Desktop Study on - Regional Climate Change Adaptation ...

Assessment of Capacity Gaps and Needs of South East Asia Countries
in Addressing Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Variability and Climate Change
The NSAPCC will be implemented in three phases in
the period 2009 to 2020 (Lao PDR, 2009b), pursuing
the following structure of implementation. During
Phase I (2009-2010), the focus is on (i) building
climate change awareness; (ii) mainstreaming
climate change; (iii) strengthening policies and
institutional capacity; and (iv) expanding the
knowledge base. Phase II (2011-2015) will pursue
(i) the implementation of the thematic priorities
initiated in the first phase; and (ii) in the meantime,
start the implementation of the adaptation
and mitigation actions, some on a pilot basis.
Phase III (2016-2020), will aim for full-fledged
implementation of all the actions (Roth, 2009).
Early this year, the NSAPCC and the new climate
change office have been able to launch the strategy
for the country. However, the implementation of this
is tentatively planned in a three-pronged manner.
While the Phase-I has begun, the allocation of money
for all these phases is still open. Nonetheless, the
government officials in Lao PDR with limited skilled
human resources are trying to cope with various
multi and bilateral donor agencies to streamline the
funding sources to undertake some of these planned
developmental measures to combat climate change
(ADB, 2009a).
National Adaptation Programme of
Action to Climate Change (NAPA)
The National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA)
to Climate Change, approved by the government
in 2009 has identified four priority sectors for the
adaptation to climate change: agriculture, forestry,
water, and health (Lao PDR, 2009a). Across all
sectors, forty five priority project proposals were
prepared for implementing adaptation activities
in four main sectors - agriculture, forestry, water
and water resources, and public health. Twelve of
these projects are of high priority, followed by the
remaining thirty three projects. The following are
the proposed adaptation projects of high priority
(Lao PDR, 2009a):
Agriculture
Strengthen the capacity of the National Disaster
Management Committees
Promote secondary professions for farmers
in order to improve the livelihood of farmers
affected by natural disasters induced by climate
change
Forestry
Continue the slash-and-burn eradication
program and permanent job creation program
Strengthen capacity of village forestry
volunteers in forest planting, caring and
management techniques as well as the use of
village forests
Water resources
Raise awareness on water and water resource
management
Mapping of flood-prone areas
Establish an early warning system for flood
prone areas, and improve and expand
meteorology and hydrological networks and
weather monitoring systems
Strengthen institutional and human resource
capacities related to water and water resource
management
Survey underground water sources in drought
prone areas
<strong>Study</strong>, design and build multi-use reservoirs in
drought prone areas
Health
Improve systems for the sustainable use of
drinking water and sanitation with community
participation in flood and drought prone areas
Improve knowledge and skills of engineers who
design and build water and sanitation systems
No further prioritization has been done within these
defined priority actions. The WREA has been assigned
to be the central institution for disseminating the
NAPA plan throughout the country, to mobilize
funds, and to take the lead in collaborating with the
main sectors (Roth, 2009).
Recent Projects: Development of the
Second National Communication to
the UNFCC
A very recent project concerns the development
of the Second National Communication for Lao
PDR, the initiative being approved by the WREA
in November 2009 (UNDP, 2009a). It aims at
supporting the Government in the development of
a “comprehensive and consolidated response to
national climate change challenges”, by the end of
October 2011. WREA is the implementing partner,
while funds are provided by GEF, UNDRO and the
government. The first planned project objectives
and activities include (i) the development of a
National Circumstances Report assessing Lao PDR’s
sectoral policies, national strategies and plans,
and the capacity for climate change mitigation and
adaptation; (ii) strengthening of capacities for
realizing climate change vulnerability, mitigation,
and adaptation assessments; (iii) developing a set
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