UN4NAPs is a UN-wide rapid technical backstopping initiative for National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), launched in August 2021 by the UNFCCC secretariat, in response to mandates for engaging international organizations in support of climate change adaptation. It offers a platform for countries, initially for Least Development Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), to communicate their needs for technical assistance on an ongoing basis. The partnership enables the UN-wide system of organizations and other intergovernmental organizations to respond to technical requests identified by any country that is in the process of formulating or implementing its NAP.
The wide array of expertise of importance for countries covered by UN4NAPs member organizations ranges across sectors (e.g., land management, agriculture, settlements, tourism, early warning systems and coastal management) and covers a range of activities (incl. adaptation assessments, education on climate change, developing social-economic pathways for the future, capacity building, and technical advice in developing proposals to funding sources). Based on the identification of key areas for adaptation measures, countries will be able to identify areas of support.
In the longer term, UN4NAPs will become a platform for countries and partners to exchange lessons learned, share innovative approaches and solutions to challenges around the NAP formulation and implementation.