Rationale for NAPAs
NAPAs (national adaptation programmes of action) provide a
process for Least Developed Countries
(LDCs) to identify priority activities that respond to their urgent and immediate needs with regard to
adaptation to climate change. The rationale for NAPAs rests on the limited ability of LDCs to adapt to the
adverse effects of climate change. In order to address the urgent adaptation needs of LDCs, a new approach
was needed that would focus on enhancing adaptive capacity to climate variability, which itself would help
address the adverse effects of climate change. The NAPA takes into account existing coping strategies at
the grassroots level, and builds upon that to identify priority activities, rather than focusing on
scenario-based modeling to assess future vulnerability and long-term policy at state level. In the NAPA
process, prominence is given to community-level input as an important source of information, recognizing
that grassroots communities are the main stakeholders.
Chronological evolution of concept of NAPAs
Article 4.9 of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) recognizes the specific needs and special situations of the
LDCs. 
Decision 5/CP.7 of the 7th
Conference of the Parties (COP) also acknowledged the specific situations of LDCs, in that they do not have
the means to deal with problems associated with adaptation to climate change, and established an LDC work
programme including NAPAs as well as other supporting activities. Decision 28/CP.7 set the guidelines
for NAPAs. Also related to the NAPA process, Decision 29/CP.7 set up an LDC Expert
Group (LEG) to provide guidance and advice on the preparation and implementation strategy for NAPAs.
Focus of NAPAs
The NAPAs focus on urgent and immediate needs – those for which
further delay could increase vulnerability or lead to increased costs at a later stage. NAPAs should use
existing information; no new research is needed. They must be action-oriented and country-driven and be
flexible and based on national circumstances. Finally, in order to effectively address urgent and immediate
adaptation needs, NAPA documents should be presented in a simple format, easily understood both by
policy-level decision-makers and by the public.
The NAPA process
The steps for the preparation of the NAPAs include synthesis of
available information, participatory assessment of vulnerability to current climate variability and extreme
events and of areas where risks would increase due to climate change, identification of key adaptation
measures as well as criteria for prioritizing activities, and selection of a prioritized short list of
activities. The development of a NAPA also includes short profiles of projects and/or activities intended
to address urgent and immediate adaptation needs of LDC Parties.
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