February 7, 2018
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) joined last year to launch an online course on climate change and agriculture. The six-week course in partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) featured leading global experts on climate change, finance, agriculture, and communications. The Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on National Adaptation Plans: Building Climate Resilience in Agriculture happened in parallel with the 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP23) in Bonn, Germany.
The joint UNDP-FAO Integrating Agriculture in National Adaptation Plans (NAP-Ag) Programme supports partner countries to identify and integrate climate adaptation measures for the agricultural sectors into relevant national planning and budgeting processes. The programme is funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), through its International Climate Initiative (IKI).
The learning materials are now presented as part of the joint effort between all parties involved in the MOOC.
Frame Credits to UNDP
Watch all the MOOC videos [YouTube playlist]
Module 1: Introduction to climate change adaptation, agriculture and food securityModule 1 highlights the interlinkages between climate change and agriculture and the importance of adaptation planning for ensuring food security and sustainable development. This Module sets the scene for the course by introducing fundamental concepts and terminology. It features case studies and examples that highlight differentiated impacts of climate change impacts on gender in agriculture and on migration. Module 1 also presents key international developments such as the Paris Agreement, including the Nationally Determined Contributions, the 2030 Agenda and the Sendai framework, National Adaptation Plans and how they relate.
Learning Objectives
Identify interlinkages between climate change, agriculture and food security and the role of national adaptation planning; Recognize differentiated climate change impacts on livelihoods and gender in agriculture; Discuss the NAP’s relation to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement, and the Sendai Framework.
Frame Credits to UNDP
Module 2: International Frameworks and National Adaptation PlanningModule 2 introduces the NAP process and the NAP-Ag Programme. Module 2 presents the LEG Technical Guidelines on NAP and the critical elements of the NAP process. Attention is paid to the importance of the NAPs’ alignment with the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This module also introduces the “Addressing agriculture, forestry, and fisheries in National Adaptation Plans – Supplementary guidelines” developed by FAO. Country experiences from Uruguay and Zambia on the integration of agriculture in NAPs are presented.
Learning Objectives
Explain the process of formulation and implementation of National Adaptation Plans; Describe the Integrating Agriculture in National Adaptation Plans (NAP-Ag) Programme and supplementary guidelines for addressing agriculture in national adaptation planning.
Frame Credits to UNDP
Module 3: Identifying and assessing climate change impacts and risksModule 3 focuses on the importance of using the latest available information and enhancing a strong knowledge base in adaptation planning. It discusses different types and sources of information available for conducting vulnerability and climate risk assessments, and the importance of integrating different kinds of knowledge. This module also introduces interactive tools and approaches for modeling climate change impact on agriculture, measuring impact and mainstreaming gender into adaptation planning. Examples for these will be drawn from the Programme on Climate Information for Resilient Development in Africa (CIRDA), Modelling System for Agricultural Impacts of Climate Change (MOSAICC), Agriculture Stress Index System (ASIS), along with gender analysis approaches.
Learning Objectives Identify types and sources of knowledge and information needed for adaptation planning; Reflect on the importance of informed decision-making in adaptation planning; Identify tools for modeling.
Frame Credits to UNDP
Module 4: Identifying and prioritizing climate adaptation optionsModule 4 presents different types of adaptation actions in the agriculture sector, including specific case-studies from the livestock, croplands as well as aquaculture and fisheries sub-sectors. This module offers practical exercises for learners to get acquainted with the tools and methods at their disposal for prioritizing and appraising different actions. Finally, the module provides insights into the mechanics of designing a climate change adaptation project.
Learning Objectives Discuss examples of different adaptation actions in agriculture; Recall approaches and methods for the appraisal and prioritization of adaptation actions.
Frame Credits to UNDP
Module 5: Governance, coordination and financeModule 5 focuses on institutional coordination, governance and financial challenges faced when integrating agriculture into adaptation planning and implementation. It builds on the previous discussion of institutional and individual competencies in national adaptation planning from Module 2. It provides valuable insights associated with national budgeting, as well as an overview of a range of options for financing adaptation action for agriculture and agriculture-based livelihoods, e.g., the use of climate/weather risk insurance mechanisms.
Learning Objectives Distinguish coordination and governance aspects of implementing adaptation actions in agriculture sectors; Recall opportunities and mechanisms for funding climate change adaptation and safeguarding livelihoods in agriculture.
Frame Credits to UNDP
Module 6: Communications, monitoring, and evaluationModule 6 reflects on the 4th final element of the National Adaptation Plans guidelines (Element D – Reporting, Monitoring, and Review) and presents the processes of setting up effective adaptation M&E systems for the agriculture sector, which can feed into NAP processes. One of the tools shown is impact evaluation. The module also introduces the role of outreach and communications for enhancing the project objectives and provides an overview of the steps and best practices of building and implementing effective communications strategy.
Learning Objectives Describe the M&E process for climate change adaptation in agriculture; List the essential elements of an integrated communications strategy.
