between countries and supporting institutions to understand how institutions can adjust their mechanisms and ways of working to become more responsive to NAP priorities. The session aimed at outline actionable recommendations for the NAP Implementation Alliance to improve the connection between needs and support across technical assistance and finance.
Host: NAP Implementation Alliance
Date: Wednesday, May 20
Time: 14:00–15:30 Kigali time (CAT/UTC+2)
Location: Seminar
Meeting to Facilitate an Exchange of Views on Enhancing the Provision of Support to the Least Developed Countries on Implementing NAPs
Pursuant to decision 15/CP.30, paragraph 14, the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) convened a meeting during NAP Expo 2026 to facilitate an exchange of views among relevant organizations and stakeholders on enhancing the provision of support to the least developed countries (LDCs) for implementing NAPs. This is an in-person meeting scheduled to take place on 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda from 0900-1030hrs during the NAP Expo.
The outcomes of the meeting will inform the work of the LEG and will be reflected in a summary to be included in the report of the Group to the Subsidiary Body for Implementation at its sixty-fifth session in November 2026.
Host: LEG
Date: Thursday , 21 May
Time: 9:00–18:00 Kigali time (CAT/UTC+2)
Location: Kigali Marriott Hotel
4.4 SCALA Advisory Group Meeting
This session, organized by UNDP and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), convened the SCALA Advisory Group, which provides recommendations to strengthen the overall workplan and technical outputs as well as suggestions on partnerships and collaboration opportunities. It aimed to share an overview of how the SCALA approach is delivering NAP implementation in agrifood systems, explored opportunities for scaling up the SCALA model, and identified opportunities for alignment and collaboration between UNDP, FAO and partners. The session included presentations on SCALA’s cumulative progress, knowledge insights and next steps for scaling up, followed by an interactive discussion to generate recommendations on replicability, scaling, and collaboration.
Host: UNDP, FAO
Date: Thursday , 21 May
Time: 12:30–14:00 Kigali time (CAT/UTC+2)
Location: Room Muhazi + Virunga
Discover the latest information and trends in National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).
Related Content
- BROCHURE | NAP Global Network Overview
- NEW REPORT | Integrating the Education Sector in the NAP Process
- ONLINE COURSE | Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning for NAP Processes
- ONLINE COURSE | Gender Equality and Social Inclusion in NAP Processes
- PUBLICATION | Toolkit for Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning for NAP Processes
- INVENTORY | Innovative Financial Instruments for Climate Change Adaptation
- VIDEO | What Is the National Adaptation Plan Process?
Contact
For more information on the NAP Global Network’s activities and engagements, contact the Secretariat team at info@napglobalnetwork.org.
For media enquiries, please get in touch with our Communications Officer, Adrian Estanol, at aestanol@iisd.ca and our Communications Manager, Juliet Perry, at jperry@iisd.ca.
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