This discussion paper aims to emphasize the importance of historical climate data, climate projections and climate vulnerability and risk studies for building climate resilient communities. The Africa Adaptation Programme, one of UNDP’s flagship programs in Africa, supported the improved access to, understanding of, and application of climate data and information.

The program ended in 2012. The US$92.1 million Africa Adaptation Programme was designed to assist 20 countries across Africa to incorporate climate change risks and opportunities into their national development processes in order to protect development gains from climate change.

The AAP was not a traditional climate change adaptation program. Designed to support transformational changes, it had a more strategic focus aimed at creating an environment in which more informed and appropriate development and adaptation decisions and practices could be undertaken and that future projects and programming could build upon.

The AAP supported countries to achieve five outcomes:

Outcome 1: Countries have introduced dynamic, long-term planning mechanisms to manage the inherent uncertainties of climate change.

Outcome 2: Countries have built leadership capacities and developed institutional frameworks to manage climate change risks and opportunities in an integrated manner at the local and national levels.

Outcome 3: Countries are implementing climate-resilient policies and measures in priority sectors.

Outcome 4: Financing options to meet national adaptation costs have been expanded at the local, national, sub-regional and regional levels.

Outcome 5: Knowledge on adjusting national development processes to fully incorporate climate change risks and opportunities is being generated and shared across all levels.

Read Africa Adaptation Program: Capacity building experiences – improving access, understanding and application of climate data and information.