Sri Lanka: Strengthening Capacity for Climate Change Adaptation

Agriculture, natural resources and rural development / Agricultural policy, institutional and capacity development

Energy / Energy sector development and institutional reform

Water and other urban infrastructure and services / Urban policy, institutional and capacity development

1. Completed Mid-term Review (MTR) Mission (6-9 September 2010) to Colombo and:

(i) supported consultations and further development of work plan/activities of the TA with the executing agency (EA) , namely, Ministry of Environment (MOE), Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and CDTA Consultants and

(ii) held in-depth meetings including a wrap-up with the EA, External Resources Department (ERD), GOSL and other related stakeholders from related line agencies;

2. Participated in the CDTA Final Workshop (16-17 November 2010) held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The workshop attracted strong stakeholder participation and included senior representation from GOSL from the main line agencies, namely, water, power, transport, urban development, tourism and also ADB.

3. The workshop show-cased the main TA outputs including the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (CCAS), information, education and communication and the Sector Vulnerability profiles. All TA outputs were endorsed and acknowledgement provided by stakeholders of the quality and timeliness of delivery.

The major outputs envisaged under the TA are:

a.Country-driven consultation process with key stakeholders at the national and local levels to develop a Strategic Program for Climate Resilience and medium-term investment plan.

b. Education, information, and awareness strategy developed to increase understanding of climate change adaptation risks and appropriate adaptation responses at the national, local and community levels, and promote support for public spending for climate change adaptation.

c.National and State-level inter-ministerial consultation workshops led by Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MENR) and Ministry of Finance to (a) showcase international best practices in accessing concessionary financing for adaptation measures and lessons learned internationally to access concessionary funding in support of national climate change adaptation programs; (b) identify priority adaptation measures in the Strategic Program for Climate Resilience that could be considered for international concessionary financing; (c) develop strategy and implementation plan for accessing concessionary financing in support of priority adaptation measures under the Strategic Program for Climate Resilience.

d. Partners Forum convened by MENR and Ministry of Finance and other government agencies to showcase Strategic Program for Climate Resilience and medium-term investment plan and tap concessional funding in support of priority adaptation measures.

e. Report on proceedings of Partners Forum, and development of implementation program to ensure timely disbursement of concessional funding in support of priority adaptation measures outlined in the Strategic Program for Climate Resilience and medium-term investment plan.

f. Climate change education, information, and awareness strategy implemented at the national, local and community levels, and promote support for public spending for climate change adaptation.

g. Climate change risk management training programs conducted with environmental officers in Provincial Councils and 311 Local Authorities.

h. Climate change risk management activities undertaken by environmental officers in Provincial Councils and 311 Local Authorities.

Present Status:

Recruitment of individual consultants under the TA is under progress. Team Leader has been recruited and he has been mobilized

(i) Completion of MTR mission (6-9 September 2010);

(ii) Participation in TA Final Workshop (16-17 November 2010) at Colombo;

(iii) GOSL endorsement of Climate Change Adaptation Strategy provided;

(iv) Dissemination of TA outputs successful based on wide and high level participation of stakeholders and high media interest and coverage of the event.