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MDGF-1680: Enhancing the Capacity of Turkey to Adapt to Climate Change

PLEASE NOTE THIS CONCEPT NOTE IS THE ORIGINAL SUBMISSION TO THE FUND. IN MANY CASES INDICATIVE BUDGET AMOUNTS APPROVED BY THE STEERING COMMITTEE ARE CONSIDERABLY LOWER THAN THAT REQUESTED AND INDICATED HERE-IN. FINAL BUDGET AMOUNTS WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE AFTER APPROVAL OF THE FINALIZED DETAILED JOINT PROGRAMME DOCUMENT.
Thu, 2007/06/07 - 10:31am — katalin.zaim@un...
Thu, 2007/06/07 - 11:16am
Thu, 2007/06/14 - 11:32am
katalin.zaim@undp.org
English  (current)

ID: MDGF-1680

Environment and climate change
Round 1
(26/04/2007 - 31/12/2009)
Turkey
$11,068,860
36 Months
Enhancing the Capacity of Turkey to Adapt to Climate Change

Attached Documents:

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A. Applicant Information

Europe
  • Upper Middle Income Country
  • Medium HDI, according to UNDP's 2006 Human Development Report
  • Mahmood AYUB
  • mahmood.ayub@undp.org
  • Halide Caylan
  • halide.caylan@undp.org
  • Katalin Zaim
  • UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Programme Manager
  • katalin.zaim@undp.org
  • Liza Leclerc
  • UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme
  • Climate Change Adaptation Task Manager
  • liza.leclerc@unep.org
  • UNDP - United Nations Development Programme ($8,370,104)
  • UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund ($57,013)
  • FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations ($1,138,441)
  • UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization ($1,242,091)
  • UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme ($261,211)
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B. Concept Note

This joint program addresses the priority area of “Enhancing Capacity to Adapt to Climate Change”. Turkey is highly vulnerable to climate change. As part of the southern belt of Mediterranean Europe, the country is already facing an observed warming trend in temperatures and a decreasing trend in precipitation. This is having a major negative effect on water availability for food production and rural development, further exacerbating the social and regional disparities in a country characterized by a wide (and widening) gap between the eastern and southeastern provinces and the rest of the country. The core objective of developing national capacities to manage climate change risks would be achieved through mainstreaming climate change issues into (1) national development framework; (2) local pilot actions; and (3) the UN country programmatic framework. This joint program was developed by the UN Country Team with clear roles and responsibilities for each participating UN entity.

Climate Risks and Hazards in Turkey Apart from relatively frequent earthquakes, Turkey is vulnerable to natural disasters such as floods, increasing water stress in parts of the country, and land degradation. Economic losses from flooding and landslides as a proportion of GDP have historically been among the highest in Turkey compared to other countries in Europe and CIS. Landslides and floods have accounted for 25% and 10%, respectively, of Turkey’s natural disasters over the last 25 years. Increasing temperatures coupled with decreasing precipitation are leading to serious water stress, particularly in the southern and western parts of the country. This situation will be exacerbated by sharply rising demand, particularly from farmers. It is projected that nearly 20% of the surface water in some basins will be lost by 2030. The results of climate change will also seriously affect land use and land cover of the basins. Turkish shorelines, particularly in the Central and Eastern Black Sea, the Northern Aegean Sea, and Eastern Mediterranean, are negatively affected by coastal erosion and flooding. In the Mediterranean coastal zones, the demand for water is lowering the water table and leading to sea water intrusion in most coastal aquifers. These consequences of climate change represent an important threat to the achievement of MDGs in Turkey. In particular, the realization of MDG 7 may be jeopardized through the negative impact on quality and productivity of natural resources and ecosystems, possibly irreversibly threatening environmental sustainability. Rationale for the Joint Program A major lacuna in national policy is the absence of climate change considerations in long-term water resource planning, particularly in the vulnerable and sensitive zones such as wetlands and aquatic ecosystems. Given the criticality of climate change as an emerging issue, with serious and irreversible consequences, the program will support Turkey’s efforts to introduce adaptive and long-term strategies into the legislation to address sustainable development issues. Without cognizance of climate change induced threats, Turkey’s progress toward achieving the MDGs will be seriously jeopardized. The program will serve as a catalyst through pilot local actions to introduce community-based adaptation principles; build capacity in the vulnerable rural regions and develop public-private partnerships to mobilize resources in addressing climate change risks. Based on preliminary studies carried out under the First National Communication of Turkey to the UNFCCC, the program will focus on a pilot river basin in one of the most vulnerable regions in terms of social and climate vulnerabilities. This region is also the first where the Government has established a Regional Development Agency, as part of the country’s initiative to achieve sustainable regional development and MDGs. With this already existing institutional pillar, the commitment of the Government to the program is strong. Finally the proposed program will help align the efforts of the UN Country Team on the emerging climate change issues. The program thus provides an unprecedented opportunity for the Turkey UN Country Team to demonstrate its capacity to function as “One UN”. Linkages with National Priorities and UNDAF Turkey’s Ninth Development Plan (2007-2013) highlights the critical importance of environmental issues, including climate change, cleaner production, waste management, and efficient and sustainable use of water and other natural resources. The National Rural Development strategy for Turkey (2006) also prioritizes natural resources based rural development as key to overcoming rural and urban disparities. Consequently, UN support to the Turkish authorities on climate change issues through the proposed program will build on national efforts already underway. Like most EU candidate and accession countries, Turkey recognizes the criticality of environment for the success of its reform agenda. UNDP has been asked specifically by the Government, largely through the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, and the EC to assist the country’s efforts in identifying priority areas for intervention and further investment, mainly in the areas of sustainable development and climate. Turkey’s UNDAF covers the 2006-2010 period and includes democratic and environmental governance as one of three outcomes.

