Joint Principles of Adaptation: An initiative by Civil Society Organisations

Introducing the Joint Principles for
Adaptation (JPA)
 A code of good practice for national adaptation
planning ensuring that the needs of poor communities
most vulnerable to climate change are met.
 A benchmark for good adaptation planning.
 Developed by civil society organizations from across
the world.
 A tool to guide civil society advocacy and shape
dialogue with government
 Facilitating learning between civil society networks in a
joint process

 A move from isolated adaptation projects to national
adaptation policies - from NAPAs to NAPs, and
mainstreaming of adaptation
 Civil society find similar challenges across countries with
adaptation initiatives that have not been effective or
equitable
 Civil society has a wide experience of community based
adaptation approaches
 Developing a benchmark can pool civil society and
government learning for jointly promoting good
adaptation solutions
The Purpose of JPA

 Top-down central planning mostly (LAPA in Nepal uses both
top-down and bottom-up approach)
 Poor identification and lack of involvement of vulnerable
groups in decision making
 Too heavy focus on infrastructure and technologies
 Incoherence and lack of coordination among government
ministries – and local authorities
 National Policy provisions not followed in
planning/implementation (eg; 80% provision of Nepal CC
policy)
 Planning not informed by latest climate science / local
knowledge
 Planning not followed by implementation at local level or
monitoring
Adaptation Policy Challenges

JPA: National frameworks for adaptation planning leads to
more effective and equitable responses to CC when:
A: The planning process is
participatory and inclusive
B. Public funds for
adaptation are utilized and
managed transparently and
with integrity
C: All government sectors
and levels of administration
have defined
responsibilities and
appropriate resources to
fulfill them
D. Local adaptation plans
through community based
approaches are a core
element
E. The resilience of
women and men who are
most vulnerable to
climate change is built
F. There is a balance between
the investment in physical
infrastructure and the
building of skills and
capacities
G. Plans respond to evidence
of the current and future
impacts of climate change

JPA: National frameworks for adaptation planning lead to more effective and
equitable responses to CC when:
A: The planning
process is
participatory and
inclusive when
1. The knowledge and experience of local
communities and indigenous peoples is
incorporated
2. Communities affected by climate
change participate in defining options
and priorities
3. Plans are publicised in ways that local
people can understand and engage with

JPA: National frameworks for adaptation planning lead to more effective and
equitable responses to CC when:
B. Public funds for
adaptation are
utilized and
managed
transparently and
with integrity
1. The implementation and financing of
plans is periodically monitored by a body
on which civil society is represented
2. Adaptation funding is made available
through a transparent process of
allocation
3. There is full and free access to
information on how adaptation funds are
being spent (finances and processes)
4. There is a mechanism in place to
safeguard against initiatives that might
have negative impacts
5. A secure mechanism for expressing
grievances and seeking redress is
available

C: All government
sectors and levels of
administration have
defined responsibilities
and appropriate
resources to fulfill them
1. National adaptation plans carry the
authority to enable different government
sectors to work in a coordinated way
2. Existing initiatives are enhanced to
take climate change into account
3. Funding for adaptation is explicitly
provided for within the national budget
and respective sectorial allocations

D. Local adaptation plans
through community
based approaches are a
core element
1. Local adaptation plans are formalized
and integrated into the development
priorities of local administrations
2. Significant resources are allocated
towards implementation of local
adaptation plans
3. Financing arrangements make
commitments for multi-year
programmes of support to vulnerable
communities

E. The resilience of
women and men who
are most vulnerable to
climate change is built
1. Plans identify and target people who
are socially and economically most
vulnerable
2. Programmes take into account the
differentiated needs and capacities of
women and men in different social
groups
3. Initiatives that enhance community
adaptation through greater social
integration and cohesion are promoted

F. There is a balance
between the investment
in physical infrastructure
and the building of skills
and capacities
1. Adequate resources are made
available to improve the effectiveness of
institutions responsible for managing
climate change adaptation
2. Adequate resources are made
available for raising public awareness
and education about climate change
3. Investment plans contains targets for
both “soft” and “hard” interventions

G. Plans respond to
evidence of the current
and future impacts of
climate change
1. Adaptation plans consider how climate
is affecting existing vulnerabilities
2. Planning scenarios are based on the
best available science and evidence from
the ground
3. Interventions are modified as new
information becomes available
4. Climate information is made accessible
to enable adaptive decision making by all
stakeholders

Joint Principles of Adaptation: An initiative by Civil Society Organisations

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Joint Principles of Adaptation: An initiative by Civil Society Organisations