Owning Adaptation in the Pacific:Strengthening governance of climate adaptation finance

Presentation to 9th Regional Policy Briefing

Sarah Meads, Senior Policy Advisor 1 November 2012

CONTEXT

• Builds on earlier research• How adaptation finance can be

used most effectively• National-level governance focus• Within context of:

- global architecture

- community level adaptation

ADAPTATION FINANCE: NEW CHALLENGE & OPPORTUNITY

• Though still limited, new flows of finance from developed to developing countries

• Requires multi-sectoral approaches

• Requires attention to local level and vulnerable communities

• Not aid, but an opportunity to build new way of doing finance

KEY LESSONS FROM DEVELOPMENT FINANCE

• Promote country ownership • Avoid donor-imposed priorities that don’t match

country needs and realities• Streamline complex and non-transparent funding

processes • Ensure meaningful participation of civil society &

affected communities

Paris Declaration and Accra Agenda

COUNTRY OWNERSHIP

Civil society & communities

International climate finance channels

Country governments

METHODOLOGY OWNING ADAPTATION IN THE PACIFIC

METHODOLOGY

• Involved all stakeholders• Bottom-up and top-down• Participatory workshop• Concrete suggestions• 3 focal countries:

Tonga Vanuatu Papua New Guinea

KEY QUESTION

Q. What factors are limiting, or enhancing, national-level responses to strengthen governance of climate adaptation finance

- to improve access to adaptation funding

- to build an enabling environment

so that climate resources reach those most in need?

FINDINGS OF THE STUDYOWNING ADAPTATION IN THE PACIFIC

L

A CONNECTED-UP APPROACH

ARE PACIFIC COUNTRIES IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT?

• Major focus is accountability up• Donor rigidity limits access to climate

finance & delays programs • Country capacity not adequately

supported

• Some efforts to coordinate international

finance, but not yet adequate

ARE PACIFIC COUNTRIES PREPARED TO LEAD?

• Efforts on institutional changes & coherence with national development strategies

• Key ministries or agencies often under-resourced, low integration across departments and at provincial level as lack resources & accountability

• Sound lessons from some existing initiatives

IS THERE ACCOUNTABILITY TO CIVIL SOCIETY & COMMUNITIES?

• Civil society often not consulted, though some positive models used

• Outreach to, and participation by, marginal communities particularly challenging & limited

• Women and gender issues not at all central

RECOMMENDATIONS OWNING ADAPTATION IN THE PACIFIC

TAPPING ADAPTATION POTENTIAL IN THE PACIFIC

Climate change strategies must target five key areas:

1. Capacity building

2. Partnerships & coordination

3. Information & communication

4. Learning cultures

5. Direct access to climate finance

RECOMMENDATIONS MATRIX

BETTER INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION & TRANSPARENCY

• Better reporting & transparency of climate finance• Sharing by different methods• Culturally appropriate information• Extending participatory &

evidence-based research • Integration of gendered approach

THANK YOUSarah Meads Senior Policy Advisor

www.oxfam.org.nz