The core objective of the joint program is to develop capacities for managing climate change risks to rural and coastal development in Turkey. The proposed program will apply a three-pronged approach to achieving full-fledged mainstreaming of climate change adaptation: (i) mainstreaming into the national development framework; (ii) mainstreaming through local pilot action; and (iii) mainstreaming into the UN country programmatic framework. As a cross-cutting methodological approach, adaptive capacity development will be applied at all levels (systemic, institutional and individual), and through endogenous capacity development, all capacity development activity will build on existing systems of knowledge, policy and institutional framework for long term sustainability. In pursuant of the core objective, the joint program will achieve the following outcomes: Outcome 1. Mainstreaming climate change adaptation into the national development framework The project will target the key strategic planning frameworks to mainstream climate change adaptation. Turkey’s development plan and rural development strategies will be screened and revised to integrate adaptation needs. The screening process will help the national stakeholders to better understand the current and future climate change risks and their implications for economic, human and social development. The project will also initiate legislative and procedural changes to mainstream climate change risks into development and regional planning. A new and revised legal framework will be developed to introduce clear rules and procedures for a mainstreaming routine. National authorities are in full agreement with these proposals. Outcome 2. Developing institutional capacity for climate risk management Under this outcome, the program will work with the relevant national and regional institutions to enhance their in-house knowledge and response capacity to effectively manage climate risks in Turkey. The program will specifically target the Regional Development Agency, which has been established to plan and undertake regional development activities, as well as develop the technical capacity of relevant research, monitoring and observing entities for systematic observations and early warning systems. The data generation will be systematized and harmonized across the responsible agencies for improved response capabilities. By building on the First National Communication preparation to UNFCCC, the program will build on and further enhance current technical knowledge and capacity for policy relevant vulnerability assessment. Outcome 3. Developing capacity for community based adaptation in a pilot river basin The program will pilot climate change adaptation approaches by introducing the principles of Community Based Adaptation (CBA) in the context of agricultural practices, water management, food security, climate change related disaster risk management, particularly drought management, coastal development, natural resources management, data and information management. CBA approaches will be established as important elements of vulnerability reduction and disaster management strategies. CBA will build on and further develop local capacities and knowledge, including through better data and information management, to cope with climate risks and variability. CBA options will be instrumental not only in formulating local coping and adaptation strategies, but also in situating them within wider development planning and debates by empowering local communities through their increased participation in local planning and decision making. By applying participatory methods, the program will bring together key stakeholders at the local level (planners and decision makers, developers and investors, local communities and most vulnerable groups) in the framework of public private partnership (PPP) to mobilize commitments and local resources in financing adaptation measures. Outcome 4. Mainstreaming climate risk reduction into the UN programming framework Under this outcome, the program will establish the guiding principles as well as develop the technical guidelines for integrating climate change concerns into the “One UN” programming. This will be done by using the UNDAF as the programmatic platform for mainstreaming adaptation within the UN system. This approach will ensure the “climate proofing” of all multi-agency development assistance that is targeted to achieving the MDGs.

