SBI 46, May 2017, Bonn

SBI 46 considered the LEG work programme for 2017-2018 contained in the report of the 31st meeting of the LEG (see document FCCC/SBI/2017/6). It also considered information from the LEG on ways to further enhance the provision of support to the least developed countries for accessing funding from the GCF for the process to formulate and implement NAPs.

Documents for the session:

• The 31st meeting of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group. Report by the secretariat (FCCC/SBI/2017/6)

Related events:

• LEG side event entitled "Work of the LEG in supporting the LDCs on adaptation", Tuesday 9 May, 18:30-20:00, Room Bonn.
• Joint AC and LEG special event on progress towards implementation of the Paris Agreement mandates, Friday 12 May, 10:00-13:00.

SBI 45 / COP 22, November 2016, Marrakech

SBI 45 considered progress made by the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) in implementing its work programme for 2016–2017.

Documents for the session:

• The 30th meeting of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group. Report by the secretariat (FCCC/SBI/2016/18)
• Progress in the process to formulate and implement national adaptation plans. Note by the secretariat (FCCC/SBI/2016/INF.11)

Related events:

• Work of the LEG in supporting the LDCs on adaptation, Tuesday 8 November 2016 from 18:30 to 20:00, Room Pacific
• Joint AC and LEG side event on interim results towards implementation of the Paris Agreement mandate, Thursday 10 November 2016 from 13:15 to 14:45

SBI 44, May 2016, Bonn

SBI 44 considered the LEG work programme for 2016-2017 contained in the report on the 29th meeting of the LEG (see document FCCC/SBI/2016/7). 

Documents for the session:

•      The 29th meeting of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group. Report by the secretariat (FCCC/SBI/2016/7)

The LEG side event at SBI 44 took place on Tuesday 17 May from 18:30-20:00 in Room Kaminzimmer. 

SBI 43 / COP 21, November/December 2015, Paris

SBI 43 considered progress made by the LEG in implementing its work programme for 2015.

Documents for the session:

• Report on the 28th meeting of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group. Note by the secretariat (FCCC/SBI/2015/19 and Corr.1)
• Information paper on the NAP Expo and the regional training workshops on national adaptation plans: experiences, good practices and lessons learned in addressing adaptation in the least developed countries. Note by the secretariat (FCCC/SBI/2015/INF.14)

The LEG side event at SBI 43 entitled “Work of the LEG in supporting LDCs on NAPs and NAPAs” took place on Tuesday 1 December from 18:30 to 20:00 in Observer room 4.

Outcomes: Conclusions adopted by the SBI can be found in document FCCC/SBI/2015/22. In Paris, the COP ( decision 19/CP.21), renewed the mandate of the LEG for a period of five years (2016-2020). 

SBI 42, June 2015, Bonn

SBI 42 considered progress made by the LEG in implementing its work programme for 2014-2015 and considered the LEG work programme for 2015 contained in the report on the 27th meeting of the LEG (see document FCCC/SBI/2015/7, Annex II). 

Documents for the session:

• Synthesis report on the progress, need for continuation and terms of reference of the LEG. Note by the secretariat (FCCC/SBI/2015/6)
• Views on the work of the LEG. Submissions by Parties (FCCC/SBI/2015/MISC.2)
• Report on the stocktaking meeting on the work of the LEG. Note by the secretariat (FCCC/SBI/2015/8) 

The LEG side event at SBI 42 took place on Tuesday 2 June from 18:30-20:00, in Berlin Room (112).  

Outcomes: Conclusions adopted by the SBI at this session can be found in document FCCC/SBI/2015/10, page 14.

Draft decision on the extension of the mandate of the LEG, for consideration and adoption at COP 21 can be found in document FCCC/SBI/2015/10/Add.1, page 6.

The LEG organized the following events in the first half of the year:

• The second regional training workshop on NAPs for 2014-2015. The workshop was for Eastern and Southern African LDCs and was also open to developing countries that are not LDCs in the region. The workshop took place from 23-27 February  in Livingstone, Zambia;
• A stocktaking meeting on the work of the LEG as mandated by the COP (decision 6/CP.16). The stocktaking meeting took place from 9-11 March in Bangkok, Thailand, back to back with the LEG 27th meeting;
• The NAP Expo on realizing the NAP process on 14 and 15 April, in Bonn, Germany;
• A workshop on experiences, good practices, lessons learned, gaps and needs on the process to formulate and implement national adaptation plans, in collaboration with the Adaptation Committee. The workshop took place on 16 and 17 April, immediately following the NAP Expo. 

