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The document defines Vertical Integration as the strategic linking of national and sub-national efforts in climate adaptation. It emphasizes that this process ensures adaptation considerations are integrated across all levels of government and society, leveraging local expertise to support vulnerable groups. The text identifies institutional frameworks, information sharing, and capacity development as the three key drivers of this integration. It further explains that while decentralization provides a strong foundation for Vertical Integration by shifting decision-making closer to citizens, countries with less advanced decentralization must find alternative ways to engage sub-national actors.

The document analyzes the institutional frameworks for climate change adaptation in Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Lucia, emphasizing that effective adaptation depends on governance processes, national-level policymaking, and civil society engagement. While both nations have developed adaptation policies and contributed to the UNFCCC, the analysis finds a need for more thorough vulnerability assessments and the creation of adaptation activity inventories to improve transparency and reduce duplication.

The document outlines a framework for financing National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes, distinguishing between the development phase (planning and coordination) and the implementation phase (execution of adaptation actions). It identifies domestic public revenues, bilateral providers, multilateral funds, and private sector actors as key funding sources. The guide emphasizes the need for a dedicated financing strategy to bridge funding gaps and align national priorities with available financial instruments, while highlighting the critical role of senior-level political commitment and the integration of adaptation costs into national budgeting cycles.

The document outlines a comprehensive framework for financing National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes, distinguishing between the lower-cost 'development phase' (planning and coordination) and the high-cost 'implementation phase' (execution of adaptation actions). It identifies four primary funding streams: national public finance (budgets, fiscal instruments, and national climate funds), bilateral providers (grants and technical assistance), multilateral funds (such as the Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund), and the private sector (through direct investment and public-private partnerships). The guide emphasizes the necessity of a tailored financing strategy that identifies funding gaps, determines appropriate financial instruments, and establishes operational steps to align national adaptation priorities with available resources.

The document outlines a strategic framework for financing National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes, distinguishing between the 'elaboration phase' (planning and coordination) and the 'execution phase' (implementation of priority measures). It identifies four primary funding streams: domestic public revenues, bilateral providers, multilateral funds, and the private sector. While elaboration is typically funded by public and bilateral grants, the more costly execution phase requires a diversified mix of public and private capital. The brief recommends that countries develop a dedicated NAP financing strategy that identifies funding gaps, determines appropriate financial instruments, and defines operational steps to improve access to resources.

The document asserts that meeting the Paris Agreement's goals of keeping warming "well below 2°C" requires a phase-down of coal, oil, and natural gas production. It identifies six primary mechanisms within the UNFCCC framework to achieve this: incorporating supply-side targets in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), planning managed declines in long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies (LTSs), tracking extraction via the global stocktake, providing technical capacity-building support, redirecting finance away from fossil fuel infrastructure, and providing developed-country assistance to developing nations for economic transitions.

The document argues that active participation by under-represented groups, particularly women, is essential for creating just and sustainable climate adaptation policies. It emphasizes that positive change requires conscientious action rather than mere intention, as 'gender blind' processes often reinforce existing inequities. To achieve this, the brief provides a 'toolbox' of guidelines for SEI-US trainers divided into three phases: starting the conversation (e.g., ensuring diversity among trainers), creating an inclusive learning environment (e.g., selecting accessible locations and prioritizing sanitation), and monitoring and evaluation (e.g., measuring the quality, not just the quantity, of participation).

The report analyzes seven multilateral climate funds—the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Global Environment Facility (GEF), Adaptation Fund (AF), Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), and the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) and Strategic Climate Fund (SCF)—against five strategies for transformative change: achieving impact at scale, promoting country ownership, improving efficiency, supporting equitable allocation, and increasing accountability. It finds that the proliferation of funds has led to overlapping roles and inefficiencies. The authors recommend short-term reforms to clarify fund specialization and long-term architectural changes, including the potential consolidation or sunsetting of certain funds, such as the CIFs, SCCF, and LDCF, to streamline the climate finance landscape.

As of November 2016, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) had approved 74 readiness and preparatory support requests for 61 countries, totaling USD 21.9 million. The programme focuses on strengthening national designated authorities (NDAs), supporting the accreditation of direct access entities, and facilitating adaptation planning. While cumulative commitments from 2014-2016 totaled approximately USD 24.6 million, projected demand for 2017 is expected to rise significantly to over USD 120 million, driven by increased interest in national adaptation plans and strategic frameworks. The GCF is also expanding its support for direct access entities and coordinating with international partners to streamline readiness support.

