15 November 2013: Underscoring the vulnerability and need for adaptation in the agriculture sector, the Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security Programme (CCAFS) of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) released an overview of progress on the development of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) from twelve countries in West and East Africa and South Asia, with a particular focus on agriculture and food security. The overview was released on the margins of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Nineteenth Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC COP 19) in Warsaw, Poland.

The report, titled ‘Planning Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture,’ presents a framework for assessing national adaptation planning. The publication notes inconsistency among countries on how vulnerability and risk assessments are undertaken, and it highlights that the economic impacts of climate risks are rarely presented. The authors lament that few countries have systems to coordinate adaptation planning and that the private sector is generally absent from climate change planning. They note that programs often seem to be driven by bilateral funding sources, as opposed to integrated planning processes. The report recommends: strengthening capacity to rank climate risk and prioritize activities; promoting adaptive institutions; defining long-term solutions; strengthening integrated approaches; focusing adaptation planning on development objectives and existing sectoral policies; and increasing stakeholder engagement.

The report was presented at a COP 19 side event on experiences and lessons learned in agriculture and national adaptation plans. The side event built on a two-day workshop on NAPs and agriculture held from 13-14 November 2013. The workshop sought to: identify medium- and long-term adaptation needs; help countries develop agricultural adaptation response measures; facilitate integration of adaptation into development and sectoral policies; and assist developing countries in the assessment of the economic impacts of climate risks. [CCAFS Press Release] [Publication: Planning Climate Adaptation in Agriculture] [COP 19 Side Event: Agriculture in National Adaptation Plans: Experiences and Lessons Learned]