What is the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF)?

Financing the preparation and implementation of NAPAs in response to urgent and immediate adaptation needs in LDCs.

The LDCF was established to address the special needs of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) under the Climate Convention. The LDCs identified adaptation as their top priority. Specifically, the LDCF was tasked with financing the preparation and implementation of National Adaptation Programs of Action (NAPAs). NAPAs use existing information to identify a country’s priorities for adaptation actions. The LDCF is the only existing fund whose mandate is to finance the preparation and implementation of the NAPAs.

Consistent with the findings of the NAPAs, the LDCF focuses on reducing the vulnerability of those sectors and resources that are central to development and livelihoods, such as water; agriculture and food security; health; disaster risk management and prevention; infrastructure; and fragile ecosystems.

In addition, NAPA implementation projects under LDCF are designed entirely in accordance with country priorities and executed by national stakeholderse, and involving active participation of vulnerable communities, enabling LDCs to assume leadership of the agenda that will define their future.

LDCF, Distribution by Sector, October 2013

 Facts and Figures

As of October 2013, 51 least developed countries (LDC) had accessed $12.20 million in support of the preparation of their National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPA). Two of the NAPAs completed are by Cape Verde and Maldives, countries which during the reporting period were no longer classified as LDCs.  During the reporting period, South Sudan became officially recognized as a LDC.

Of the 49 countries that had completed their NAPAs, 46 had accessed a total of $628.15 million for 120 projects to address their urgent and immediate adaptation needs. 

As of October 31, 2013, cumulative pledges to the LDCF amounted to $782.53 million, of which $700.58 million had been recieved.

As of October 2013, some 69 per cent of LDCF financing had been directed towards LDCs in Sub-Saharan Africa, while LDCs in Asia and the Pacific had accessed some 29 per cent of the total resources approved (see Figure below). The regional distribution of LDCF programming reflects the distribution of LDCs, 68 per cent of which are located in Africa. The 12 LDCs that are also Small Island Developing States (SIDS) had accessed a total of $129.86 million from the LDCF, or some 20 per cent of total approvals.

The graph below illustrates the regional distribution of LDCF, as of October 2013. See the latest Progress Report for more information.

LDCF, Distribution by Region, October 2013

Accessing LDCF Resources

At its 16th meeting in Cancun, Mexico, the COP adopted a decision providing further guidance for the operation of the Least Developed Countries Fund. Further to this decision, the SBI requested the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) to discuss with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and its agencies: ways to further improve access to funds from the LDCF, the disbursement of funds, the design of implementation strategies for NAPAs using a programmatic approach, ways to best communicate co-financing requirements under the LDCF, and remaining challenges faced by least developed country Parties in working with GEF agencies, during the first meeting of the LEG in 2011.

In response to this guidance, the GEF Secretariat has, among other things, developed a user-friendly guide on how to access LDCF resources.

Relevant Links

• Accessing Resources Under the Least Developed Countries Fund
• LDCF Project Highlights
• Joint Evaluation of the LDCF
• Progress Report on the LDCF and the SCCF
• Status Report on the LDCF and the SCCF

LDCF Contacts at the Global Environment Facility