8 December 2014: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) organized a side event titled ‘What Do We Know About Adaptation? Perspectives on the UNFCCC Adaptation Experience and the Way Ahead’ at the Lima Climate Change Conference. At the event, Gambia and Tuvalu shared their adaptation experiences as part of a broader discussion on project implementation successes and challenges, difficulties in sustaining support and the future of financial mechanisms and adaptation funds.

Naoko Ishii, GEF Chief Executive Officer (CEO), introduced the side event as an opportunity to highlight the importance of adaptation activities on the ground, take stock of current achievements and identify ways to integrate adaptation into broader development processes. Ishii said the GEF’s Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) and Strategic Priority on Adaptation programme have financed 300 adaptation projects in 128 developing countries.

Pa Ousman Jarju, Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Water Resources, Parks and Wildlife, the Gambia, recounted difficulties experienced by the Gambia in funding and human capital and described increased awareness, enhanced capacity and infrastructure co-benefits as successes. He recommended mainstreaming adaptation in the development process and replenishing the LDCF to cover the funding gap for adaptation projects.

Taukelina Finikaso, Minister of Environment, Foreign Affairs, Labour and Trade, Tuvalu, said adaptation is a critical component of sustainable development for small island developing States (SIDS). He stressed the need to reform the modus operandi of the LDCF and the SCCF to allow for direct access of funds and remove co-financing conditions.

Mary Robinson, Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice and former President of Ireland, addressed the human rights dimension of adaptation, saying that climate finance works best with local communities, by engaging citizens and maximizing sustainability. Robinson also highlighted the gender dimension, noting the importance of women’s empowerment.

Jozef Buys, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Belgium, noted the increasingly complex finance landscape and underscored the need to rationalize the financial mechanism and continue to support current projects. Nik Sekhran, Director for Sustainable Development, UN Development Programme (UNDP), noted that the GEF offers a package of investments and services, “joining the dots” between various environmental stressors.

In the ensuing discussion, participants raised questions on facilitating access to finance, co-financing requirements, evaluating adaptation options and implementing adaptation platforms. [IISD RS ENBOTS Coverage] [IISD RS Coverage of Lima Climate Change Conference] [GEF Event Announcement] [GEF Press Release]