Background/Objectives: The Kingdom of Bhutan launched its NAP process in 2015 with the definition of a national NAP road-map and an update of the 2012 NAPA. This NAP project aims to build on Bhutan’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) by accelerating the NDC vision to scale up adaptation in the medium- to long-term and by focusing on priority sectors in the NDC, such as water resources. While Bhutan has been budgeting national resources for adaptation through its Five-Year Plans and the Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation, climate change spending still forms only two percent of the national budget, demonstrating the need for external funding as highlighted in the NDC. In addition to financial limitations, Bhutan faces barriers related to coordination, learning and awareness, technical capacity for climate information, systematic identification and appraisal of adaptation options, and monitoring and evaluation. In order to enhance adaptation planning, all of these challenges need addressing. 

This proposed readiness request will support the Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) to advance its NAP process by building on existing capacities and enhancing institutions already in place for adaptation planning through the following outcomes: 

1.     (1)  Enhanced coordination, learning and knowledge management for an iterative NAP process; 

2.     (2)  Technical capacity enhanced for the generation of climate scenarios and impact assessment; 

3.     (3)  Vulnerability assessments undertaken and adaptation options appraised and prioritized; and 

4.     (4)  NAP formulated and capacity for implementation and monitoring established. 

These national level outcomes include both a comprehensive component on water resources as well activities across other climate sensitive sectors in Bhutan. These outcomes will address identified barriers to adaptation planning in Bhutan through the formulation of a National Adaptation Plan and the strengthening of institutional frameworks and systems to enable long-term decision making for climate change adaptation. 

Duration: June 2019 – February 2023
Stakeholders: Gross National Happiness Commission, Ministry of Finance,                                                                        Ministry of Health, Department of Disaster Management, Department of Local Governance, Department of Agriculture, Department of Forests and Park Services, Department of Hydropower and Power Systems, Department of Roads, Department of Engineering Services, National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology, National Biodiversity Center, Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan, Royal University of Bhutan, Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environmental Research (UWICER), College of Science and Technology, Tarayana Foundation, Royal Society for Protection of Nature and Association of Bhutanese Industries,