29 October 2014: The report on the 26th meeting of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) has been released by the UNFCCC Secretariat. The report (FCCC/SBI/2014/13) provides a summary of issues addressed during the meeting and an update on priority activities of the work programme of the LEG.

The summary of the 26th meeting of the LEG comprises: the proceedings of the event; the mandate from the 40th session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI); status of implementation of national adaptation programmes of action (NAPAs); status of the process to formulate and implement national adaptation plans (NAPs); technical guidance and support to the NAP process; outreach on the NAP process; and monitoring and evaluation of the NAP process.

Furthermore, the summary covers: gender and other considerations regarding vulnerable communities within the least developed countries (LDCs); best practices and lessons learned; support of coherence and synergy of adaptation under the Convention; mobilization of organizations, regional centres and networks; and discussions with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and its agencies.

On the status of progress to formulate and implement NAPs, the report notes that: several countries have embarked on the NAP process; no countries had communicated their formulation of NAPs as of 7 August 2014; the LEG continues to capture information highlighting the support being provided to LDCs on the NAP process; and several international organizations and countries are supporting the NAP process, including through funds, technical assistance and other activities.

In addition, the report outlines priority activities of the LEG work programme, including: information papers; stocktaking meetings on the work of the LEG; responding to individual support requests from parties for the NAP process; development of ‘NAP Central;’ and regional and other training workshops on NAPs.

The 26th meeting of the LEG took place from 4-7 August 2014, in Bonn, Germany. The 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP 16) requested the LEG to report on its work to the sessions of the SBI. Further to this mandate, the LEG will report on its work at the 41st session of the SBI, which is scheduled to take place from 1-8 December 2014, in Lima, Peru. [Publication: Report of the 26th Meeting of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group]