Ecosystem Based Approaches for Reducing the Vulnerability of Food Security to the Impacts of Climate Change in the Chaco region of Paraguay The project plans to address the main barriers for adaptation in the selected region. Specifically, the project would seek to i) improve information and knowledge for climate resilience; ii) implement concrete cost-effective on-the-ground adaptation measures; and iii) strengthen the institutional capacities to adequately address climate change adaptation issues. The project would be organized accordingly in three components: 

Component 1: Knowledge management on vulnerability and resilience to climate change improved with tools and instruments to implement cost-effective adaptation measures (USD893,483).The first component would address the barrier on information and knowledge for resilience against climate change. Based on a vulnerability and impact assessment conducted by UNEP,the project would i) improve the breadth and depth of punctual analyses and ii) create the conditions for the provision of and providing regular analyses. On the first point, the project would conduct studies covering issues that were not covered with sufficient detail and issues that were not covered in the UNEP assessment. 

Component 2: Adaptive capacity in rural areas of greatest vulnerability strengthened through concrete adaptation measures favoring an ecosystem-based approach (USD 4,585,466). The second component would address the lack of integrated and informed adaptation strategies on the ground. This project would overcome this barrier by using the knowledge built through component one to build holistic priority action plans with their corresponding land use plans and implement the corresponding on the ground measures. One community adaptation plan would be developed in each of the ten selected communities. These would be discussed and approved by all relevant stakeholders. Each plan would reflect the priorities of each community. As soon as the plans are approved by relevant stakeholders, adaptation measures would be implemented on the ground according to them. The project would carry out activities to conserve and restore forests, including protective forests, and other ecosystems, in line with the forest standards developed in component 1, and in coordination with INFONA, SEAM, the department and district governments and the communities. In addition, the project would promote agro-ecological production in both farming and livestock. 

Component 3: Capacity development and awareness to implement and upscale effective implementation of adaptation measures at national and local levels (USD 494,650)The third component addresses the third barrier by increasing the technical capacity of national and local stakeholders to implement climate change adaptation plans and projects. First, the project would ensure that the SEAM staff receives detailed training on mainstreaming climate compatible development across sectors, with a specific focus on ecosystem-based approaches. To this end a training plan would be elaborated, based on a needs assessment, and two workshops would be conducted. In addition, the project would provide training to partner agencies at the national and local levels. This training would be more general than the one provided to the SEAM. Stakeholders would include ministries and agencies from different sectors to integrate climate change adaptation in all laws, policies and plans, departmental and district governments and other stakeholders, such as universities, NGOs and the private sector.

The project seeks to contribute to the 2016-2017 Program of Work Expected Accomplishments (PoW EA) (a) Ecosystem-based and supporting adaptation approaches are implemented and integrated into key sectoral and national development strategies to reduce vulnerability and strengthen resilience to climate change impacts, and 2018-2019 PoW EA (a) Countries increasingly advance their national adaptation plans which integrate ecosystem-based adaptation.