The document explains that the Paris Agreement requires a detailed "rule book" to provide operational guidance on transparency, accountability, and the review of collective efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 - 2 degrees C. It identifies key challenges in designing these rules, including the need for "build-in flexibility" for countries with differing capabilities and the risk of double-counting emissions reductions. The briefing expects COP22 in Marrakech to establish a roadmap for finalizing these rules by 2018, operationalize capacity-building initiatives, and set the stage for more ambitious nationally determined contributions (NDCs) by 2020.

In November 2013, the Renewables Academy AG (RENAC) conducted a three-day training workshop in Nairobi for Kenya Power and the Rural Electrification Authority (REA). The program aimed to reduce reliance on expensive and polluting diesel generators in rural areas, where the electrification rate was only 5% in 2013. The training covered system engineering, energy audits, and tendering processes to help the Government of Kenya scale up renewable energy integration in remote mini-grids.

The GCF-EBRD SEFF co-financing Programme aims to mobilize private sector climate finance by providing credit lines and technical support to local partner financial institutions (PFIs). The programme targets 13 countries, with an initial focus on Egypt, Georgia, Morocco, Tajikistan, and Tunisia, to finance over 20,000 projects in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate resilience. With a total budget of USD 1,538.5 million, the initiative seeks to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 29 million tonnes over its lifetime and create around 11,500 green jobs.

The report highlights that while African countries have shown ambition in their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), they lack the financial resources, technical capacity, and institutional frameworks necessary for implementation. It emphasizes the need for a shift from top-down to bottom-up adaptation strategies, the integration of climate change into national education curricula, and the harmonisation of regional policies, particularly within the East African Community. The document argues for a comprehensive African research agenda to generate evidence-based policies and the use of 'hooks' to align climate action with sustainable development goals to limit temperature increases to 1.5°C.

This research paper assesses South Africa's role as an emerging development partner in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Using the NeST analytical framework, it examines the scope and quality of South African initiatives in peace, security, and state-building. The study finds that South Africa is a significant development partner, often exceeding traditional OECD donors when measured relative to Gross National Income. While the partnership is characterized by high levels of trust and demand-driven support, it suffers from fragmented coordination, weak monitoring and evaluation systems, and a lack of clear strategic objectives. The document highlights specific contributions in electoral support, public sector reform, and infrastructure financing, while noting challenges such as political instability in the DRC and bureaucratic inefficiencies in South Africa.

The report identifies Burkina Faso's vulnerability to climate change due to its reliance on agriculture and livestock, and outlines the government's response through adaptation planning and the mainstreaming of climate considerations into priority sectors.

The report identifies Tajikistan as one of Central Asia's most vulnerable countries to climate change, specifically highlighting risks to water quality, availability, and the increasing severity of natural disasters. While the government has identified these critical concerns, capacity limitations have hindered the integration of climate change into development policies. Current efforts to address these gaps include the Strategic Program for Climate Resilience and the development of a national adaptation strategy and action plan.

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 document evaluates a capacity development programme on water security and climate resilient development involving 140 participants and 30 mentors across eight African nations. While it notes that the capacity to integrate climate change into national planning remains limited in most of these countries, the programme successfully fostered individual and institutional learning and sparked ongoing initiatives to include climate considerations in national development. The brief suggests that future iterations of the programme would be more cost-effective due to existing investments in learning materials and training of trainers.

The document evaluates FSD Kenya's role in expanding financial inclusion from 27.4% in 2006 to 66.7% in 2013. It highlights successes in capacity building for banks (notably Equity Bank), facilitating the regulatory environment for M-Pesa, and developing public infrastructure like credit information sharing and an interbank payments switch. However, it notes failures in the SACCO sector and limited impact on the 'real economy' (agriculture and SMEs) due to misaligned incentives. The study concludes that while the financial system is more inclusive, the primary beneficiaries have been those above the poverty line and the supply-side providers.

The Water, Climate and Development Programme for Africa (WACDEP), managed by the Global Water Partnership, aimed to integrate water security and climate resilience into development planning. Its capacity development component, launched in August 2011, engaged 170 people across eight countries through workshops and mentor-supported action plans. The programme found that strong national ownership and local management were critical for translating training into tangible results and closing the gap between learning and professional duties.