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Timor-Leste has utilized its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process to mainstream Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), linking environmental protection with climate action. The NAP, ratified in September 2020 and submitted to the UNFCCC in March 2021, identifies EbA as one of 14 guiding principles to maximize co-benefits between adaptation and environmental protection. The process emphasizes a systemic approach across five ecological zones and integrates traditional customs, specifically Tarabandu, to ensure community-led implementation and social cohesion in a post-conflict context. The government aims to align these efforts with its Strategic Development Plan 2011–2030 and international frameworks like the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework.

The project targets the Luangwa Upper Sub-catchment in Mafinga District, Zambia, to secure the river's source and maintain water flow and quality. It addresses threats from shifting agriculture (chitemene), unsustainable wood collection, and forest fires. The strategy involves improving the management of the Mafinga Hills National Forest Reserve, establishing the first Water Resource Protection Area (WRPA) in Zambia, and promoting climate-resilient conservation agriculture and community forestry. The project is funded by the GEF with a total cost of US$ 24,738,355, including significant co-financing.

The project targets the Luangwa Upper Sub-Catchment in Zambia's Muchinga Province, specifically focusing on the Mafinga Hills National Forest Reserve and surrounding lands. It aims to combat deforestation and land degradation caused by shifting agriculture (chitemene), unsustainable wood collection, and forest fires. The strategy involves improving the management of the Mafinga Hills NFR, establishing a new Water Resource Protection Area (WRPA), and promoting climate-resilient conservation agriculture and community forestry. The project is funded by the GEF and implemented by the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment with technical support from WWF.

The GFCR Investment Window is a proposed $500 million fund, with $125 million requested from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) as a first-loss equity position. Managed by Pegasus Capital Advisors, the fund targets 'climate refugia'—reefs most likely to survive warming oceans—by investing in sustainable ocean production, ecotourism, and sustainable infrastructure to reduce local stressors. The program aims to protect 29,000 hectares of reef, create over 12,700 direct jobs, and benefit over 35 million people indirectly. It utilizes a dual-window model, pairing the Investment Window with a Grant Window to provide technical assistance and pipeline incubation.

The evaluation finds that while the GCF is uniquely positioned to finance large-scale, high-risk adaptation projects, it has not yet fully utilized this potential. The adaptation portfolio is dominated by small-scale grant projects implemented by international accredited entities, with significant delays in project approval and legal arrangements. Private sector engagement remains extremely low, and the Fund lacks a specific strategy for adaptation impact measurement and innovation. Key recommendations include diversifying financial instruments, streamlining the business model for direct access entities, and establishing a clear private sector strategy for adaptation.

The programme targets seven catchments across Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and the Dominican Republic to combat droughts and extreme rainfall. It employs a blended finance model consisting of a US$28 million grant facility for vulnerable communities, a US$102.8 million lending facility for EbA investments, and a US$30 million guarantee facility to de-risk lending for partner financial institutions. Key activities include reforestation, agroforestry, the installation of rainwater harvesting systems, and the establishment of a regional knowledge hub to mainstream EbA into national policies. The programme aims to directly benefit approximately 1.08 million people.

The GCF Secretariat report for the period ending 31 July 2021 indicates that programming and implementation targets are largely on track, with 76% of the portfolio now under implementation. Key achievements include the approval of USD 1.2 billion in funding at the B.28 meeting and the adoption of the Integrated Results Management Framework (IRMF) at B.29. The Secretariat is working to diversify its private sector portfolio and improve direct access for entities. However, the Simplified Approval Process (SAP) targets are likely to remain unmet due to slow proposal development. The report also highlights the impact of COVID-19 on project expenditure and the ongoing efforts to finalize bilateral privileges and immunities agreements.

As of 31 July 2021, the GCF pipeline includes 89 funding proposals requesting USD 6.4 billion and 350 concept notes requesting USD 15.9 billion. The report details the distribution of these requests by sector, region, and theme, while also tracking the progress of the Simplified Approval Process (SAP) pilot, specific requests for proposals (RFPs) such as REDD-plus and MSME, and the status of 65 active Project Preparation Facility applications.

The briefing examines how nature-based infrastructure (NBI) can provide equitable benefits for women, who are disproportionately affected by climate change. It highlights that while women often face barriers to accessing natural resources due to social norms and land tenure systems, NBI projects—such as mangrove restoration in Senegal or agroforestry in Belgium—can protect livelihoods and improve public health. The author emphasizes that integrating gender-responsive approaches and capacity-building strategies is essential for making climate adaptation more effective and sustainable. To support this, the IISD's NBI Global Resource Centre aims to incorporate gender-disaggregated data and specific gender-related questions into the valuation of NBI projects to ensure inclusive benefits.

Friends of the Earth International proposes a revised Target 8 for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. The briefing argues that the target should focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and deforestation, ensuring mitigation measures do not harm biodiversity, and prioritizing ecosystem-based approaches. It specifically calls for the removal of a quantitative carbon sequestration goal of 10 GtCO2-e per year, arguing that carbon accounting is an imprecise metric for biodiversity and risks promoting monoculture plantations or the commodification of nature.

