15 October 2015
UNDP Highlights Links between Poverty Reduction and Adaptation
story highlights

The UN Development Programme (UNDP) has published a report that showcases the experiences and knowledge generated through the various UNDP initiatives on adaptation, and how countries have been working on national initiatives to transition to green, inclusive, climate-resilient development paths.

The report, titled 'Empowering the Poor: Experience from UNDP supported Initiatives on Adaptation,' features 12 case studies that illustrate that adaptation and poverty reduction are inherently linked and must be addressed simultaneously.

Undp13 October 2015: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) has published a report that showcases the experiences and knowledge generated through the various UNDP initiatives on adaptation, and how countries have been working on national initiatives to transition to green, inclusive, climate-resilient development paths. The report, titled ‘Empowering the Poor: Experience from UNDP supported Initiatives on Adaptation,’ features 12 case studies that illustrate that adaptation and poverty reduction are inherently linked and must be addressed simultaneously.

The publication shows that climate change adaptation and poverty reduction can be addressed simultaneously. To do so, it stresses the importance of a strong enabling environment comprised of capacity building, empowered communities, private sector engagement and support to the development of institutions and policies.

More specifically, the case studies look at national projects on: strengthening technical and functional capacities in Ghana (establishing climate-sensitive health planning systems), Honduras (developing technical expertise and collaborative platforms to inform water planning) and Samoa (collecting and utilizing climate data for agriculture and disaster planning); supporting climate-resilient livelihoods in Bangladesh (income generation through innovative agricultural practices), Sudan (promoting food security and livelihoods) and Namibia (building resilience for the most vulnerable); stimulating entrepreneurship in Tajikistan (supporting agro-biodiversity enterprises), Colombia (creating sustainable cooperatives) and Niger (developing women’s enterprises); and mainstreaming adaptation into development planning in Mali (integrating climate risks into local development planning), the Cook Islands (integrating climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction (DRR) at the national and subnational levels) and Cambodia (integrating climate change risks into poverty reduction efforts at the subnational level).

The report is intended to complement the theme of this year’s International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, namely ‘Building a sustainable future: Coming together to end poverty and discrimination.’ [UNDP Publication Webpage] [Publication: Empowering the Poor: Experience from UNDP supported Initiatives on Adaptation]

related posts