Outcome 1. Mainstreaming climate change adaptation into the national development framework Output 1.1. A package of legislative, regulatory amendments, policies and policy instruments is produced and approved to address climate change risks to development (FAO, UNDP and UNEP). Activities 1.1: - Assessment of legal and policy frameworks to identify the key entry points for adaptation mainstreaming (with particular focus on water, agriculture, food security, disaster risk management, natural resource management and coastal development frameworks); - Identification, integration and approval of a national package of new integrated policies and amendments for the establishment of a national legal framework for climate change adaptation; - Training for national legal experts to promote a better understanding on legislative requirements of climate risk management. Output 1.2. Adaptation screening tool and guidelines introduced, tested and validated (FAO, UNDP, UNEP and UNICEF). Activities 1.2: - Development and agreement of adaptation mainstreaming guidelines (customized to national legislative and procedural framework), based on the Adaptation Plan Framework (APF); - Testing of Mainstreaming Guidelines on key development frameworks (National Development Plan, Rural Development Strategy, Coastal Area Development Plans, etc); - Implementation of Community Based Adaptation (CBA) plans in relation to rural water management, agriculture, food security, disaster risk management, natural resource management and coastal development; - Documentation of key lessons learned and further fed into the procedural framework; - Provision of extra curricular activities for school children in grades 5 to 8, teachers and parents, for awareness raising and capability building on climate change; - Development of policies and practices, economic and ecological management systems (especially for manufacturing sector); - Design and development of national strategies and programs for utilization of renewable resources (materials and energy). Outcome 2. Developing institutional capacity for climate risk management Output 2.1. Technical capacity developed through data systematization, harmonization, early warning system, and adaptation measures (FAO, UNDP, UNEP, UNICEF and UNIDO). Activities 2.1: - Completion of a functional assessment of key relevant institutions; - Definition and rationalization of general roles and responsibilities of relevant institutions in relation to monitoring, and general management information systems; - Assessment, systematization and harmonization of quality of data among the responsible agencies and institutions; - Development of a coastal monitoring and early warning system for improved coastal area management that considers climate hazards and long term impacts of climate change; - Development and implementation of a training package to develop technical skills and expertise for nation-wide and regional scenario development, climate data management so as to be relevant to policy and planning decisions; - Establishment of an Eco-Efficiency Agency (Cleaner Production Centre), for small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises to strengthen the private sector adaptive capacity to climate change. - Improvement of the capacity of candidate child-friendly cities to implement laws enacted on climate change and adaptation action plan and ensure children’s participation in this process. Output 2.2. Institutional capacity of the Regional Development Agencies and National Institutions is strengthened to address adaptation needs as part of regional development planning and programming (UNDP with technical support by relevant UN agencies). Activities 2.2: - A functional analysis of the Regional Development Agency and National Institutions in relation to climate risk management at the sub-national level; - Enhancement of institutional capacity at the regional level (especially, in relation to water resource management) to accommodate climate risk management function; - Development and launching at sub-national level of a service package to improve climate risk management (focused on the selected pilot river basin); - Capacity building training, including on-the-job training, to ensure establishment and implementation of mainstreaming adaptation mechanism. Outcome 3. Developing capacity for community based adaptation in a pilot river basin Output 3.1. Community based adaptation piloted in a selected river basin/region (FAO, UNDP and UNIDO). Activities 3.1: - Assessment of local scale vulnerability assessment (as per APF guidance) with identification of key physical and socio-economic vulnerabilities; - Application of community mobilization techniques to engage local communities, particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts (resulting from water shortages, unsustainable agricultural practices, etc.); - Development and implementation of stakeholder analysis and engagement plan; - Initiation and completion of participatory adaptation plans to identify coping strategies to be applied; - Development of adaptation measures to improve resilience of relevant systems such as rural water management, agriculture, food security, disaster risk management, natural resource management and coastal development, while paying special attention to the needs of women, poor and disadvantaged rural communities (barrier removal to ensure poor’s access to and economic benefits from ecosystem services and equitable access to water and land resources). These adaptation measures may include the use of water harvesting techniques, increased water storage capacity, increased water productivity, use of conservation agriculture, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and the use of biotechnology for plant breeding to develop varieties adopted to abiotic stresses. - Development of long term community based adaptation (CBA) strategies, to cope with increased weather variability, with participation of communities and all key stakeholders (farmer organizations, relevant women organizations, local government authorities and private sector); - Signature and initiation of Public Private Partnership agreements, based on co-financing principles, to support the CBA strategies; - Design and development of technical and operational capacities of communities/industries for the management of domestic and industrial (especially hazardous) wastes and for clean-up of contaminated sites. Output. 3.2. Lessons captured and up-scaled through feeding into the upstream policy level outcomes and wider dissemination (FAO and UNDP). Activities 3.2: - Collection and analysis of data and information related to the activities implemented; - Collection and documentation of lessons on CBA, through participatory planning and empowerment, to serve as a guidance for further replication; - Development of a replication and dissemination strategy, with its action plan; - Feedback loop to inform UNDAF and national policies for further uptake of successful strategies and/or revision. Outcome 4. Mainstreaming climate risk reduction into the UN programming framework Output 4.1: Adaptation mainstreaming guidelines are introduced as part of the UNDAF programming (FAO, UNDP, UNEP, UNICEF and UNIDO) Activities 4.1: - Development of the guidelines based on the UN team’s (particularly FAO, UNDP, UNEP, UNICEF and UNIDO) in-house experience in mainstreaming (particularly drawing on the Adaptation Policy Framework); - General review of all the UN agencies’ projects and programs for climate sensitivity; - Application of the guidelines to modify the CCA and UNDAF; - Training of the key program personnel in application of the revisions to the UNDAF program adaptation mainstreaming guidelines; - Validation and approval of the mainstreaming guidelines by the UN Country Team; - Development of tools and their application to monitor vulnerability reduction. Output 4.2: Screening tool application tested on selected projects/programs of participating UN agencies; screening tool validated and developed for application to all UN programs. (UNDP with technical support by relevant UN agencies) Activities 4.2: - Development of a screening tool and adaptation from other sources for use; - Identification of priority projects/programs and categorization as subject to climate proofing; - Testing of the screening tool in a form of a project/program design checklist on selected MDG-based programs; - Documentation of lessons learnt of screening exercise and validation of the tool.

