With the financial backing of international partners such as Green Climate Fund, The GEF and Adaptation Fund, UNDP is working hand-in-hand with countries to adapt and build coastal resilience to climate change.
Thematic Area
Promoting integrated, ecosystem-based, climate-resilient management of the world’s rivers, lakes and oceans is an essential component of UNDP’s climate change adaptation service offer. The main areas of work include watershed management and catchment rehabilitation, sustainable land management, coastline protection, and promoting integrated water resource management systems. Coastal cities, small island developing states, coastal habitats, and marine environments are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of rising seas, coastal degradation, salination, and other climate impacts. To address these interlinked challenges, UNDP’s urban resilience and ecosystem-based adaptation programming is also preparing coastal communities and coastal habitats to become more resilient to climate shocks.
Human stories
The GEF-financed ‘Coastal Resilience Program’ is Timor-Leste's largest ever effort to conserve coastal ecosystems, with a view to protect people's livelihoods and forge more resilient communities in the face of climate change.
With support from the Green Climate Fund and UNDP, Egypt is protecting its people and its economy from the devastating impacts of sea-level rise.
Resources
'The Song of the Birds Returns to Cuba’s Gulf Coast' | Adaptation Fund | 2018
When Vicente Núñez noticed several years ago that Cuba’s southwestern gulf coastline and its rich plant and wildlife were disappearing, he knew something had to be done.
He experimented by replanting different types of mangroves. Further actions materialized with the arrival of a local scientist known as the “Mangrove Fairy” and a project in 2014 funded by the Adaptation Fund and carried out by the UN Development Programme and Cuban Environment Agency.
Combating climate change using climate-adaptive livelihoods: A story from MOYNA, a women's livelihood group in Bangladesh
'Moyna' consists of 25 women beneficiaries from Kocha village in Dacope upazila, Khulna. Most group members are uneducated and belong to extremely poor families. After receiving training under the GCF-funded project 'Enhancing Adaptive Capacities of Coastal Communities, especially Women, to Cope with Climate Change-Induced Salinity in Bangladesh' (known locally as the Gender-responsive Coastal Adaptation, or GCA project), 'Moyna' has been cultivating climate-resilient sesame. The members are now educating their family and friends about the advantages of the crop.
Project brief | GCA Bangladesh
Brief for project 'Enhancing Adaptive Capacities of Coastal Communities, especially Women, to Cope with Climate Change-Induced Salinity in Bangladesh' (known locally as the Gender-responsive Coastal Adaptation, or GCA, project)
'Enforcement training on Nonouti ‘Tania ni Maiu’ bylaw' November 2022
A team of three government officers - from the Local Government Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Attorney General’s office - travelled to Nonouti Island to conduct an enforcement training on the recent approved Nonouti ‘Tania ni Maiu’ bylaw, an important tool for the island council that will enhance and support safeguarding of Nonouti food security through setting of obligations for people on protecting and conserving of their marine resources, land resources and others.
'Maiana Island celebrates World Food Day and hosts LDCF1 project closure workshop' November 2022
17 November 2022 – A team comprised of staff from the departments of Agriculture and Livestock (ALD) and Environment and Conservation (ECD) from the Ministry of the Environment, Land and Agriculture Development (MELAD), Coastal Fisheries (CFD) from Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Development (MFMRD), Local Government Division from Ministry of Internal Affairs with the company of Office of Attorney General (OAGs), Kiribati Meteorological Services (KMS) from Office of Te Beretetitenti, the Internal Trade and Business along with Tourism (TAK) from the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce,
'Nonouti Island Community-Based Tourism (CBT) development progressing' October 2022
The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) in collaboration with the Business Promotion Unit of the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives (MTCIC) continued its community-based tourism programme on Nonouti Island from 14 – 31 October 2022. Through this mission, the team worked with participating communities to develop their community-based tourism business plans. This included consultation with participating communities on business name ideas, package and pricing and other necessary information required for the business plan completion.
'Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives strengthens income generation for food security through LDCF1 project' November 2022
On September 24, a team from the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives (MTCIC) departed Tarawa for Abemama island. The mission lasted for 21 days with the purpose to undertake training, consultation, and awareness to strengthen business initiatives through increasing trade from local products and value-added products from in-land and marine resources to enhance food security under the impacts of climate change.
'Cooperatives and credit union established at Maiana' October 2022
Two new cooperatives and one new credit union were established at the island of Maiana. One cooperative belongs to a group of women from Maiana (Nei Te Kewe ni Maiana CS). This cooperative is selling handicrafts and Mauriwear. The other cooperative is called Bubutei Fisherman CS, and their services relate to marine products. The new credit union is called Team Work Credit union from Temwangaua village.
'Creel survey on Abemama island' October 2022
From 24 September to 15 October 2022, a team of four officials from the Research and Monitoring Unit of the Coastal Fisheries Division visited Abemama Island to carry out a creel survey on the Island. A creel survey targets fishermen with the aim of collecting information on artisanal coastal fishing activities including fishers’ demographics, fishing behaviour, catch composition, including catch per unit effort, and fishers' perceptions.
'Support to environmental conservation at Nonouti' October 2022
Officers from the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development (MELAD) and one from the Ministry of Women, Youth, Sports and Social Affairs (MWYSSA) conducted a 15-day mission to Nonouti Island 16 - 31 October 2022 to support the Island Elders (Te Buroo n Nonouti) and the two villages/communities in the development of their integrated environment and natural resource management plan (IENRMP) and constitution, as well as mangrove picking and planting with church youth, recruitment of EEO (Environment Extension Officer).
'On Nonouti, LDCF continues to support environmental sustainability and food security' October 2022
From September 28 to October 5, 2022, officers from the Environment and Conservation Division carried out activities in Kiribati to improve food security, preserve the environment, and lessen the effects of climate change. The activities included building coastal beach brush, planting coastal areas, tagging turtles, delineating seagrass beds, selecting and planting mangroves on Nounouti with the cooperation of communities, and lastly monitoring mangroves planted by communities taking part in the mangrove competition which was initiated in April 2021.
Partnerships
The Ocean Innovation Challenge (OIC) is issuing a series of 'Ocean Challenges' or Requests for Proposals, each focused on a specific SDG14 target. Initial concepts may be submitted by public or private entities, including governments, private companies (including start-ups), NGO/civil society organizations, United Nations entities, academic institutions, and intergovernmental organizations.
UNDP will deliver on its Ocean Promise through our Ocean Programme, which comprises a range of ongoing and new projects and initiatives dedicated to tackling the ocean crisis. By 2030, 100 coastal countries (including all Small Island Developing States) will realize the maximum potential of their blue economies through sustainable, low-emission, and climate-resilient ocean use — that grows economies, creates jobs and livelihoods, improves food security, and reduces poverty, inequity and gender inequality.
