Role of Development Partners in Adaptation Planning

This research paper, written by Philip M. Gwage of the Government of Uganda, examines the role of development partners (DPs) in supporting climate change adaptation in vulnerable countries, using Uganda as a primary case study. The author argues that while DPs are consulted on national planning, their most effective influence often occurs through collaboration with civil society organizations at the community level to promote indigenous technologies and reduce bureaucratic overhead. The paper emphasizes the need for DPs to shift from viewing climate change as a purely environmental issue to integrating it into broader development portfolios, with a specific focus on institutional strengthening, early warning systems, and the promotion of organic agriculture to build resilience in the rainfed agricultural sector.

• Development partners (DPs) in Uganda do not directly create National Development Plans or sectoral policies, but they are consulted during the process. Their ability to influence planning at the local and community levels is enhanced through direct collaboration with civil society organizations, which also increases investment efficiency by reducing "bureaucracy and overhead".
• In Uganda, the Development Partner Group (DPG) coordinates bilateral, multilateral, and UN agencies. Specific initiatives include the UN Joint Action Framework on Climate Change for Uganda—led by the World Food Programme—and support from the Royal Danish Government, which established the Climate Change Unit (CCU) within the Ministry of Water and Environment to coordinate the national response and implement the National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPA).
• A critical gap in adaptation is the weakness of institutional frameworks and reinforcement mechanisms in developing countries, which often leaves policies unused. The author asserts that investing in institutional development and establishing a functional national early warning system are essential for effective adaptation, particularly for reactive adaptation to disasters.
• Organic agriculture (OA) is identified as a key adaptation technology because it builds resilient farming systems, improves food security, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by avoiding synthetic fertilizers. The author suggests that the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) is the best-placed development partner to champion the implementation of OA in Uganda.
• Development partners can support adaptation by capturing and disseminating indigenous technologies and low-cost solutions, such as runoff water harvesting and small-scale drip irrigation. While local communities possess deep knowledge of local climates, increasing climate variability has made traditional knowledge less reliable, increasing the need for access to formal weather and climate information.

APA

Gwage, P. M. (2010). Role of Development Partners in Adaptation Planning. World Resources Institute. https://files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/2023-02/wrr-2010-11-question-3-response-1.pdf

Chicago

Gwage, Philip M. Role of Development Partners in Adaptation Planning. World Resources Institute, 2010. https://files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/2023-02/wrr-2010-11-question-3-response-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Gwage |first1=Philip M. |title=Role of Development Partners in Adaptation Planning |publisher=World Resources Institute |date=2010 |url=https://files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/2023-02/wrr-2010-11-question-3-response-1.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{gwage2010role, author = {Gwage, Philip M.}, title = {{Role of Development Partners in Adaptation Planning}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2010}, url = {https://files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/2023-02/wrr-2010-11-question-3-response-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }