Abstract

The Annotated Guidelines for the Preparation of National Adaptation Programmes of Action, based on Decision 28 of the 7th Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), provides the methodological basis for the development of NAPAs in least developed countries (UNFCCC, 2002). The identification of priority adaptation activities is the main goal of the NAPA formulation exercise. The formulation of the NAPA follows a participatory process that involves those who are most affected by climatic impacts, that is rural people and the poor. The NAPA builds upon existing coping strategies implemented by local communities in order to enhance their adaptation capacity. More specifically, the objectives of the NAPA project are: (1) to understand the main characteristics of climate hazards in Cambodia (flood, drought, windstorm, high tide, salt water intrusion and malaria); (2) to understand coping mechanisms to climate hazards and climate change at the grassroots level; (3) to understand existing programmes and institutional arrangements for addressing climate hazards and climate change; (4) to identify and prioritise adaptation activities to climate hazards and climate change.