Monitoring and evaluation are essential components of the joint program. A principle objective of this program is to ensure that continuous learning is incorporated into the processes of informing relevant stakeholders of the effectiveness, efficiency and appropriateness of the interventions and actions. The monitoring and evaluation approach of the program will be developed to ensure the establishment of a consolidated reporting and technical performance information system to guarantee close substantive monitoring and follow up of the achievement of the MDG targets. Reporting includes the synthesis of the national progress report, quarterly progress reports, and, if needed, the revised work-plan. The technical performance monitoring relates to indicators for evaluating the effectiveness of adaptation policies and measures, including changes in adaptive capacity, both during and after project implementation. Illustrative indicators will include the following: # of national assessments undertaken of the legal and policy framework; # of national legal experts trained to better understand the legislative changes to strengthen national adaptive capacity; # of adaptation CBA undertaken; # of schools undertaking extra curricular activities for children to equip them with knowledge and skills to climate change; # of Public Private Partnership agreements signed to support CBA strategies, based on co-financing principles and establishment of an Eco-Efficiency Agency covering an agreed upon percentage of small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises. An external, independent evaluation of the program will be conducted at the end of the project, based on performance and outcome indicators. Financial auditing will be carried out according to UNDP rules and regulations. Key risks and mitigating factors Despite solid commitment to the joint program at the national and sub-national levels, there is one main risk to the effective implementation of the program: legislative and presidential elections are scheduled for 22 July 2007. Potential changes among ministerial and senior civil servant may temporarily slow down the implementation process of the joint program. However, as there is widespread and broad-based national support for measures to adapt to climate change, this risk is minimal.

