Antalya, November 11 – The Least Developed Countries Initiative for Effective Adaptation and Resilience (LIFE-AR) announced its new Facility at COP31 yesterday and renewed its ambition to secure US$80 million to ensure all Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are on climate-resilient pathways by 2030.
For Least Developed Countries, adaptation is an immediate necessity. The Least Developed Countries Initiative for Effective Adaptation and Resilience (LIFE-AR) is one of the LDC Group on Climate Change major initiative, and the only one focusing on adaptation. Launched in 2019, LIFE-AR was designed by the LDCs to realise their 2050 Vision to put all LDCs on climate resilient pathways by 2030. LIFE-AR aims to address the challenges LDCs are facing in accessing quality climate finance, and to put decision-making power into their hands, starting from the communities.
LIFE-AR is now ready to move to the next phase with a renewed ambition.
In its new phase, the LIFE-AR Facility will step out of its partnership arrangement with the International Institute for Environment and Development, who has successfully supported the initiative since its inception. The LIFE-AR Facility will host the initiative's Secretariat and coordinate the initiative’s activities.
To support the Facility, the Chair of the LDC Group on Climate Change has launched a renewed ambition to raise US$80 million, building towards US$360 million by 2035. Funds raised will support more countries and communities on their pathway to climate resilience. This commitment is aligned with the LDC Group’s call for a tripling of adaptation finance.
For Least Developed Countries, adaptation is an immediate necessity. Launched in 2019, LIFE-AR is a major initiative of the LDC Group on Climate Change, and the only one focused on adaptation. It was designed by LDCs to realise the 2050 Vision, aimed at putting them on climate-resilient pathways by 2030. LIFE-AR aims to achieve this by addressing the challenges LDCs are facing in accessing quality climate finance, and to put decision-making power into their hands, starting in local communities.
“A big pot of money alone is not enough to protect communities from climate impacts. The current climate finance system has not delivered adaptation at scale. For finance to flow where it is most needed, this requires project pipelines, technical capabilities and robust governance structures.” LIFE-AR Technical and Regional Lead Gebru Jember Endalew commented, “Over the past seven years, the Least Developed Countries Initiative for Effective Adaptation and Resilience, LIFE-AR, has helped address this capacity gap, taking an innovative approach that promotes locally-led adaptation. This has required trust - trusting communities to know what resilience looks like in practice, trusting institutions to deliver, and trusting governments to show leadership. Through the work of ten pilot countries, LDCs have proven what is possible. LIFE-AR was set up as one of the four major LDC Group on Climate Change initiative, to realise the LDC 2050 Vision for resilient People, Economies and Landscapes. “Today the LIFE-AR Facility is being announced as an independent organisation, with a renewed ambition - advancing adaptation and pushing for the much-needed finance that will enable LDCs to protect the people most vulnerable to the impacts of a rapidly changing climate.”
High level support for the Facility
Commenting on the announcement, Hon Gita Chaudhary, Minister for Agriculture, Forests and Environment for the Government of Nepal, said the LIFE-AR Facility is “an opportunity to transform the way climate action is planned, financed and delivered.”
Hon Patricia Wiskes, M.P., Minister of Natural Resources, Malawi, added: “Our experience demonstrates that locally led adaptation is successful when resources and decision-making are directed to communities directly. This is why we have long supported LIFE-AR’s goal that at least 70% of finance flows should support local action”, referring to the “5,000 people across four Traditional Authorities in Mangochi, and 550 smallholder families in Salima receiving support for flood protection, irrigation, clean water access, and diversified livelihoods.”
Announced at an event at COP31 yesterday, the LIFE-AR Facility has garnered strong political support for the initiative. Tessa Kelly, Director of Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, highlighted that “the Facility reflects an important principle: that those experiencing climate impacts are best placed to identify the solutions needed to build resilience”.
Rachel Kyte, the UK Climate Special Envoy, added: “We are committed as the United Kingdom to be with LDCs every step of the way. We are absolutely committed to the tripling of adaptation finance, but we also need to make sure that finance is also accessible and gives countries and communities much greater agency over the decisions and resources that shape their resilience. An LDC-owned and governed Facility means LDC leadership not only in delivery but on the institution that will take LIFE-AR forward”.
Nuala O’Brien, Climate Director, Department of Foreign Affairs, Government of Ireland, added: “Today signals confidence in a new model, one that trusts local leadership, strengthens national systems and delivers finance where it is needed most. Ireland is proud to stand with LDCs at this important moment, and we encourage all partners to support the new independent Facility and embrace the spirit of what LIFE-AR represents: not business as usual, but the business unusual that this moment demands.” She confirmed that Ireland was planning to increase its ODA next year, with a strong focus on adaptation.
LIFE-AR currently supports 12 communities in 4 countries, building locally led resilience for more than 140,000 people and aims to scale up to strengthen resilience for more than 6 million people in 14 countries.
Watch the full announcement of the LIFE-AR Facility at COP31 here.
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