Ashgabat, July 9-10, 2019: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and USAID conducted a joint workshop for 14 representatives of the national ministries and agencies on the subject of design and integration of the local adaptation plans. The workshop is held under the Regional Program for Supporting Adaptation Planning at National and Regional Levels - C5 + 1 and “Supporting climate resilient livelihoods in agricultural communities in drought-prone areas of Turkmenistan” project funded by the Special climate change fund.

Invited experts on climate adaptation and finance Dr. Glen Anderson and expert on natural resources and climate adaptation Dr. Lorine Giangola were invited to share their knowledge with the relevant national agencies of Turkmenistan.

The objective of the workshop is to share best practices for integrating local adaptation planning processes with national adaptation and budgeting processes. The training workshop draw from the trainers’ own experiences in developing adaptation planning guidance and building capacity for adaptation planning at the national and local level.

“Countries have to overcome various barriers to creating a climate-resilient economy. Turkmenistan is no exception. With the expert support of the UNDP project for the 4 Daihan associations selected by the Government of the country, Local adaptation plans were developed to minimize the risks associated with climate change. These plans will contribute to a wider application of successfully proven methods / measures in practice that will increase production and reduce or mitigate risks associated with climate change”said Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative a. i. in Turkmenistan.

Problems of adaptation to climate change are often caused by several factors: lack of knowledge about the need for adaptation and sources of funding; the difficulty of studying the procedures adopted in different funds; low initial level of project development and implementation capacity; inaccessibility of climate information; lack of appropriate regulatory mechanisms, policies and budgets; and the lack of clear priorities for adaptation and development.

The training highlighted international examples and best practices in adaption to climate change. Experts included a combination of presentations and small group exercises. Four areas of adaptation planning were highlighted: climate risk assessment, analysis of the enabling environment, capacities to plan and implement adaptation, and public and private sources of finance, and adaptation project development.

As a result of the training, participants have a stronger understanding of potential roles for public and private sector stakeholders in adaptation planning and financing, approaches to identifying and assessing climate vulnerabilities, a methodology for assessing institutional readiness to access financing for priority adaptation measures, and information needs for adaptation project proposals. Participants can apply these principles to adaptation planning processes in their institutions and sectors.

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National adaptation planning has been and continues to be the central focus of UNFCCC policy and guidance on adaptation. While there are many adaptation priorities that can be designed and implemented at the national level, a successful national implementation plan for adaptation depends importantly on adaptation actions carried out by local governments, communities, and businesses.