The overall objective of the project is to improve climate risk management in Eastern Europe and CIS by developing national and UNDP CO capacities for climate change adaptation.
The main objective (outcome) will be realized through achievement of the following outputs:
Output 1: The countries of the region have improved knowledge of costs of climate change impacts and available policy options for adaptation.
Indicator: Number of climate change sensitive policies and / or decisions initiated as a result of advisory service provided by national reports on climate risk management concerned with climate change economics and policy options at national level.
As an immediate action that has been identified of primary importance is to support UNDP country offices to develop climate risk management reports for the countries they serve. The main purpose of this activity is to boost the policy dialogue by providing technically solid advisory service on climate change economics and policy options at national level. These reports have been jargoned as “mini Stern’ reports that would borrow the approach and methodology of the famous Stern Review. The report will focus both on mitigation and adaptation side of the issue. However, some countries (especially non-annex 1) may be willing to more emphasize on adaptation side.
The main reason of the potentially varied approach is that in contrast to economic costs of climate change mitigation the economic costs of climate change impacts are not well understood. It is essential that economic assessments of climate change are framed in the context of a sound appreciation and understanding by decision-makers of all of the potential costs and benefits (i.e. net benefits) associated with climate change and climate change response. Once the costs of climate change impacts and net benefits of adaptation options are better understood, decisions can be made about the most appropriate combination of mitigation and adaptation measures.
Beneficiaries: national authorities in charge of climate change policies and UNFCCC implementation, CSOs, meteorological departments, research institutes and think-tanks focusing on socio-economic development.
Output 2: UNDP COs of the region have enhanced their capacities to address country adaptation needs and catalyze financial resources for adaptation activities.
Indicator: amount of internal and / or external resources mobilized for adaptation measures as a result of climate proofing of UNDP CO practice programmes.
Another important element of the project will be to help the COs in climate proofing of their country development assistance programmes. Climate screening exercise will be introduced to the target COs so as to identify the risks and opportunities climate change poses to UNDP’s core practice areas. The main rationale of this lies in the fact that socio-economic development does not reduce vulnerability unless specifically and explicitly addressed in development policies, plans and projects. Moreover, it has been increasingly recognized that the development can actually increase vulnerability and exposure to risks when climate change impacts are overlooked. Therefore, win-win solutions need to be sought. Varied exposure and risks will require varied approaches to climate proofing, however, it is clear now that opportunities for adaptation are being overlooked in current programming practice.
Although UNDP COs in the region are generally well positioned to support countries in climate change adaptation, this is still a relatively new area of intervention, which requires additional skills, knowledge and capacities on the part of UNDP personnel. The project will seek to address this need by providing targeted training, preparation and dissemination of knowledge products and other ad-hoc expert assistance to UNDP COs in EE&CIS.
The CO focal points will be trained and supported to introduce and test a practical application of climate screening tools and methods. The project will particularly target the flagship programmes under the poverty reduction and MDG achievement practice. Typically, these programmes mobilize high governmental commitments and diversity of partnerships. These programmes (community development, regional development, area-based development etc) are highly visible and therefore offer valuable opportunity for demonstration. Climate proofing exercise will ensure that the target programmes reduce vulnerability through sustainable economic growth that is tied to livelihood diversification and reduced reliance on climate sensitive sectors and resources. These programmes will provide critical entry for catalyzing additional resources for adaptation measures under the CO programme framework. Key lessons will be captured and widely disseminated in the region and beyond in a form of a detailed guidance of climate proofing for practitioners.
Beneficiaries: UNDP COs
