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The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research is seeking nominations for five members of its Science and Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC) by May 1, 2020. The committee is designed to provide guidance on the application of science in policy formulation and decision-making. Candidates must possess extensive experience in science-policy interfaces, global change issues, and the cultural diversity of the Americas.

The proposal outlines a 24-month project to prepare Guinea for the development of a National Adaptation Plan (NAP). It identifies critical barriers, including outdated climate data from 2001, fragmented coordination, and a lack of private sector involvement. The project aims to establish a Research-Policy Working Group, update climate projections using IPCC AR5 models, and operationalize the National Climate Committee (CNC). It also seeks to reform the Environmental Safeguard Fund (FSE) and engage the bauxite mining sector through the Bauxite Environment Network (REB). The total requested amount is USD 1,629,717, with implementation led by the UNDP.

The Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) has compiled a directory of resilience-focused initiatives, categorising them into funds and financing facilities, networks and alliances, organisations, and specific programmes and projects. The mapping covers a wide array of mechanisms, from large-scale funds like the Green Climate Fund to specialised regional initiatives such as the Africa Risk Capacity and the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility. These initiatives target various sectors including agriculture, urban infrastructure, water management, and financial risk disclosure, with a strong emphasis on supporting Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and vulnerable populations.

The document argues that healthy ecosystems, such as mangroves and wetlands, act as critical buffers that reduce the physical exposure of African coastal cities to natural hazards. It promotes the adoption of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR) as cost-effective, nature-based solutions. While international frameworks like the Sendai Framework and the Paris Agreement provide support, the author notes that regional policies in Africa linking biodiversity conservation to disaster risk reduction are virtually non-existent. The brief identifies significant barriers to implementation, including weak governance, fragmented sectoral approaches, and a lack of funding for capacity development, recommending a holistic, multi-sectoral integration of nature-based solutions into national development strategies.

The report details the preparatory phase of a GCF-funded project in Benin, focusing on fiduciary and procurement capacity assessments of the Ministry of Livelihood and Sustainable Development (MCVDD). While no field activities were executed during the reporting period, the project established a Project Cooperation Agreement and developed terms of reference for a Project Management Unit. The project aims to restore 3,600 hectares of forest and improve 3,000 hectares of farmland to benefit 22,000 people directly.

The program aims to strengthen the resilience of 1.2 million people in Rwanda's Upper Nyabarongo and Muvumba catchments through integrated landscape management, sustainable forestry, and modernized early warning systems. It seeks USD 50 million from the Green Climate Fund to complement AfDB financing for the Muvumba Multipurpose Water Resources Development Program. Key interventions include restoring 45,000 hectares of land, implementing agroforestry, and deploying LIDAR-based flood risk modelling to mitigate the impacts of floods, landslides, and droughts.

The analysis of 19 NAPs reveals that while all reviewed documents integrate ecosystem considerations and vulnerabilities, the explicit link between ecosystem services and societal adaptation benefits remains generic. Latin American countries show the strongest integration of EbA and links to biodiversity strategies. Key gaps include limited monitoring of outcomes, insufficient private sector engagement, and under-representation of urban EbA and hybrid grey/green infrastructure. The report suggests that NAPs should move beyond business-as-usual conservation to explicitly address climate hazards and target specific vulnerable groups.

The REASAP 2020–2028 is a strategic framework for Saint Lucia designed to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem services against climate change. It comprises 58 prioritized measures categorized by urgency into short-term (2020–2023), medium-term (2023–2026), and long-term (2026–2028) implementation phases. The plan focuses on strengthening policy frameworks, enhancing research, increasing public awareness, scaling up ecosystem protection, addressing degradation drivers, and accelerating ecosystem-based solutions. The strategy is critical as the cost of climate inaction in Saint Lucia is projected to reach 12.1% of GDP by 2025 and 49.1% by 2100. Funding is expected to come from national and international sources, including climate finance for ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), and potential revenue from regulatory functions such as user fees and licenses.

The NAP Global Network provided technical assistance to 27 developing countries and responded to 40 Country Support Hub requests between 2019 and 2020. The Network emphasizes the role of NAPs as roadmaps for resilient recovery from COVID-19, particularly in health, water, and agriculture sectors. Key achievements include the finalization of Peru's first NAP, the development of private sector engagement strategies in Viet Nam, Ghana, and Saint Lucia, and the implementation of nature-based solutions in Fiji. The report also highlights the integration of gender-responsive approaches and the establishment of monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems across various partner nations.

The analysis of 19 National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) reveals that while most countries recognize ecosystem vulnerability and include some EbA measures, these are often generic and lack explicit links to specific climate risks or measurable outcomes. Latin American countries show the strongest integration of EbA and biodiversity strategies. Significant gaps exist in urban EbA, private sector involvement, and the identification of financial resources, suggesting a need for more SMART objectives and intersectoral integration to enhance human and ecological resilience.

The program seeks to reduce the Galapagos' dependency on mainland Ecuador and mitigate climate risks to its tourism-driven economy. Key initiatives include diversifying the energy matrix with renewables, implementing energy efficiency in the tourism sector, building a climate-resilient food system, and adopting ecosystem-based adaptation in High-Ecological Value Areas (HEVAs). The project aims to benefit 250,000 people and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 1.2 million tons of CO2eq over 20 years, with a total indicative cost of USD 123,768,058.

The proposal seeks USD 399,226 over 24 months to establish a web-based Decision Support System (DSS) to improve climate risk assessment and investment monitoring in Myanmar's Agriculture, Forest and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector. Using the Chindwin River Basin as a pilot, the project aims to strengthen coordination between national and sub-national authorities, develop streamlined climate indicators, and create a project pipeline for full-scale GCF funding. The initiative is implemented by the FAO in collaboration with the Environment Conservation Division (ECD) of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Conservation (MONREC).

The report assesses Tanzania's vulnerability to climate change, specifically sea-level rise and storm surges, and evaluates the role of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) in mitigating these risks. It finds that while Tanzania possesses critical ecosystems like mangroves and coral reefs, these are threatened by population growth and industrial development. The document highlights a gap in policy architecture, noting that EbA is not explicitly included in the current Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). It identifies institutional fragmentation and a lack of spatial data as key challenges, while suggesting opportunities in blue carbon, sustainable ecotourism, and community-led co-management models.

The document argues that 20th-century infrastructure paradigms are ill-suited for 21st-century climate extremes and that current 'sustainable' infrastructure efforts focus too heavily on low-carbon goals while neglecting nature-based resilience. It highlights a critical gap in 'upstream' strategic planning, where natural capital is often ignored until the project approval stage. Through case studies in Mozambique, Mexico, Myanmar, and South Africa, the report demonstrates the value of integrating ecosystem services and climate scenarios into land-use planning. It introduces the 'Visioning Futures' framework, which emphasizes defining spatial scope, identifying future objectives, and performing sensitivity testing under various climate scenarios to avoid environmental risks and optimize infrastructure siting.

The report assesses South Africa's approach to marine and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), highlighting a strong policy framework but significant challenges in local-level implementation and funding. It emphasizes the interconnection between biodiversity, climate change, and human well-being, arguing that maintaining ecosystem integrity is primary for social resilience.

The document assesses Mozambique's coastal ecosystems—specifically mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass beds—and their role in ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) against climate threats. It identifies significant vulnerabilities to cyclones, sea-level rise, and temperature increases, while highlighting institutional gaps in technical capacity and inter-sectoral coordination. The report evaluates the role of state actors, NGOs, and local communities, and recommends integrating EbA more deeply into national development strategies and exploring innovative financing like biodiversity offsets.

The briefing discusses the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit, highlighting the need to accelerate action due to IPCC warnings and youth-led climate strikes. It notes that while mitigation has seen progress with 183 parties submitting NDCs, adaptation remains severely under-implemented, particularly in developing countries. The author advocates for the integration of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) into global strategies, noting its dual benefit for resilience and carbon sequestration, especially in Africa.

The Malekula Water Supply Project aims to transition water infrastructure on Malekula Island from vulnerable decentralised systems to climate-resilient centralised systems. The project addresses freshwater scarcity caused by sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion, and erratic rainfall. Key interventions include relocating boreholes inland to avoid salinity, installing new extraction and treatment systems from the Malua and Losinwei rivers, and implementing ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) through the restoration of indigenous forests to improve groundwater recharge and reduce erosion. The project also establishes emergency water supply protocols and consumption-based tariffs to ensure long-term operational sustainability.

The document advocates for Integrated Landscape Management (ILM) as a critical mechanism to overcome the limitations of siloed sectoral approaches to climate change adaptation. It defines ILM as a process where diverse stakeholders collaborate to manage natural resources sustainably at a local scale, typically ranging from 100 to 10,000 km2. The authors identify five key features of effective ILM: multi-stakeholder institutions, structured cross-sector planning, synergistic interventions, aligned public policies, and coordinated investment portfolios. Using the Imarisha Naivasha initiative in Kenya as a case study, the paper demonstrates how ILM can resolve resource conflicts and build resilience. It concludes with recommendations for the Global Commission on Adaptation to foster ILM platforms, improve inter-agency planning, mobilize private sector investment, and build research systems for climate-resilient landscapes.

The Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) Water Window Challenge supported over 500,000 people across eight countries through 12 projects focused on flood resilience. The synthesis identifies that success was driven by 'layering' interventions—combining livelihood support, early warning systems (EWS), and infrastructure—and by deep stakeholder engagement. Key achievements include the establishment of 347 women-led community-based organizations in Sri Lanka, the support of 265,000 individuals in Indonesia through transboundary coordination, and the deployment of EWS reaching over 84,000 households in the India-Nepal border region. The report emphasizes that flexible, adaptive management and strong partnerships are essential for innovating and scaling resilience efforts in volatile climatic contexts.