National Adaptation Plan (NAP) support project for adaptation planning and implementation in Azerbaijan

The main objective of the “National Adaptation Plan (NAP) support project for adaptation planning and implementation in Azerbaijan” is to increase capacity on climate resilience and adaptation in three priority sectors to reduce or eliminate barriers for an effective adaptation process at the national and local levels.

The Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) submitted by Azerbaijan in 2017 highlights the need to “develop relevant adaptation measures for decreasing or minimizing the losses that may occur at national, local and community levels per sector.” The priority sectors were identified as water, agriculture and coastal areas. The expected increase in extreme events on the Caspian Sea coastal areas, such as extremely high waves, strong winds and flooding, make those areas particularly vulnerable to climate change and requires the development of targeted adaptation programmes. The stocktaking exercise in 2017 has identified barriers including: a) Limited access to data including limited data exchange by stakeholders in Azerbaijan; b) Insufficient institutional and technical capacity on climate change adaptation at managerial, expert/practitioners and community levels; c) Limited mainstreaming of adaptation in national, regional, local and sectoral planning, budgeting and regulatory framework; d) Limited institutional coordination; and e) Limited monitoring, evaluation and analysis of past and current programmes on climate change adaptation. 

This project aims to address the identified barriers and improve adaptation planning in Azerbaijan focusing on three main areas:

• Improve data availability, access and sharing for decision making. The project will establish mechanisms and data solutions to facilitate increased access and sharing of climate and weather information in Azerbaijan, as well as improve the coordination among institutions.
• Enhance institutional and technical capacity for climate change adaptation in water, agriculture, and coastal areas. Limited institutional and technical capacity hinders not only the mainstreaming of CCA considerations into planning processes, but also the implementation of adaptation actions at the national, regional and local levels. A national gender-sensitive CCA capacity building programme will be developed that addresses the gaps in knowledge and capacity of key stakeholders at all levels: from government decision makers and technical personnel, to local communities and the private sector.
• Increase mainstreaming of CCA considerations into planning at national, regional, local levels in the priority sectors. An Adaptation Working Group (AWG) will be established at the national level, a body that will coordinate the development of a NAP Roadmap document. Further planned activities to advance mainstreaming include the development and application of tools (manuals, guidelines) for the inclusion of CCA considerations into sectoral planning, the improvement of the legal framework for adaptation in priority sectors (water, coastal areas, agriculture), the screening, appraisal and accounting of adaptation in public and private investments and the development and implementation of a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system for adaptation that is compatible with the Strategic Development Road Maps (SDRM) of Azerbaijan.

Project updates

• Comprehensive assessment of existing and needed climate data and vulnerability studies and supplemental CCA vulnerability studies for priority sectors completed. 
• Charter for Adaptation Working Group established to coordinate adaptation planning at the national level.
• Climate Vulnerability Index for the country was developed and is available for use. Gender workplan for the project was developed and is used for the project activities. 
• Capacity needs assessment for the development of ‘university specialized diplomas and certificates’ for climate change adaptation was conducted. 
• The process to develop an online climate change platform is initiated. 
• The analyses of the National Legislation on Climate Change was conducted, and the recommendations are being followed-up, including the preparation of new legal documents. 
• The series of capacity building and public awareness workshops/seminars for technical personnel and students were organized in the capital as well as in the different regions of Azerbaijan.
• The capacity needs assessment for the decision-makers was conducted and policy briefs were prepared accordingly. 
• A workshop, co-hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR), on “Preparation of National Adaptation Plan” was organized to deliver recommendations and possible amendments for Azerbaijani legislation on effectively tackling the impacts of climate change.
• The Project team in collaboration with the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Agriculture, organized a series of training sessions on “Climate change adaptation in agriculture” to discuss climate impacts and Azerbaijan’s agricultural problems with the local communities.
• In collaboration with the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the NAP project team held three study tours for Azerbaijan’s government representatives, with a special focus on climate change impacts on the vulnerable sectors.
• The Projects team delivered modern equipment to the Situation Center under the National Hydrometeorological Service.
• In collaboration with the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the NAP project team organized  three study tours for Azerbaijan’s government representatives, with a special focus on climate change impacts on the vulnerable sectors.
• The NAP project team held the School Symposium on Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation measures for schoolchildren in April 2023. The symposium provided a platform for high school students to showcase their research projects on climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.
• NAP project team has recently organized a study tour for Azerbaijani government representatives, in partnership with the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. Focused on climate change impacts in vulnerable sectors, the tour aimed to educate  government officials on effective adaptation practices, particularly in regions facing heightened vulnerability.