Khartoum/London – Following the historic climate deal agreed at the COP 21 Climate Conference in Paris, UN Environment and the UK Government, through the Department for International Development (DFID), are now collaborating on a new £10 million four-year programme. Adapt for Environment and Climate Resilience in Sudan or ‘ADAPT!’ aims to respond to the call by world leaders in Paris to collectively address the urgent challenges posed by climate change particularly in countries expected to be hit hardest.
Sudan, considered a least developed country, is on the frontline when it comes to the likely impacts of climate change. Temperatures are expected to rise, rainfall will become more unpredictable, droughts and floods will become more severe, and precious water resources will become ever more stretched. Sudan also faces a series of structural challenges including weak environmental governance following decades of conflict, incomplete data and analysis for future planning, and limited financing to address these issues.
Working in close partnership with Government Ministries, UN, agencies, NGOs, academia and donors, the programme aims to increase climate resilience and environmental management in Sudan. It will focus on three priority areas:
Firstly, ADAPT will integrate best practice on climate and environmental issues into project delivery through improved project design, technical assistance and joint programming.
Secondly, the programme will work to deepen and broaden the knowledge and evidence base to promote climate smart planning through analysis such as a ‘State of the Environment’ report; surveys of groundwater resources; and climate modelling.
Finally, it will work to improve policy processes and strategic planning, including by leveraging finance to implement and multiply best practices. This includes engaging with international climate negotiations and supporting Sudan to take forward its COP21 Intended Nationally Determined Contributions commitment, attracting global climate funds to support adaptation, and reviewing policies such as the Agricultural Strategy and Poverty Reduction Strategy in view of climate change projections.
By leveraging strategic partnerships and ensuring that responses are underpinned by sound science and best practices, this programme will play an important role in helping the people of Sudan cope with the inevitable environmental, political, economic and social stresses caused by climate change.
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