As a component of the WACDEP, this capacity development initiative will contribute to enhanced understanding of the economics of adaptation as it relates to medium- and longterm regional, transboundary, national, sub-national and sectoral development planning as well as in evaluating different adaptation investment projects.
The initiative will draw on national and regional experts as well as promote North-South and South-South knowledge exchange through involvement of international organizations and academia such as NIRAS of Sweden, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies (F&ES) of the USA and the Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy in Africa (CEEPA) in South Africa.
Overall objective
The objective of the capacity development initiative is to develop the capacity of planners and technical officers to identify, develop and appraise no/low regrets investment options and integrate these into national, transboundary and regional planning processes, development plans and programmes.
Expected outcomes
The initiative is expected to develop the capacities and knowledge required by planners and decision makers in Africa and to enhance skills in the following areas:
1. Making an economic case to high level policy makers on the importance of water security and climate resilient development;
2. Undertaking climate impact assessment and climate screening;
3. Using of economic analysis tools and methods for appraising investment options including cost benefit analysis, cost effectiveness assessment and others;
4. Project preparation and access to climate finance;
5. Robust decision making using the concept of no/low regrets investments;
6. Designing of financing and investment portfolios for climate resilient development;
7. Mainstreaming no/low regrets investments into development planning processes;
8. Monitoring and evaluation of climate resilient development.
Target audience
The primary target audience are government planners across line ministries such as Economic Planning, Finance, Water Resources, Agriculture, Environment, Energy, Health and Infrastructure. Participants will include a mix of participants with and without a background in economics.
The secondary target audience are researchers and practitioners from key planning agencies and institutions, GWP regional and national teams, UNDP Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) Project Coordinators, Regional Economic Communities, River Basin Organizations, Development Banks, Non-Governmental Organizations and others. The list of all participants is here available.
Structure of the capacity development initiative
The initiative is structured around the Strategic Framework for Water Security and Climate Resilient Development designed by the AU and AMCOW with support from GWP and CDKN. Work will be undertaken in collaboration with UNDP, Green Low Emission Climate Resilient Development (GLECRD) strategies and related projects including GEF-LDCF projects.
It is centered on an iterative, cyclical decision-making pro¬cess split into four Phases (figure 1) as follows: (1) Understand the problem; (2) Identify and appraise options; (3) Deliver solutions and (4) Monitor and move forward.
Programme Scope
The initiative will be delivered through interrelated activities at regional and national level. This will be complemented by knowledge management and experience sharing including research on priority issues related to economic appraisal and investment definition.
Country trainings will take place in eight WACDEP countries - Cameroon, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Rwanda, Burundi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Additional countries from UNDP-GEF support adaptation projects will be included. Work will involve collaboration with GWP and UNDP regions and countries.
For more information, download the Capacity Development Initiative Brochure.