ALM UNDP

Summary:

Project Rationale and Objectives _(as outlined in the Project Document of 7 March 2003)_ The Least Developed Countries (LDCs) represent the poorest and weakest segment of the international community. The economic and social development of these countries represents a major challenge because of a series of vulnerabilities and constraints, such as limited human, institutions and productive LDCs themselves, as well as for their development partners. Extreme poverty, the structural weakness of their economies and the lack of capacities related to growth and development - often compounded by geographical handicaps- hamper efforts by these countries to improve effectively the quality of life of their peoples. These countries are characterized by their exposure capacities; acute susceptibility to external economic shocks, natural and man-made disasters and communicable diseases; limited access to education, health and other social services and to natural resources; poor infrastructure; and lack of access to information and communication technologies. The LDC Expert Group (the LEG), together with adaptation experts, are firmly convinced that the experience gained in adapting to climate change and extreme climatic events will also make it possible to develop the long-term capacity of LDCs to adapt to climate change. This experience is the most important since it is currently hard to foresee precisely what impact and negative effects climate change will have, particularly at the local and regional levels. The objectives of this project is to develop the ability of LDCs to prepare and plan for the implementation of National Adaptation Plans of Action (NAPA) with a view to enhancing synergies among the Rio Conventions and integrating climate change issues into national plans and strategies. This objective will be reached through the preparation and the organization of a series of the workshops to: * Inform participants and increase their awareness of applying the guidelines on NAPAs using concrete examples. * Encourage discussion among the various players involved and promote their proactive commitment to the NAPA creation process. * Provide concrete support to LDCs UNFCCC Focal Points from GEF IAs to successfully implement their NAPAs GEF projects.

Implementation Country or countries in which the project is being implemented: 1. Pacific SIDS LDCs: in Samoa for Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. 2. Anglophone LDCs: in Ethiopia for Eritrea, Gambia, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Yemen. 3. Francophone LDCs: in Burkina Faso for Angola, Djibouti, Madagascar, Benin, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, Comoros, Congo (Republic Democratic), Rwanda, Haiti, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Sao Tome-and-Principe, Senegal, Sudan and Togo. 4. Asian LDCS: in Bhutan for Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal and Lao People’s Democratic Republic.