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The document outlines Ethiopia's approach to establishing a climate-resilient green economy, emphasizing the role of political leadership, national ownership, and the integration of climate goals into development planning to attract international finance.

The Ríos del Páramo al Valle project (2012-2015) utilized a participatory robust decision support (RDS) process to help Colombian regional water governance agencies (CARs) and academic institutions integrate climate considerations into watershed planning. Key findings highlight the need for stronger personnel commitments from CARs, streamlined model-building processes to reduce frustration, and better characterization of data uncertainties to increase trust in modelling tools. Governance recommendations include better alignment between watershed planning and mandated planning instruments, as well as improved learning exchanges between regional and national levels to overcome challenges posed by Colombia's decentralized water governance system.

The document outlines five key conclusions for developing countries creating INDCs: treating them as political statements, establishing clear structures, leveraging existing policies, conducting broad consultations, and planning for implementation. It emphasizes the need to balance ambition with feasibility, often through a combination of unilateral and conditional contributions, while aligning climate actions with national development priorities and Sustainable Development Goals.

The document examines Rwanda's approach to integrating climate resilience and green growth into national planning and finance. It highlights the role of strong inter-ministerial alliances, the establishment of the Environment and Climate Change Fund (FONERWA), and the use of budget mainstreaming tools. While noting successes in legislative backing and demonstration projects, it identifies persistent challenges in subnational capacity and the need for costed implementation plans for national strategies.

The document examines the integration of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) and community-based adaptation (CbA) through the EU-funded EcoAdapt project. By utilizing the Model Forests approach in Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile, the project sought to develop long-term climate adaptation strategies for water resources. The integration aims to combine the protection of biodiversity and ecosystem services with the empowerment of local communities to identify their own needs. Key benefits identified include increased community ownership, a better understanding of socio-ecological interconnections, and a more holistic view of large-scale environmental processes. However, the project faced challenges such as waning community motivation, inclusive participation gaps—specifically with cattle ranchers in Bolivia—and instabilities within the public sector. The briefing concludes that successful up-scaling requires a socio-ecological systems approach, secure finance, supportive public policies, and the development of accessible tools for local actors.

Kenya aims to expand its geothermal power capacity to 5,000 MW by 2030 to support low-carbon development and reduce reliance on hydropower. To achieve this, the government developed a Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) designed to mobilise private sector investment and international technical support. While Kenya had an installed geothermal capacity of approximately 340 MW as of October 2014, the development of the NAMA faced hurdles including stakeholder buy-in, securing financial partners, and addressing 'additionality' questions. Lessons learned emphasize the importance of tailored communication and aligning the NAMA's scope with broader sectoral transformation.

Kenya developed a Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) to accelerate geothermal power expansion by increasing private sector investment. The process highlighted several institutional and financial barriers, including a lack of stakeholder awareness and the rigid processes of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs). Key lessons include the need for tailored communication and a 'prospectus' approach to documenting NAMA options for donors. The NAMA aims to support 820 MW of additional capacity by 2020, contributing to a long-term goal of 5,000 MW by 2030.

The briefing analyzes the six-year experience of the Climate Investment Funds (CIFs) as a 'living laboratory' to offer strategic advice for the Green Climate Fund (GCF). It highlights the need for balancing rapid fund deployment with detailed operational guidelines, the importance of evidence-based learning despite costs, and the necessity of clear theories of change for achieving transformational impacts. Additionally, it emphasizes the need for an early definition of risk appetite to avoid limiting investment instruments and the critical role of multi-stakeholder partnerships in project design and implementation.

The document argues that climate compatible development is won or lost at the subnational level, where local actors face intense pressure from climate extremes but possess unique advantages in local knowledge and cross-sectoral coordination. It identifies key barriers, such as scientific uncertainty at local scales and a gap between public expectations and available resources. To overcome these, the paper recommends strategies including the cultivation of local political 'champions', the creation of 'knowledge partnerships' to translate climate science for communities, and the use of participatory planning to mobilise in-kind resources. It emphasizes that for these local successes to contribute to global transformational change, they must be 'scaled out' to other localities and 'scaled up' into national policy frameworks.

The report evaluates the impact of the Coral Triangle Support Partnership (CTSP), a consortium of Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, and WWF-US, funded by USAID. The program focused on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM), and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) across Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste. Key achievements include the improved management of over 11 million hectares of marine and coastal areas, the adoption of over 100 policies, and the training of over 10,000 individuals. The report highlights the necessity of regional-scale management for transboundary marine resources but notes challenges such as political instability, weak enforcement capacity, and telecommunications gaps. It concludes that sustainable ocean governance requires government leadership, community engagement, and integrated ecosystem-based approaches.

