Aslihan ArslanNatural Resource Economist, EPIC-ESA

FAO

Climate Smart Agriculture at country level:

lessons from recent experience

CSA is…- Context specific- Evidence based- Assessing synergies/tradeoffs across

multiple objectives

CSA is not..- One practice that is always applicable- Prioritizing mitigation in LDC context

• 2009 FAO initiates program of work on FS and CC for Copenhagen•Indicating considerable potential to capture synergies and link CC finance to agriculture

•2010 FAO Development of CSA background paper for Hague• Highlighting importance of resilience and institutional framework

•2010 Initiation of discussion between EC, FAO & potential natl. partners on CSA project

• Driven by need for action at country level•2011 Project development; background technical studies

• Project plan is a framework of activities to achieve major building blocks of CSA;• Designing country specific implementation plans undertaken with national partners in initial phase;• Total budget: 5.3 mil. EUR (3 years; 3 countries) EC funding: 3.3 mil. EUR

•2012 Project initiated

Background on the project

Activities include a range of country initiation activities:

• identification of national focal points;

• identifying priority areas for CSA work;

• linking to natl. research partners;

• initiating analyses of synergies and tradeoffs/barriers to adoption using existing datasets;

• development of detailed country logframe;

• support to MOA staff to attend UNFCCC meeting

The Building Blocks of the Project

1. Assessing the situation: identifying locally viable CSA practices

2. Understanding barriers to adoption of CSA practices3. Managing climate risk4. Building coherent policies5. Guiding investment

Are CSA practices being adopted? If not, why not?

How do Benefits & Costs of practices

compare?CSA Strategy: Technical,

Institutional, and Economic Priorities

Investment proposals

Policy Levers for Adoption

Risk Management

Analysis

• Test Input constraints

• Test Institutional constraints

Benefits: Food Security, Adaptation,

and Mitigation

Costs

Understanding Barriers to Adoption

Guiding Investment

Building Coherent Policies

• Risk-reducing tools: safety nets,

insurance, diversification

What are relevant CSA Practices in a country? Increasing ag. returns, reducing vulnerability

& emissions growth

Identify synergies and tradeoffs of

relevant practices

Assessing the situation

Define the baseline to determine benefits of

CSA activities

Managing Climate Risk

• Role of information under a changing

climate

• Risk profile of relevant CSA practices

• Test Financial constraints

Financing

1. Assessing the situation• Some CSA “best bets” so far: agro-forestry with and without CA;

fertilizer use efficiency; legume rotations; • Defining the baseline and metrics

2. Understanding barriers to adoption of CSA practices• Limited, late, unreliable input supply• Delayed returns; opportunity cost of residue; labor constraints• CC driven uncertainty/risk affects adoption

3. Managing climate risk• Assessing potential of existing instruments (Cash Transfers)• Modeling efficiency/costs of alternative instruments (OECD)

4. Building coherent policies• Working within existing agricultural policy structures (e.g. ASWAp and

CAADP plans; national ag. action plan (Vietnam)5. Guiding investments: Assessing additional CC benefits (adaptation and

mitigation), additional investment costs – and potential to link climate finance

Thank you!