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The document argues that aligning national policy processes—specifically those related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies—increases coherence, efficiency, and effectiveness in achieving climate-resilient development. It defines alignment as the identification of synergies between policies with common goals, distinguishing it from 'mainstreaming' (the integration of climate considerations into a single plan). The briefing outlines a progression of alignment from informal collaboration to systematic alignment, noting that success depends on political will, institutional arrangements, and the capacity of government actors. It emphasizes that while national governments lead these processes, implementation occurs primarily at the subnational level, necessitating a coordinated approach to avoid overburdening local authorities.

The document argues that aligning national policy processes—specifically those related to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies—increases the coherence, efficiency, and effectiveness of climate-resilient development. It defines alignment as the identification of synergies between policies with common goals and presents a continuum of alignment ranging from informal collaboration to systematic alignment. The briefing emphasizes that while alignment is often hindered by administrative barriers between government ministries, it is essential for reducing the burden on subnational actors and improving overall development outcomes.

The project aims to reduce climate-related disaster risks in Nepal's West Seti sub-river basin by implementing integrated sub-watershed adaptation and management plans (SWAMPs) and enhancing the resilience of large-scale infrastructure. It seeks USD 25 million from the Green Climate Fund to benefit approximately 494,116 people, with a total project cost of USD 40 million. Key activities include forest restoration, the installation of solar micro-grids and improved cook stoves, and the establishment of a performance-based climate resilience grants system for local governments.

A coalition of 19 organizations advocates for the adoption of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA) and the PREPARE Act in the U.S. Senate's FAA Reauthorization legislation. The letter argues that shifting federal resources toward pre-disaster mitigation and updating building codes will reduce fatalities and long-term federal spending. It specifically promotes the use of green infrastructure, nature-based defenses, and distributed energy resources to protect critical infrastructure from extreme weather events.

The Independent Evaluation Unit (IEU) reported progress on its 2018 work plan between January and May 2018, focusing on institutional strengthening, the development of a GCF evaluation policy, and the initiation of several key evaluations. The IEU is developing an evaluation policy through extensive stakeholder consultations and a reference group of international agencies. Key technical activities include the creation of evidence maps for forestry, adaptation, and transformational change, as well as a study on the evaluability of the GCF portfolio. The unit is also conducting a readiness evaluation and reviewing the GCF results management framework. To support these goals, the IEU has established partnerships with organizations such as the FAO and the Global Development Network and has launched a new website and newsletter to communicate standards and findings. As of April 30, 2018, the IEU had utilized 22% of its approved annual budget of USD 2,953,867.

The document emphasizes the urgent need to strengthen science and technology-based disaster risk reduction (DRR) capacity in Asia to meet 2030 global goals. It advocates for a shift from managing disasters to reducing risks by improving the understanding of risk dimensions, integrating risk governance into planning, and utilizing cost-benefit analyses for resilience investments. The text highlights Asia's vulnerability to high-frequency, high-intensity hazards and argues that global DRR targets cannot be achieved unless disaster casualties and property losses decrease within the region.

The Innovations for Resilience Convening, co-hosted by the Global Resilience Partnership, WFP, UNDP, and 1BC, focused on the role of technology and cross-sector partnerships in building community resilience. The report identifies key barriers to scaling innovations—such as rigid funding cycles and risk aversion—and showcases specific projects including satellite-based credit in the Horn of Africa, drone mapping in the Maldives, and hydroponics in Algeria. It emphasizes the need for 'disruptive change' and a 'fail fast' mindset to move from gradual development improvements to exponential growth in resilience.

The policy brief assesses the evolution of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and identifies strategic opportunities for South Africa during its 2017-2018 chairmanship. While acknowledging IORA's progress in establishing priority areas like the Blue Economy and maritime security, the author argues that the organisation is hindered by a consensus-based decision-making process that avoids controversy and a 'member-driven approach' that lacks continuity and transparency. The brief recommends that South Africa focus on institutional reforms to better integrate academic and policy research, strengthen ties with other African member states and the 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy, and improve the Secretariat's monitoring and reporting functions.

The report analyzes gender-based vulnerabilities to climate-induced hazards in Georgia, such as floods, landslides, and droughts. It identifies systemic inequalities in political representation, economic resources, and domestic roles that increase the risk for women, elderly, and persons with disabilities. The document proposes a Gender Action Plan to integrate sex- and age-disaggregated data, ensure at least 30% female representation in project activities, and tailor early warning systems to the specific needs of vulnerable groups.

The report analyzes the systemic gender inequalities in Bangladesh and how they exacerbate women's vulnerability to climate change, specifically salinity intrusion in coastal regions. It proposes a gender-transformative project to provide safe drinking water via Rain Water Harvesting and support climate-resilient livelihoods, such as crab farming and homestead gardening, while addressing structural barriers like land tenure and social norms.

The Philippines utilizes a nationally driven approach to climate adaptation, where the National Adaptation Plan is envisioned as a derivative of the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) 2011–2028. The process is led by the Climate Change Commission (CCC) using a "whole of nation approach" that integrates stakeholders from government, academia, business, and civil society, while aligning with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan and the Philippine Development Plan.

