February 2011: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) has released the fifth issue of its Climate Change Adaptation Bulletin, a quarterly publication that provides an overview of the technical assistance to countries at the national, sub-national and community-levels.

This issue provides an overview of UNDP’s Adaptation Portfolio as of January 2011, with over 50 projects under implementation. It notes UNDP’s efforts to fast-track assistance on adaptation to developing countries, which have reduced the time needed to access financing by ten months. Financing for these initiatives is being provided from numerous sources including AusAID, NZAid, the Government of Japan and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The Bulletin indicates that Honduras, Nicaragua and Pakistan are preparing for the implementation of adaptation projects as soon the funding approved by the Adaptation Fund Board (AFB) becomes available.

This fifth issue also notes that Timor Leste and Nepal have finalized their National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs) with support from UNDP. Since 2005, UNDP has supported over 30 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to sequence funds for implementing adaptation priorities in key economic sectors.

The Bulletin further describes a partnership of UNDP and GlobalAgRisk that aims to enhance risk coping and adaptive capacity of the working poor in Latin America and Caribbean by developing insurance products for households and small business, with insurance payments that are triggered in advance of the impact of the El Niño. [Publication: UNDP Climate Change Adaptation – A Quarterly Updated of Activities, Issue No. 5, February 2011]