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The ESP was originally adopted by the Adaptation Fund Board (the Board) in 2013 and was updated in 2016. To complement the ESP, a Guidance Document for Implementing Entities on Compliance with the AF ESP was developed to provide practical guidance to the AF Implementing Entities (IEs) to comply with the ESP in the project/program cycle.

As per Board decision B.40/80, an independent review of the ESP was conducted with a view to updating the ESP, together with consultations with relevant AF stakeholders. Subsequently, by decision B.42/56, the Board decided to update the ESP, taking the fit-for-purpose approach where, inter alia, the current principles-based approach is to be maintained, and the AF operational modalities and different capacities of the implementing entities are to be considered.

The draft of the ESP has been prepared in line with decision B.42/56.  A call for public comments is now being initiated to collect input from AF stakeholders.

How to Participate: Comments on the draft of updated ESP document (available here) are requested by 26 February 2025 to afbsec@adaptation-fund.org (copying  ylee12@adaptation-fund.org and ghijarsantibanez@adaptation-fund.org ) with the subject line “ESP consultations.”

Guiding questions:

  • Does the draft of the updated ESP address the key issues and risks that may be involved in Adaptation Fund finance? Are there any elements which are not covered in the draft of the updated ESP?
  • Does the draft of the updated ESP provide an effective framework to ensure that projects/programs funded by the Adaptation Fund do not result in unwanted adverse environmental and social consequences? Are there any areas that need more clarity or explanation?
  • Are there any aspects of the updated ESP which you would like to see in any guidance document?
  • Do you have any additional comments or suggestions regarding the revised ESP?

The draft of updated ESP will be finalized considering the input gathered through the stakeholder consultations and subsequently submitted to the Board for approval at the 44th meeting in April 2025.

 

Attachments

Attachment Type Size
Draft_Updated AF ESP PDF 195 KB