NAP GSP | UNDP Climate Change Adaptation

The National Adaptation Plan Global Support Programme (NAP-GSP) was a flagship initiative that provided technical support to developing countries to advance their National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes under the UNFCCC. Running from 2013 to 2021, the NAP-GSP helped countries identify, plan for, and implement medium- to long-term climate adaptation strategies.

Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF)’s Least Development Countries Fund (LDCF) and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), the programme was delivered jointly by UNDP and UNEP in partnership with a range of global and regional organizations.

NAP-GSP was implemented through four programmatic phases:

NAP-GSP for LDCs (2013–2015) – Supported Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to launch their NAP processes, offering foundational training, stocktaking and institutional support.
NAP-GSP for LDCs – Expanded Phase (2016–2020) – Provided deeper technical assistance to LDCs to advance NAP formulation, stakeholder engagement, and sectoral integration.
NAP-GSP for non-LDCs (2017–2020) – Extended support to non-LDC developing countries, helping them initiate and strengthen their NAP processes.
NAP-GSP for LDC Negotiators (2018–2021) – Focused on building the capacity of LDC negotiators in climate adaptation planning and policy, particularly in the context of international climate negotiations.

Through these four components, NAP-GSP supported over 60 countries in advancing adaptation planning, laying the groundwork for long-term resilience. Implemented in collaboration with the UNFCCC Secretariat, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), The United Nations Institute for Training and Research(UNITAR), Global Water Partnership (GWP), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), UN-Habitat, The German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and others, the programme provided many countries with baseline work on longer term adaptation planning, helped shape global and regional discussions on adaptation and remains a a pioneering programme thought leader in the field today.

Photo: UNDP Panama

Global Support Programme Outcomes

Between 2013 and 2020 the NAP-GSP helped 65 countries (37 non-LDC developing countries and 28 LDCs) strengthen their national adaptation planning.

Under the project, 34 countries completed in-depth stocktaking exercises to assess climate risks, policy frameworks, institutional setups and capacity needs. National consultations and stakeholder dialogues were facilitated in 33 countries, while 30 countries were supported to develop roadmaps to guide the next steps in their adaptation planning process. These efforts helped ensure that climate change adaptation was meaningfully integrated into broader national development priorities, including countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Building national capacity was a central goal of the programme. More than 380 climate practitioners from 96 countries—nearly half of them women—were trained through regional workshops and a training-of-trainers event. In addition, NAP-GSP developed a suite of learning tools, including e-tutorials in four languages on climate adaptation in water management, prioritizing adaptation options, and accessing climate finance.

The programme served as a hub for knowledge sharing, producing 25 country and regional briefs and sharing lessons learned through newsletters, webinars, videos, and events that reached a global audience. A key success of the programme was its support in unlocking climate finance. NAP-GSP helped 22 countries secure a total of over US$55 million in grants for adaptation planning.

It also played a major role in promoting collaboration across regions and sectors, culminating in a global South-South Knowledge Exchange Forum in 2021. The forum brought together 170 participants from over 35 countries and 10 partner organizations to share experiences and innovations in adaptation planning. Through these efforts, NAP-GSP made a lasting contribution to the global climate adaptation agenda and laid strong foundations for more resilient development pathways.

UNDPs post-NAP-GSP support to National Adaptation Plans

Building on the success of the NAP-GSP, UNDP continues to support countries in advancing their National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) through Green Climate Fund (GCF)-funded Readiness projects. Since 2017, UNDP has partnered with 37 countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Central Europe to design and implement multi-year adaptation planning efforts. These projects help governments assess climate risks, develop financing strategies, and integrate adaptation priorities into national and sectoral development plans—all aligned with UNDP’s Climate Promise and efforts to meet Paris Agreement goals.