NAPAs and NAPs in Least Developed Countries

This briefing describes the transition for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) from National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs), which address short-term urgent needs, to National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), which focus on medium- and long-term adaptation. It outlines the objectives of the NAP process, the use of 'no-regret' strategies, the integration of climate planning into national development, and the financial and monitoring challenges facing LDCs.

• The NAP process was established by COP 16 in 2010 to help Least Developed Countries (LDCs) plan for "medium- and long-term adaptation needs", building upon the National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs) which focused on "urgent and immediate adaptation needs".
• COP 17 defined two primary objectives for the NAP process: reducing vulnerability to climate change by increasing resilience and adaptive capacity, and integrating climate change adaptation into existing and new policies, activities, and development planning processes across all relevant sectors.
• Due to limited data quality and quantity in LDCs, countries are encouraged to use low-cost "no regret" adaptation strategies. Examples include the Solomon Islands and Rwanda, which focus on institutional environments, and Bangladesh and Nepal, which prioritise the most vulnerable populations or regions.
• Several LDCs have integrated climate change into national development strategies: the Solomon Islands via its National Development Strategy (2011–2021), Rwanda through Vision 2020, Uganda in its National Development Plan (2010/11–2014/15), Bangladesh via its Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, Bhutan in its 11th Five Year Development Plan (2013-2018), and Cambodia in its National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP) for 2014–2018.
• The Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) is the primary funding source for NAPAs and NAPs. However, funding is unpredictable and insufficient; implementing NAPAs alone is estimated to require roughly US$ 5 billion, with an additional US$ 3 billion needed for the LDCF to meet this requirement, excluding co-financing.
• LDCs are seeking clarity on the Green Climate Fund (GCF) business model, specifically regarding 'enhanced direct access'. This modality could increase country ownership and reduce transaction costs by allowing access through national or regional funding entities.
• Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) for NAPs is challenging because mainstreaming adaptation into development makes it difficult to distinguish adaptation measures from 'business as usual'. Cambodia is developing an M&E system for its 10-year Strategic Plan of Rural Development for Climate Change Adaptation (2013-2022) to be used for decision-making rather than just reporting.

APA

Kissinger, G., & Namgyel, T. (2014). NAPAs and NAPs in Least Developed Countries. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/LDC-briefing_NAPs.pdf

Chicago

Kissinger, Gabrielle, and Thinley Namgyel. NAPAs and NAPs in Least Developed Countries. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2014. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/LDC-briefing_NAPs.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kissinger |first1=Gabrielle |last2=Namgyel |first2=Thinley |title=NAPAs and NAPs in Least Developed Countries |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=2014 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/LDC-briefing_NAPs.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kissinger2014napas, author = {Kissinger, Gabrielle and Namgyel, Thinley}, title = {{NAPAs and NAPs in Least Developed Countries}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2014}, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/LDC-briefing_NAPs.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }