UNDP/GEF Community-Based Adaptation (CBA):“CBA Mid-Course Conference”, Kingston, 29.03-03.07.2009

Community-Based Adaptation (CBA) in

Perspective

Delfin GanapinGEF SGP, Global Manager

Climate Change – A Snapshot

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projects for the next two decades a warming of 0.2°C per decade, triggering effects such as:

Declining snow cover and sea ice;

More frequent extremes, such as heat-waves and heavy precipitation events;

Higher intensity of tropical cyclones (>66%), with greater peak wind speeds and heaver precipitation;

Precipitation increases in high latitudes and decreases in most subtropical regions;

Sea level rises could be in the range of 18 cm to 59 cm by 2100.

Climate Change and Equity

AFRICA

77 – 250 million people projected to be exposed to increased water stress by 2020.

In some countries, yields from rain-fed agriculture reduced by 50%.

ASIA

Freshwater availability is projected to decrease by 2050. Coastal areas, especially heavily population mega delta regions will be at

greatest risk from sea flooding.

SMALL ISLAND STATES

Sea level rise is expected to exacerbate inundation, storm surge, erosion and other coastal hazards threatening vital infrastructure.

By mid-century reduced water resources in many small island states.

EUROPE

Increased risk of inland flash floods and more frequent coastal flooding and increased erosion.

CBA - Concept

Climate change is global, but impacts are regional and local!

Local communities depend upon the most climate-sensitive sectors of any economy, such as farming, fishing, and forestry.

The world’s poorest and most vulnerable communities will bear the brunt of climate change.

Poor communities are the least equipped to cope and adapt.

CBA - Concept

Enhancement of adaptive capacity is the key for reducing vulnerability, particularly for the most vulnerable regions, nations and socioeconomic groups.

A vital approach is community-based adaptation (CBA), which can be viewed as an additional (though fairly new) layer to community-driven priorities, thereby addressing climate change risks.

CBA - Concept

Solutions must be locally specific!

CBA is community-driven CBA is the grass-roots component of climate change adaptation CBA will respond to locally specific needs, and develop lessons for global

and national stakeholders to further adaptation practice

GEF SGP – The ideal delivery mechanism

GEF SGP is the mechanism by which the GEF supports the implementation of the UNFCCC at the community level since 1992.

GEF SGP is operating in 119+ countries.

Local solutions to global environmental problems.

Community-based initiatives and action.

SGP grants: direct to NGOs and CBOs.

Highly decentralized, participatory and demand-driven.

Maximum country and community-ownership.

Process of implementation leads also to poverty reduction and local empowerment.

GEF SGP

This approach has proven to be very successful in getting resources to beneficiaries and thereby realizing the twin objectives of addressing the growing threat of climate change and enhancing the well-being of local communities.

GEF SGP with its in-country presence has a strong understanding of local livelihood strategies and contexts, poor people’s daily challenges, efforts, values and aims and how those relate to local climate variability and change.

What we do and have to do

• Through creative approaches and innovations prove that poor and vulnerable communities and their CSO partners can do CBA

• Through links and partnerships with government, the private sector, academe and donors starting with the NSC – disseminate models and lessons learned for adaptive replication, scaling up and mainstreaming

• Develop and organize a critical mass of empowered supporters, a constituency for CBA and sustainable development

• Through links with regional and global networks, influence global environmental governance

Thank you!