The Role of the NAP Process in Advancing the Implementation of the Adaptation Goals Under the Paris Agreement

The report details a workshop focused on aligning National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It argues that while NDCs set high-level adaptation goals, the NAP process provides the technical and operational framework to implement, monitor, and translate these goals to local levels. Key findings indicate that most participating countries have not yet established direct links between the two processes, though all aspire to 'systematic alignment' where NDC adaptation content is derived directly from the NAP process. Challenges include institutional silos, differing timelines, and political economy factors, while opportunities include improved climate finance mobilization and reduced duplication of effort.

• The NAP process and NDCs are interrelated components of climate response under the Paris Agreement; NDCs establish high-level goals and targets, while the NAP process serves as the 'operational vehicle' to plan, implement, and monitor those adaptation commitments.
• Linking NAPs and NDCs allows countries to translate high-level national adaptation objectives into actionable planning at sub-national and local levels.
• Alignment between the two processes can increase efficiency and coherence by avoiding the duplication of efforts, particularly since both are often managed within the same government ministry.
• A significant gap exists in current implementation: most countries have not yet created a direct link between their NAP process and their NDC, although there is a universal aspiration among participants for 'systematic alignment'.
• Institutional barriers hinder alignment, including a lack of understanding of the processes among government actors and the tendency for institutional processes to run in parallel.
• Political economy and conflict-of-interest factors can obstruct alignment, as shifting resources or power between policy processes may alienate certain beneficiaries or stakeholders.
• The Tool for Assessing Adaptation in the NDCs (TAAN) reveals that 131 out of 176 NDCs include an adaptation component, but only 44% of those specifically mention the NAP process.
• Togo provides a case study of synergy where its National Development Plan (NDP) 2018–2022 serves as the mechanism to implement both its National Climate Change Adaptation Plan (NCCAP) and its NDC.
• Participants identified several 'bold steps' for successful alignment, including the creation of a central coordination body to link NAPs, NDCs, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the development of joint M&E frameworks with common indicators.

APA

Terton, A. (2018). The Role of the NAP Process in Advancing the Implementation of the Adaptation Goals Under the Paris Agreement. NAP Global Network. https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/nap-en-2019—workshop-reports-the-role-of-the-nap-process-in-advancing-the-implementation-of-the-adaptation-goals-under-the-paris-agreement.pdf

Chicago

Terton, Anika. The Role of the NAP Process in Advancing the Implementation of the Adaptation Goals Under the Paris Agreement. NAP Global Network, 2018. https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/nap-en-2019—workshop-reports-the-role-of-the-nap-process-in-advancing-the-implementation-of-the-adaptation-goals-under-the-paris-agreement.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Terton |first1=Anika |title=The Role of the NAP Process in Advancing the Implementation of the Adaptation Goals Under the Paris Agreement |publisher=NAP Global Network |date=December 2018 |url=https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/nap-en-2019—workshop-reports-the-role-of-the-nap-process-in-advancing-the-implementation-of-the-adaptation-goals-under-the-paris-agreement.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{terton2018role, author = {Terton, Anika}, title = {{The Role of the NAP Process in Advancing the Implementation of the Adaptation Goals Under the Paris Agreement}}, institution = {NAP Global Network}, year = {2018}, month = dec, url = {https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/nap-en-2019—workshop-reports-the-role-of-the-nap-process-in-advancing-the-implementation-of-the-adaptation-goals-under-the-paris-agreement.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }