​Pretoria, South Africa – From April 23 to 26, 2024, the Adaptation Academy under the UNFCCC Climate Action and Support Transparency Training (CASTT) organized a pivotal workshop "Enhancing Transparency, including National Climate Adaptation Policies and Financing through the Broadened Water-Energy-Food (WEF+) Nexus."

Organized by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) secretariat, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), IHE-Delft, University of KwaZulu-Natal​, Global Water Partnership and other partners in collaboration with the UNFCCC secretariat, the workshop convened fifteen national experts from eleven countries in the SADC region: Angola, Comoros, the Kingdom of Eswatini, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The aim was to build and enhance their technical capacity and understanding of the enhanced transparency framework (ETF) and the modalities, procedures, and guidelines (MPGs), facilitating their preparation of biennial transparency reports (BTRs).

The workshop specifically focused on BTR chapters addressing climate change impacts and adaptation, as well as the financial, technological, and capacity-building support needed and received. The discussions also delved into integrating the WEF+ nexus into national adaptation plans and nationally determined contributions (NDCs). Participants engaged in fruitful peer discussions, shared experiences and lessons learned, and the event fostered peer learning opportunities within the SADC region.

At the event, the participants highlighted the importance of implementing the ETF and providing a platform for peer-to-peer learning. They recognized the diverse starting points and national circumstances of each developing country. This collaborative environment fostered a deeper understanding and commitment to enhancing transparency and building confidence in submitting BTRs in a timely manner.

Key messages underscored the significance of institutional arrangements for improved BTRs over time with support, as well as communicating national priorities, challenges, and needs, particularly regarding adaptation, as a crucial priority for the entire continent.

For more information on the workshop, click here.

For more information on UNFCCC-CASTT, click here.​