The Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) produces the annual progress report on the process to formulate and implement National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) serving as an official documentation of progress and assisting the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) in assessing progress on NAPs. The topics covered in the report include the progress made under the four elements and related steps of the process to formulate and implement NAPs; progress in achieving the objectives of the process as contained in decision 5/CP.17, paragraph 1; progress in addressing the guiding principles of the process as contained in decision 5/CP.17, paragraphs 3–5; support provided and received in the process; and gaps and needs and challenges faced by developing countries in the process.
The LEG was established in 2001 as one of the primary pillars under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to support the least developed countries (LDCs) in addressing the adverse impacts of climate change. Among its activities, the group is mandated to provide technical guidance and support to the process to formulate and implement national adaptation plans (NAPs). The group applies various means to support the countries to formulate and implement their NAPs, including the development and application of guidelines, technical papers, training, outreach, survey of capacity gaps and needs, monitoring and evaluation of progress, effectiveness and gaps, and capturing and sharing of experiences, best practices and lessons learned, among others. Through the Open NAP initiative, the LEG mobilizes the widest possible inputs from all interested and available actors and stakeholders (“crowd-sourcing”) to support the LDCs and other interested developing countries, in the formulation and implementation of their NAPs.