The IKI at the NAP Expo 2025 in Lusaka
Adaptation experts came together at the NAP Expo in Zambia entitled “Innovations in the NAP Process”. The IKI attended the event and made use of the conference to establish and further expand networks.
Climate change is amongst the greatest challenges of our time and has large-scale impacts on our ecosystems, economies and societies. The necessity of effective adaptation strategies is rapidly increasing in urgency, as global temperatures continue to rise. Adapting to climate change is decisive for the protection of vulnerable communities, the conservation of natural resources and the promotion of sustainable development.
The International Climate Initiative (IKI) supports countries in their efforts to adapt to climate change by funding the development and implementation of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), amongst other things. These plans are part of a comprehensive NAP process that has supported developing countries, and in particular the least developed countries (LDCs) since 2010 in the integration of the necessary medium- and long-term adaptation measures into their existing planning processes.
The most important event within the framework of the NAP process is the annual NAP Expo, which took place for the 10th time this year from 12 to 15 August in Lusaka, Zambia. A total of about 400 representatives of governments, the United Nations (UN), international organisations, regional networks, the private sector, science and civil society met there to exchange experiences, set up new partnerships and in particular to promote the implementation and financing of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) in line with this year’s event title “Innovations in the NAP Process”. During the NAP Expo, the IKI took part in events regarding its own projects as well as projects of its project partners and made use of the conference to establish new networks and expand those already existing.
High-ranking opening and updated guidelines for the formulation and implementation of NAPs
With its famous hospitality and impressive keynote speech, host country Zambia established a remarkably positive atmosphere of cooperation and optimism right from the very beginning. The significance of strong partnerships enabling the tapping of financing options and the development of local adaptation endeavours as well as nature-based and community-based solutions was emphasised in all keynote speeches. Chilando Chitangala, Mayor of Lusaka, and Mike Mposha, Minister of Green Economy and Environment, particularly referred to Zambia's inclusive, community- and data-based adaptation initiatives.
One of the highlights of the opening was the publication of the updated “NAP Technical Guidelines”, which offer important assistance in the formulation and implementation of National Adaptation Plans. Besides the latest COP decisions and the most recent findings of the IPCC, the update in particular comprises the provisions pertaining to the (Global Goal on Adaptation, GGA) as well as a new element for the promotion of the implementation and financing of NAPs. Thus, the new guidelines specifically address the new phase of the NAP process, which increasingly concentrates on accomplishing the transition from planning to implementation.
In her video message, Ana Toni, CEO of the forthcoming UN Climate Conference of the Parties COP30 in Brazil, also referred to NAPs as game-changers for capacity-building and ensuring the mobilisation of funding. For the COP30, she set the goal of attaching the same importance to adaptation on the global agenda as is placed on mitigation.
IKI projects underline the significance of ecosystem- and community-based adaptation for NAPs
This year's NAP Expo focused on many technical workshops and exchange platforms, which were accompanied by keynote sessions, thus establishing contact between recipients and providers of technical and financial support. The role of philanthropy and the private sector in closing financing gaps, support from the UN system and the already established climate finance mechanisms, the utilisation of climate data, artificial intelligence and innovative financing instruments, in addition to the relevance of young and indigenous leadership in decision-making processes concerning the NAPs were amongst the core topics presented and discussed at the event.
The IKI projects “Support Programme on Scaling up Climate Ambition on Land Use and Agriculture through NDCs and National Adaptation Plans (SCALA)” and "Scaling up Community based Adaptation for Livelihoods and Ecosystems in Southern Africa (CBA-SCALE Southern Africa+)” broached exactly those approaches repeatedly emphasised in the past for successful adaptation through their workshops on the “Integration of Nature-Based Solutions in National Adaptation Plan Processes” and “Scaling up Local/Community-Led Adaptation”. Insights into the experience gained in Ethiopia, Lesotho and Zambia, as well as in many other participating countries, brought new findings, including the realisation that indigenous and local communities are important protectors of biodiversity. As well as that the combination of adaptation technologies with traditional, nature-based knowledge boosts the efficiency and acceptance of adaptation measures. For this purpose, local actors need to be included in decision-making processes from the very beginning and their expertise strengthened purposefully.
The task in the years to come will be to convert the findings into implementation- and investment-ready NAPs that reflect local circumstances and national priorities and promote the achievement of the global adaptation targets at global level. It is for this very reason that the IKI, in its “Strategy 2030”, has decided amongst other things to set itself the target of contributing to more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and/or National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) in at least 30 partner countries.
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