The document outlines the evolution of weADAPT from its 2007 launch as wikiADAPT, detailing the transition from a simple wiki to a sophisticated knowledge platform. It highlights the critical role of trust, long-standing relationships, and face-to-face engagement in overcoming barriers to knowledge-sharing. Key technical improvements discussed include semantic tagging for better searchability, a user-friendly editing interface, and the creation of the Google Earth Adaptation Layer for spatial case studies. The authors argue that a successful platform must move beyond simple information supply to support actual decision-making through tools and a distributed ownership model involving expert Knowledge Partners.

The document outlines the role of the Coalition for Rainforest Nations (CfRN) in supporting developing countries during international climate negotiations, specifically focusing on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+). It argues that the Kyoto Protocol failed to address deforestation, which accounts for approximately 20% of annual global CO2 emissions, and details CfRN's strategies for capacity building, including technical support, negotiation training, and securing leadership roles for delegates. Case studies from the Dominican Republic, Papua New Guinea, and Liberia illustrate the practical application of these supports in national policy and international diplomacy.

The document identifies six key lessons for supporting international climate negotiators from vulnerable nations, emphasizing the importance of early alignment on priorities, maintaining institutional memory, and providing both administrative and technical assistance. It highlights that while technical support can increase a delegation's ability to draft text and influence outcomes, such support must be delivered neutrally and confidentially to respect national sovereignty.

The report evaluates the implementation of REDD+ readiness in the Republic of Congo, noting progress in scientific capacity and institutional strength while recommending that capacity building and stakeholder engagement be prioritised early to ensure integration into sustainable development.

The document details an expert meeting held in April 2012 to address two critical determinants of REDD+ success: the development of Safeguard Information Systems (SIS) and the fostering of effective private sector engagement. It highlights the need for flexible, country-driven SIS that leverage existing national and international architectures to keep transaction costs low. Regarding the private sector, the report emphasizes that policy clarity, certainty on carbon rights, and a 'nested approach' to accounting are essential to attract investment. The report also identifies significant capacity gaps in MRV, safeguards, and benefit-sharing systems across national and local levels.

The report details a meeting of experts and negotiators in Durban, South Africa, focused on transitioning REDD+ from international negotiation to national implementation. It identifies measurement, reporting and verification (MRV), safeguards, and financing as the three critical pillars for research and policy development. The document emphasizes the need to translate international agreements into local policies through stakeholder engagement and the use of lessons from 'early mover' countries to inform methodologies and governance.

The document argues that climate compatible development (CCD) planning in developing countries is often skewed toward external accountability to secure international finance, which can lead to ineffective domestic outcomes. To address this, the authors analyze experiences from the Rio Conventions and Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) processes, recommending multi-stakeholder engagement, evidence-based planning, wide communication, integrated planning across sectors and scales, and robust monitoring and evaluation to ensure that CCD strategies address real domestic needs while meeting international standards.

The document outlines the UNDP's strategy to integrate climate change adaptation into national development priorities, emphasizing the need to move beyond technical climate modeling toward strengthening political leadership, financial management, and accountability systems. It identifies four primary barriers to effective national decision-making: sporadic political commitment, fragmented technical knowledge, limited institutional capacity for direct fund access, and weak reporting systems. To address these, the UNDP implements initiatives such as the Africa Adaptation Programme and the Adaptation Learning Mechanism, while promoting the use of National Multi-Donor Climate Funds to shift from agency-led to nationally-led financial management.

The WACDEP capacity development programme (2012-2015) trained approximately 140 participants across eight African countries to identify and implement 'no/low regret' investments for water security. The programme emphasized national ownership, the use of local trainers, and the integration of training with active national policy processes. Key results included the enhancement of Burkina Faso's National Adaptation Planning process, the development of a funded urban flood management project in Maputo, Mozambique, and the revision of water and land planning Terms of Reference in Tunisia. The brief concludes that decentralised management and mentor-supported learning are critical for translating capacity building into tangible development outcomes.

The study examines how COVID-19 affected the fiscal positions and debt sustainability of MEFMI member countries, noting a sharp increase in average debt-to-GDP ratios from 63.6% in 2019 to 70.6% in 2020. It highlights the critical role of Local Currency Bond Markets (LCBMs) and international initiatives like the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) in maintaining stability. The report identifies significant gaps in operational risk management, specifically the absence of business continuity plans in most member states, and recommends strengthening institutional capacity, technology investment, and the development of transparent debt management strategies to build future resilience.