The UN Country Team (UNCT) in Turkey consists of FAO, ILO, UNDP, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNIC, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNODC, WFP and WHO. Currently, the UNCT is operating one joint program, the UN Joint Gender Program. The UNCT will provide basic infrastructure for program oversight and coordination with other UN activities, in particular through the mainstreaming activities, training, advocacy campaign, grant dissemination, and expert support from all UNCT agencies and UNEP, a non-resident UN agency in Turkey. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MOEF), together with the existing working groups of the Coordinating Board on Climate Change, will be the leading executing agency for the technical components of the program. The State Planning Organization, which is the purveyor of the MDGs and the national strategies to achieve them in Turkey, will be responsible for overall coordination and execution of the policy related components. Other relevant ministries, such as Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Education will ensure the technical support to program implementation. Each output of the joint program will be managed by the designated UN agency. There are a total of 8 outputs managed by 5 agencies, one of which is non-resident (UNEP). UNDP Turkey will serve as the MDG-F implementing agency to strengthen and develop linkages with other relevant program partners as well as the Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) Office of UNDP headquarters. UNDP Turkey will support the executing agencies in the overall coordination of the outputs and management of administrative, financial and procurement issues related to project implementation. While UNEP will take the lead role to oversee the mainstreaming and policy development components of the program, FAO, UNICEF and UNIDO will ensure the technical support for the implementation of the relevant outputs as reflected in section IV. UNDP will also benefit from the potential regional replication of the locally developed adaptation measures through the Mediterranean Action Plan, Plan Bleu and other regional partnerships. Opportunities to collaborate with local private sector and associations will be identified as appropriate to ensure the sustainability of program outcomes. A Project Implementation Unit (PIU) will be established through UN rules. The PIU will consist of a project manager, deputy project manager, financial manager, grant manager, deputy grant manager, communication officer, monitoring & evaluation expert and administrative assistant. The PIU will facilitate project implementation at the national level. It will prepare the workplan and oversee the execution of activities, be responsible for technical and methodological issues, and carry out any reporting functions required for monitoring and evaluation of the project, coordinate with governmental institutions, universities, NGOs, private sector partners, and other relevant stakeholders which will be identified at the beginning of the project. The PIU will be responsible for sub-contracting national experts to carry out project activities and quality control of technical material. During project execution, the functions of the PIU will be progressively integrated into the regular programs of the host institutions to ensure sustainability. A Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) will be established to provide technical advice to support project implementation and to elaborate the relevant policy framework. This committee will be jointly coordinated by the Program Steering Committee and the PIU, and will consist of about 8 -10 national and international experts. A Program Steering Committee (PSC) will be established to provide policy guidance, review the workplan and implementation progress, and evaluate program outcomes. The PSC will be chaired by the UN Resident Coordinator and include the UNCT, UNEP, the Executing Agencies, and representatives of the TAC to ensure linkages between science and policy. Representatives from appropriate regional and international bodies (e.g., World Bank, World Meteorological Organization, Global Climate Observing System, IPCC, UNFCCC Secretariat), the regional/local NGO community, and representative of the Spanish Cooperation in Turkey, will be invited to participate in discussions of relevant issues.

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C. MDG-Related Indicators

  • Goal 0: Millennium Declaration: an enabling environment (human rights, democracy and good governance)
  • Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
  • Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
  • Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development
  • 2. Poverty gap ratio [incidence x depth of poverty]
  • 11. Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector
  • 25. Proportion of land area covered by forest
  • 26. Ratio of area protected to maintain biological diversity to surface area
  • 27. Energy use (kg oil equivalent) per $1 GDP (PPP)
  • 28. Carbon dioxide emissions per capita and consumption of ozone-depleting CFCs (ODP tons)
  • 29. Proportion of population using solid fuels
  • 30. Proportion of population with sustainable access to an improved water source, urban and rural
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D. Formulation Advance

Yes
$20,000
UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
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E. Resident Coordinator's Undertakings

  • The Concept Note has been reviewed by the national government and the UN Country Team.
  • If approved by the MDG-F Steering Committee, the UN Participating Organizations undertake to submit a draft Joint Programme Document within eight weeks of notification.
  • All UN Participating Organizations have or will sign the global Memorandum of Understanding with the Multi-Donor Trust Fund Office.