At SBI 40, the SBI considered the LEG work programme for 2014-2015, which is contained in the report on the LEG twenty-fifth meeting. 

At SBI 41, the SBI considered progress made by the LEG in implementing its work programme for 2014-2015, as contained in the report on the LEG twenty-sixth meeting.

The LEG conducted its first regional workshop on NAPs for 2014-2015, in collaboration with the NAP global support programme for LDCs. This first workshop was for Pacific LDCs but was also open to non-LDCs developing countries in the region. The workshop took place from 3-7 November 2014 in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

The LEG completed its four regional training workshops for 2012-2013 for LDCs on adaptation (FCCC/SBI/2013/16) and further developed its support to LDCs for the NAP process.

The LEG also finalized the technical guidelines for the NAP process. Accompanying resources (an overview publication, Poster and CD-ROM) are also available for use by the LDCs in formulating their NAPs. They are available here.

In response to the mandate of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation at its thirty seventh session (SBI 37) (FCCC/SBI/2012/33, paragraphs 53-73), the LEG organized an event, in conjunction with SBI 38, to launch the NAP process in LDCs. The event, entitled ‘’NAP expo: launching of the NAP process’’, took place on Sunday 9 June 2013.

The LEG, in response to the COP requests at COP 17, developed technical guidelines for the NAP process and organized an expert meeting to review the draft guidelines. Furthermore, the expert group designed training materials and conducted one of four regional training workshops on adaptation for LDCs.

At COP18/SBI 37, the SBI requested the LEG to organize a NAP event at the next SBI session.

At COP 17 in Durban, the LEG was requested to provide technical guidance and support to the NAP process (decision 5/CP.17). The COP requested the LEG to also prepare technical guidelines for the NAP process based on the initial guidelines adopted at this COP and arrange a review of the technical guidelines before COP 19.  The LEG was also to identify support for the process of formulation and implementation of the NAPs and to invite the Adaptation Committee (AC) and other relevant bodies under the Convention to contribute to its work in support of the NAP process.

In addition, the COP requested the LEG (decision 9/CP.17) to provide further specification on each of the elements of the LDC work programme other than the NAPA, in consultation with the GEF.

In Cancun, the COP (decision 6/CP.16), renewed the mandate of the LEG for a period of five years (2011-2015).  The LEG mandate was also expanded to include the provision of support to the LDCs on the revision and update of NAPAs, the LDC work programme, gender considerations and considerations of other vulnerable communities, and medium-and long-term adaptation.

The LEG activities included the publication of a step-by-step guide for implementing NAPA. In addition, over the course of 2009-2010, the expert group, organized five regional training workshops on implementing NAPAs. The workshops took place respectively in Tanzania for African Anglophone LDCs (2009), Mali for Francophone LDCs (2010), Lao’s People Democratic Republic for Asian LDCs (2010), Sao Tome and Principe for Lusophone LDCs (2010) and Samoa for Pacific LDCs (2010)

The COP requested the LEG (decision 4/CP.10) to prepare possible elements on the role of the Expert Group in support of the implementation of NAPAs and to include in its next report to the SBI, in consultation with LDC Parties, information on potential technical and financial difficulties that LDC Parties may have in the implementation of NAPAs.

In 2003, the LEG organized four regional training workshops on NAPA preparation in Samoa for Pacific LDCs, Ethiopia for African Anglophone LDCs, Bhutan for Asian LDCs and Burkina Faso for Francophone LDCs.

At its seventh session, in Marrakech, the COP adopted the LDC work programme (decision 5/CP.7). This programme is the most substantial support that had, as yet, been given to the LDCs in relation to climate change over the decade 2001-2010. Under this programme, the COP established the LDCF (decision 7/CP.7), as well as the LEG (decision 29/CP.7) The LEG was initially mandated to provide technical guidance and advice to LDCs for the preparation and implementation of NAPAs.