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 STUDY OWNING 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 YOU Sarah Meads Senior Policy Advisor