Mapping Policy Gaps for Nationally Determined Contributions in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka

Challenge

Countries need clear, coordinated policies to implement Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) on adaptation and address loss and damage, but gaps slow action.

Solution

Assess policies and institutions, align NDCs with National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Sendai Framework, and publish guidance to close priority gaps.

Overview

Climate risks cut across sectors and scales in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, where ministries and agencies share responsibilities for adaptation and disaster risk reduction. This project, supported by the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN), was led by Vositha Wijenayake (SLYCAN Trust, Sri Lanka). The project team analyzed gaps and needs for implementing adaptation and loss and damage commitments under Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and identified practical ways to improve coherence with National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

The project team combined desk research on laws, strategies, and sector policies with interviews and multi-stakeholder consultations, then validated the results through national workshops in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka and a two-day regional workshop in Sri Lanka.

These activities informed country papers and a regional synthesis that highlighted common gaps in policies and laws, coordination across institutions, capacity and awareness, finance and technology, and related socioeconomic factors.

Policy coherence and alignment

The project examined how countries could use the NDC process to inform or update NAPs, and where overlapping mandates could be streamlined. Recommendations included using shared climate-risk assessments across NDCs, NAPs, SDGs, and Sendai processes, adopting common indicators and reporting, strengthening data-sharing among agencies, and linking this work to transparent measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems.

Gender‑responsive adaptation

Guidance emphasized ensuring women’s full and meaningful participation in NDC and NAP processes, integrating gender into planning and finance, and following UNFCCC guidance that NAPs be country-driven, gender-sensitive, participatory, and fully transparent. Materials described steps to integrate gender at all levels and to leverage local knowledge for more effective outcomes.

Risk information and management

The work underscored using climate-risk assessments to inform sector plans and budgets, and strengthening national and subnational coordination mechanisms so evidence flows into implementation. Materials discussed national preparedness for hazards and defined pathways to strengthen evidence‑based action.

Outcomes and results

See “Related information” for links to specific reports and briefs.

• 14 multi-stakeholder consultations were held in Sri Lanka (about 200 participants), 2 in Nepal (44 participants), and 2 in Bangladesh (50 participants). National workshops were conducted in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, and a 2-day regional workshop was hosted in Sri Lanka.
• 1 regional synthesis paper and 3 3 country gaps and needs analysis reports on the implementation of NDCs on adaptation and loss and damage in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
• 5 policy briefs were published on NDC–NAP integration, integration of SDGs, the Sendai Framework, DRR, and NDCs, gender‑responsive adaptation, climate risk and risk management, and measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) mechanisms related to NDCs and reporting of climate action.

Project details

Acknowledgements

This project was supported by the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) under its Collaborative Regional Research Programme (CRRP). Acknowledgments also go to Prakriti Resources Centre (Nepal); Independent University, Bangladesh (Bangladesh); and the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (Bangladesh), along with participating national ministries and agencies engaged through consultations and workshops.

Related information

• Project Permalink
• Brief: MRV Mechanisms Related to Nationally Determined Contributions and Reporting of Climate Action. https://www.apn-gcr.org/publication/mrv-mechanisms-related-to-nationally-determined-contributions-and-reporting-of-climate-action/
• Brief: Integration of SDGs, the Sendai Framework, DRR, and NDCs for Effective Development Planning. https://www.apn-gcr.org/publication/integration-of-sdgs-the-sendai-framework-drr-and-ndcs-for-effective-development-planning/
• Brief: Integration of Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans for Effective Adaptation Actions. https://www.apn-gcr.org/publication/integration-of-nationally-determined-contributions-and-national-adaptation-plans-for-effective-adaptation-actions/
• Wijenayake, V. (2019). Gender Responsive Climate Change Adaptation. Available from http://slycantrust.org/knowledge-resources/gender-responsive-climate-change-adaptation
• Kalubowila, P. (2019, May 15). Sri Lanka’s Preparedness to Address Climate Hazards. Available at http://slycantrust.org/post/sri-lankas-preparedness-to-address-climate-hazards
• Wijenayake, V. (2019, March 5). Integrating Climate Change Adaptation with the SDGs and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Available at http://slycantrust.org/post/integrating-climate-change-adaptation-with-the-sdgs-and-the-sendai-framework-for-disaster-risk-reduction
• Wijenayake, V. (2019). Climate Risk and Risk Management for Evidence-Based Climate Action. Retrieved from http://slycantrust.org/knowledge-resources/climate-risk-and-risk-management-for-evidence-based-climate-action
• Wijenayake, V. & Mombauer, D. (2019). Integrating Gender Responsiveness to Climate Change Adaptation Actions, and Moving towards Gender Responsive NDCs and NAPs. Policy Brief. Available from http://slycantrust.org/knowledge-resources/integrating-gender-responsiveness-to-climate-change-adaptation-actions-and-moving-towards-gender-responsive-ndcs-and-naps
• Report: Policy Gaps and Needs Analysis for the Implementation of NDCs on Adaptation and Loss and Damage in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka—Regional Paper. https://www.apn-gcr.org/publication/policy-gaps-and-needs-analysis-for-the-implementation-of-ndcs-on-adaptation-and-loss-and-damage-in-bangladesh-nepal-and-sri-lanka-regional-paper/
• Report: Policy Gaps and Needs Analysis for the Implementation of NDCs on Adaptation and Loss and Damage in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka—Country Paper: Bangladesh. https://www.apn-gcr.org/publication/policy-gaps-and-needs-analysis-for-the-implementation-of-ndcs-on-adaptation-and-loss-and-damage-in-bangladesh-nepal-and-sri-lanka-country-paper-bangladesh/
• Report: Policy Gaps and Needs Analysis for the Implementation of NDCs on Adaptation and Loss and Damage in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka—Country Paper: Nepal. https://www.apn-gcr.org/publication/policy-gaps-and-needs-analysis-for-the-implementation-of-ndcs-on-adaptation-and-loss-and-damage-in-bangladesh-nepal-and-sri-lanka-country-paper-nepal/
• Report: Policy Gaps and Needs Analysis for the Implementation of NDCs on Adaptation and Loss and Damage in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka—Country Paper: Sri Lanka.
• Wijenayake, V., Mombauer, D., Singh, P., & Nadiruzzaman, M. (2020). Policy gaps and needs analysis for the implementation of NDCs on adaptation and loss and damage in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. APN Science Bulletin, 10(1). doi:10.30852/sb.2020.1283
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