The authors highlight that significant knowledge gaps in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction are often caused by an inability to find relevant information rather than a lack of knowledge. They propose the creation of a climate change "translator" and the adoption of more considered knowledge-sharing practices to prevent redundancies and improve collaboration across fragmented internet locations.

The Tonga Green Climate Fund Country Programme identifies 29 priority initiatives—comprising 12 adaptation, 4 mitigation, 9 cross-cutting projects, 3 readiness support initiatives, and 1 project preparation grant—with a total estimated cost of USD $486.33 million. The programme focuses on critical vulnerabilities including sea-level rise, tropical cyclones, and drought, aligning with the Tonga Strategic Development Framework 2015-2025 and the Second Joint National Action Plan on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management (JNAP 2). Key priorities include renewable energy expansion, coastal resilience, climate-smart agriculture, and the climate-proofing of urban infrastructure in Nuku’alofa.

The Republic of Fiji National Adaptation Plan (2018) is a strategic framework designed to transition the country toward a climate-resilient development pathway. It identifies 160 prioritised adaptation measures across ten components: five systemic (climate information, horizontal integration, vertical integration, awareness, and resource mobilisation) and five sectoral (food security, health, human settlements, infrastructure, and biodiversity). The plan emphasizes a 'theory of change' that combines the removal of adaptation barriers with the mitigation of sectoral risks, grounded in ecosystem-based and gender- and human rights-based approaches. Key goals include mainstreaming climate risk into all levels of government decision-making, improving the availability of high-resolution climate data, and enhancing the resilience of critical infrastructure and food systems to combat hazards such as tropical cyclones, sea-level rise, and flooding.

The Republic of Fiji's 2018 National Adaptation Plan (NAP) provides a strategic framework to address climate vulnerabilities through 160 prioritised actions. The plan focuses on systemic changes—such as horizontal and vertical integration of climate risk into planning—and sectoral adaptations in food security, health, human settlements, infrastructure, and biodiversity. It emphasizes a 'theory of change' where adaptation is synonymous with climate-resilient development, integrating ecosystem-based and human-rights-based approaches to protect vulnerable populations and critical economic sectors from hazards like tropical cyclones, sea-level rise, and flooding.

Nepal is currently in the formulation phase of its National Adaptation Plan (NAP), utilizing an integrated, multidisciplinary approach across seven thematic areas and two cross-cutting issues. The process emphasizes inclusivity, stakeholder engagement, and scientific rigor, building upon previous frameworks like the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) and Local Adaptation Plans for Action (LAPA). Key challenges include aligning the NAP with ongoing government restructuring and ensuring meaningful participation of marginalized groups. Future priorities focus on engaging provincial and local governments, developing a formal NAP framework, synthesizing local vulnerability data, and creating a comprehensive financing strategy to transition from planning to implementation.

The CASCADE project seeks to enhance urban and macro-regional resilience in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) by adapting risk assessment methodologies to the climate change context. The initiative focuses on bridging the gap between climate change professionals and civil protection experts, aligning with the UN Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and the Baltic 2030 Action Plan. The project intends to produce a training course for city officials responsible for civil protection that can be replicated across BSR countries and to initiate a region-wide policy dialogue on cross-sectorial cooperation and policy coherence regarding climate risk assessments.

The report assesses the integration of gender equality into Kiribati's climate adaptation planning, finding that while the Joint Implementation Plan on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management (KJIP) represents a positive shift from previous gender-blind documents, significant gaps remain. Gender mainstreaming in Kiribati has historically focused almost exclusively on domestic violence, leaving a lack of understanding regarding the specific linkages between gender equality and climate adaptation. The study highlights that women are often positioned as victims rather than agents of change and notes a lack of sex-disaggregated data to inform adaptation options. Recommendations include framing gender equality through a 'climate-resilient family' lens, strengthening the link between women's economic empowerment and adaptation, and formally integrating the Ministry of Women, Youth and Social Affairs (MWYSA) into the Kiribati National Experts Group on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management (KNEG).

The report assesses the integration of gender equality into Kiribati's climate adaptation planning, finding that while the KJIP represents a positive shift from previous gender-blind documents, significant gaps remain in gender analysis and institutional coordination. It highlights that gender equality in Kiribati has historically been reduced to addressing domestic violence, leaving a lack of understanding regarding the specific linkages between gender and climate change. The study recommends a family-focused approach to gender equality, strengthening women's economic empowerment, and formally integrating the Ministry of Women, Youth and Social Affairs (MWYSA) into the national climate coordination body (KNEG).

Between 2010 and 2015, US$ 978 million in climate finance was committed to seven Indian Ocean and African SIDS, with 83% of these funds concentrated in Cape Verde and Mauritius. The financing was dominated by bilateral ODA loans (74%) and primarily targeted mitigation (56%) over adaptation (42%). Sectoral focus was narrow, concentrating on water and sanitation, energy, and general environmental protection, while critical resilience sectors like health, education, and agriculture were largely ignored. Disbursement rates were notably low, with only 39% of committed funds actually spent across the region, a rate significantly lower than for non-climate ODA.