The project aims to transform agricultural and forest-use practices in ten buffer communities across Belize to mitigate climate risks such as unpredictable rainfall and increased storm intensity. It focuses on implementing regenerative agriculture (e.g., Inga alley cropping, silvopastoral systems), improving community water management, and developing sustainable forest-linked livelihoods, including beekeeping and non-timber forest product enterprises. The initiative seeks to benefit approximately 22,000 direct and 60,000 indirect beneficiaries, with a total indicative cost of USD 11,058,540, primarily funded by a GCF grant.

The document argues that sustainable development, healthy ecosystems, and climate mitigation and adaptation are inextricably linked, requiring integrated policy-making to avoid ad hoc implementation. It highlights nature-based solutions as a primary example of integrated approaches and identifies institutional silos and the lack of high-level mandates as key barriers to scaling these solutions.

Fiji has used its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process to mainstream Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), positioning it as a strategic priority across five priority sectors. The process involved creating a NAP Framework and a 'NAP catalogue' to coordinate adaptation actions, resulting in 160 priority measures. A key implementation example is the use of vetiver grass for riverbank protection and erosion control, supported by a new nursery in Labasa. Fiji's approach emphasizes the link between healthy ecosystems and socioeconomic development, integrating traditional and scientific knowledge, and aligning with international commitments like the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework.

Fiji has integrated Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) as a strategic priority within its National Adaptation Plan (NAP), which was formally communicated to the UNFCCC on December 12, 2018. The NAP identifies 160 adaptation measures across five priority sectors, emphasizing the role of healthy ecosystems as the foundation for economic growth and the protection of vulnerable groups. Practical implementation is exemplified by the use of vetiver grass for riverbank protection and erosion reduction, supported by a nursery opened in July 2020 in Labasa. The process aligns international commitments, including the Paris Agreement, Sustainable Development Goals, and the Sendai Framework, while engaging the private sector and utilizing both traditional and scientific knowledge.

The Gender Action Plan for the 'Ecosystem-Based Adaptation and Mitigation in Botswana’s Communal Rangelands' project aims to integrate gender-responsive actions into rangeland restoration and livestock management. The project targets the restoration of 4.6 million hectares of degraded land and a 30% reduction in livestock emissions, while directly benefiting 160,000 people. It identifies systemic gender barriers, such as customary marriage laws affecting inheritance and the male-dominated kgotla decision-making system, and proposes targeted interventions including leadership training for women, childcare support for workers, and the employment of a full-time Gender Officer. The plan sets specific targets, such as ensuring over 40% of Stewardship Agreement signatories are women and employing 3,600 women as Ecorangers or Restoration Workers.

The Vanuatu GCF Country Program outlines a strategic approach to climate transformation, identifying key vulnerabilities, policy gaps, and a prioritised portfolio of project ideas. It emphasizes a shift from top-down interventions to demand-driven, community-led solutions involving the private sector and civil society. The program categorizes project ideas into Pipeline A (high priority for 2019-2020) and Pipeline B, covering sectors such as water security, climate-resilient agriculture, renewable energy, and coastal protection, with a total estimated grant requirement of over 710 million USD.

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has established a four-year work programme (2020-2023) to scale up climate finance for its Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs). The strategy focuses on three main areas: public sector investment in water security, renewable energy, and resilient infrastructure; leveraging the private sector through financial sector transformation; and enhancing institutional capacity through GCF Readiness support. The pipeline includes regional programmes for financial transformation, Integrated Utilities Services (IUS) for energy, and water security, alongside single-country projects in The Bahamas, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Grenada. The CDB emphasizes the need for concessional financing to address high public debt levels exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Nature4Cities Latam project is a 24-month readiness initiative designed to address barriers to the adoption of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in six selected secondary cities across Cuba, Ecuador, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic. The project focuses on strengthening the knowledge base, reinforcing policy frameworks, fostering private sector partnerships, and developing innovative climate finance strategies. Key deliverables include city-level vulnerability and GHG assessments, Nature-Based Urban adaptation and mitigation Plans, and a regional online platform for knowledge sharing. The initiative aims to transition from pilot assessments to a pipeline of fundable project concept notes for the Green Climate Fund.

The document argues that ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) is an essential approach for building ecological, social, and economic resilience, offering benefits such as food security and biodiversity protection. It posits that the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process is a key mechanism for mainstreaming EbA into national development and budgeting. The guidance is derived from an analysis of 19 completed NAP documents to identify principles and actions for integrating EbA into the planning process.

The document examines urban flood challenges in five Sub-Saharan cities, highlighting the transition from traditional grey infrastructure to Integrated Flood Risk Management (IFRM) and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA). It details specific interventions across Accra, Cape Town, Durban, Nairobi, and Mombasa, emphasizing that effective flood governance requires multi-stakeholder collaboration and the integration of social principles to protect vulnerable populations in informal settlements.