Building Local Scientific Capacities For the NAP Process in Senegal

The implementation of National Adaptation Plans (NAP) can be effectively used for building and strengthening local technical and scientific capacities, as has been proven by Senegal. Through a science-based support project for Senegal’s National Adaptation Plan processes (PAS-PNA), the NAP process shall be based on a sound scientific information basis by strengthening the exchange between science and policy. More specifically, the PAS-PNA aims to: i) identify the current state of climate change issues considered in national policies as well as existing national and sectoral strategies; (ii) analyze approaches for the development of scientifically based climate information; and iii) help integrating this information into Senegal‘s political programming. Activities involve stock-taking of the current state of knowledge, organizational and strategic advice, technical trainings, and scientific analyses (such as vulnerability and impact analyses).

The approach constitutes a good practice because it is based on a strong stakeholder engagementprocess, it is innovative in terms its goal, and it includes safeguards to make sure the considerations of vulnerable communities are taken into account.

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES: Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD in French acronym); Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Equipment (MAER in French acronym); Ministry of Hydraulics and Sanitation (MHA in French acronym); Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEFP in French acronym); Ministry of Local Governance; Directorate of Environment and Classified Establishments (DEEC in French acronym); High Council of Territorial Governing Bodies (HCCT in French acronym).

IMPLEMENTATION PARTNERS: Deutsche Gesellschaft für International Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH; Climate Analytics gGmbH.· INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); French Development Agency (AFD in French acronym).

OTHER INSTITUTIONS: Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar (UCAD in French acronym); Gaston Berger University of Saint-Louis (UGB in French acronym); Thiès University, Zinguinchor University, Senegalese Institute of Agricultural Research (ISRA); National Agency of Civil Aviation and Meteorology (ANACIM in French acronym); Laboratory of Physics of the Atmosphere and the Ocean (LPAO); Doctoral School Water Quality and Uses (EDEQUE in French acronym); Regional study Center for enhanced adaptation to drought (CEERAS in French acronym); National Climate Change Committee (COMNACC in French acronym); National Council of Consultation and Cooperation of the Rural Population(CNCR in French acronym).