Developed and developing country governments gave an important signal for action on adaptation by deciding which countries will be offered funding under a pilot program within the USD6 billion Climate Investment Funds (CIF).
Bangladesh, Bolivia, Cambodia, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Tajikistan and Zambia have been invited to participate in the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR) which will provide about USD500 million for scaled up action and transformational change in integrating climate resilience in national development planning. The PPCR is part of the CIF’s Strategic Climate Fund.
Members of the governing body, the PPCR Sub-Committee, met in Washington and agreed on these countries on the basis of recommendations of an independent Expert Group. The criteria used to identify the countries include the level of vulnerability to climate change hazards and risks, country preparedness to move towards climate resilient development plans, and country distribution across regions and types of hazards.
Sami Sofan, Yemeni Co-Chair of the PPCR Sub-Committee said “Funding levels for adaptation are extremely low considering the current and future burden that the poorest countries are shouldering. The developed countries are sending an important signal by providing these additional resources so that we may get started on this innovative programmatic approach to address climate resilience through development planning and investments. ”
Robin Davies, Australian Co-Chair of the PPCR Sub-Committee said “There is no single blueprint for how countries will use these resources. The aim is to give the poorest and most vulnerable countries the opportunity to transform their development planning by integrating climate change considerations. It will be crucial that we share lessons learned on what works and what doesn’t as quickly and widely as possible, together with the multilateral development banks and other partners.”
Pilot programs will be country-led and country-specific and build on National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs) and other relevant country studies, programs and pilots. The pilot program will also be strategically aligned with the Kyoto Protocol’s Adaptation Fund and other funding.
The PPCR pilot activities are expected to strengthen a country’s ability to plan and implement resilient development programs, particularly focusing on highly vulnerable sectors such as agriculture and water, and through strengthening institutional processes and structures.
Possible approaches include: combining existing engineered coastal protection approaches in a country with nature-based adaptation through restoration of vast coastal mangrove areas; enhancing flood forecasting systems and community-based risk reduction measures; increasing food security by shifting cropping patterns and varieties in response to changed rainfall patterns.
