The NDC Delivery Lab is an multi-stakeholder approach that leverages on latest science and innovative local solutions to catalyze the implementation of national policies and priorities set out in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and long-term Low Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS) to scale. Given that climate negotiations at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are shifting towards accelerated implementation of climate actions, the NDC DL is best placed to support this shift by translating policies, targets/priorities into high-impact, bankable investments, delivery plans and on-the-ground climate action.
- The LT-LEDS provide a long-term vision for achieving net zero emissions around mid-century, setting the framework for shorter-term actions such as NDCs and NAPs, considering national circumstances. Parties are urged to submit or revise their LT-LEDS by November 202
- Article 4 of the Paris Agreement further requires countries to prepare and update their NDCs every five years, with specific details of their mitigation and adaptation goals. By 2025, countries are expected to have submitted their third NDCs (NDC3.0), informed by the Global Stocktake with progressive higher ambition.
- NAPs focus on national adaptation strategies to build climate resilience. Article 7 highlights the integration of climate adaptation into national planning. Countries, especially vulnerable ones, are encouraged to submit their NAPs to the UNFCCC to share their progress, strategies, and experiences.
The transition from negotiations to implementation of climate action marks a shift from putting in place international, regional and national policies, frameworks and targets to delivering measurable actions at the local scale. This shift will involve securing adequate financing, building capacity, scaling up programs/projects, integrating national adaptation and cross border considerations with mitigation co-benefits, strengthening accountability, and ensuring local engagement. Africa is policy heavy with extensive policies that are capable of responding to the impacts of climate change. Africa is also significantly light in terms of implementation. There is a very little translation of these policies into climate action. The Lab seeks to address the gaps of limited access to and use of support tools to inform robust policy formulation; financial constraints for policy implementation; weak institutional and technical capacities; and siloed approaches and fragmented efforts inter allia.
Thematic Areas
The NDC DL operates within the science-policy-practice nexus by leveraging the best available science, and case studies to inform policy action through innovative actions and practices on the ground. There have been several key milestones which include;
- Policy support
- In partnership with the UNFCCC RCC, AGNES conducted the Study of Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS) Landscape in Africa with a view to identify the state of play, challenges and opportunities across the continent, building on the lessons learnt and best practices
- Development and dissemination of the technical guide on Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS) in Africa to assist countries in formulating their LT-LEDS
- Unlocking climate finance
In working collaboration with the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT, through the NDC Lab, AGNES has develop a GCF concept note for Kenya (targeting Turkana and West Pokot) through a robust multi-stakeholder process. The Concept note is expected to be submitted to the NDA for non-objection.
- Innovative solutions
The Accelerating Smallholder Agriculture Adaptation Co-Design project in Kenya & Nigeria were implemented at the national, and subnational/local scale to identify locally-led innovative adaptation strategies and key priorities that will strengthen, accelerate, and scale up investment.
- Hub for capacity building in mobilizing resources
The Lab has been a major platform for developing capacity of national expert teams in project proposal development in mobilizing resources. The Lab has been successfully used to catalyse funding for several projects such as stated:
- Accelerating Smallholder Agriculture Adaptation Co-Design project in Kenya and Nigeria
- African Adaptation Atlas – User Adoption and Testing
- Strengthening Capacities of African Countries on Adaptation Finance (SCACAF)
- Strengthening Resilience through Women, Youth, & Innovation, in the Horn of Africa (ClimateWISE)
- Early Career Capacity Development
‘Learning by doing’ –The Lab has also been used to strengthen the capacities of four (4) Early Career Climate Fellows within the science-policy-practice nexus. At present one (1) Climate Fellow is going through the process and two (2) new fellows are expecting to join the process by October.
Priority Areas of Intervention
There are a number of current and future opportunities the Lab explores.
- Support the national governments to develop their LT-LEDS and NDC 3.0 by collaborating with partners.
- Collaborating with national and subnational government experts to unpack their climate policies and translate the ideas into innovative bankable project investments.
Building the technical capacities of national teams in developing climate rationales and project pipelines development.