NEWMAP-EIB Briefing

Nigeria Climate Adaptation, Erosion and Watershed Project

Key Talking Points and Technical Contributions

Quick Reference Guide for SB62 Pre-COP Meeting

This document provides concise, ready-to-use talking points and technical contributions organized by thematic area for quick reference during sessions at the SB62 Pre-COP meeting.

1. Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA)

Core Messages

  • NEWMAP-EIB as a Practical Implementation Model: "The NEWMAP-EIB project demonstrates how the Global Goal on Adaptation can be operationalized at the local level through concrete interventions that directly reduce vulnerability to climate impacts."
  • Ecosystem-Based Adaptation: "Our experience shows that watershed management is an effective ecosystem-based adaptation approach that delivers multiple benefits beyond erosion control, including improved water security and agricultural resilience."
  • Measurable Outcomes: "NEWMAP-EIB has developed practical metrics for measuring adaptation success, including reduced soil loss, stabilized slopes, and improved watershed function."
  • Community Engagement: "Local ownership has been central to NEWMAP-EIB's success, with communities actively engaged in both design and implementation of adaptation measures."

Technical Contributions

  • Adaptation Metrics Framework: Share NEWMAP-EIB's approach to measuring adaptation outcomes through quantifiable indicators like soil erosion rates, vegetation cover, and watershed health.
  • Vulnerability Assessment Methodology: Outline the project's methodology for identifying climate vulnerabilities in watershed communities.
  • Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Case Study: Present specific examples of how natural infrastructure has been integrated with engineered solutions for more sustainable outcomes.

Strategic Questions

  • "How can the GGA framework better incorporate metrics for land degradation and watershed health as indicators of adaptation progress?"
  • "What mechanisms are being developed to ensure adaptation finance reaches the most vulnerable communities within countries?"
  • "How can successful local adaptation approaches be scaled up nationally and regionally?"

2. Climate Finance

Core Messages

  • Successful Finance Model: "NEWMAP-EIB represents a successful model of international climate finance mobilization, with EUR 175 million from EIB supporting concrete adaptation actions."
  • Integrated Approach: "Our project demonstrates how adaptation finance can simultaneously address environmental restoration, disaster risk reduction, and livelihood improvement."
  • Long-Term Investment: "Addressing erosion and watershed degradation requires sustained, programmatic funding rather than short-term project approaches."
  • Simplified Access: "Nigeria's experience highlights the need for streamlined access to adaptation finance, particularly for projects addressing slow-onset climate impacts."

Technical Contributions

  • Cost-Benefit Analysis: Share NEWMAP-EIB's methodology for quantifying the economic benefits of adaptation investments in erosion control.
  • Blended Finance Approach: Outline how different funding sources were combined to achieve project objectives.
  • Monitoring Framework: Present the project's approach to tracking financial flows and ensuring effective use of climate finance.

Strategic Questions

  • "How will the New Collective Quantified Goal ensure adequate funding for erosion control and watershed management projects?"
  • "What mechanisms are being developed to reduce the transaction costs of accessing adaptation finance?"
  • "How can we better quantify the economic benefits of adaptation to attract increased investment?"

3. Technology Transfer and Capacity Building

Core Messages

  • Local Capacity Development: "NEWMAP-EIB has built technical capacity at state and local levels, creating a cadre of experts in watershed management and erosion control."
  • Knowledge Transfer: "The project demonstrates effective approaches to transferring technical knowledge from international experts to local practitioners."
  • South-South Cooperation: "Nigeria's experience with NEWMAP-EIB offers valuable lessons for other African countries facing similar erosion and watershed challenges."
  • Innovation Integration: "We have successfully integrated traditional knowledge with modern technologies for more effective and locally appropriate solutions."

Technical Contributions

  • Training Methodology: Share NEWMAP-EIB's approach to building technical capacity at multiple levels.
  • Technology Adaptation: Present examples of how international best practices were adapted to local contexts.
  • Monitoring Technologies: Outline innovative approaches to watershed monitoring and early warning systems.

Strategic Questions

  • "What mechanisms exist to facilitate South-South knowledge exchange on adaptation technologies?"
  • "How can traditional knowledge be better integrated into formal adaptation planning processes?"
  • "What support is available for developing countries to access and adapt emerging technologies for climate monitoring?"

4. National Adaptation Planning

Core Messages

  • NAP Implementation: "NEWMAP-EIB demonstrates how National Adaptation Plan priorities can be translated into concrete actions on the ground."
  • Cross-Sectoral Integration: "Our project shows how adaptation can be integrated across water, agriculture, and land management sectors for more effective outcomes."
  • Subnational Implementation: "Effective adaptation requires strong coordination between national frameworks and state-level implementation."
  • Monitoring and Evaluation: "NEWMAP-EIB has developed practical approaches to monitoring adaptation outcomes that can inform national reporting."

Technical Contributions

  • Vertical Integration: Share NEWMAP-EIB's approach to aligning national policies with state and local implementation.
  • Cross-Sectoral Coordination: Present the project's institutional arrangements for coordinating across different sectors.
  • Results Framework: Outline the monitoring and evaluation system used to track adaptation outcomes.

Strategic Questions

  • "How can the UNFCCC better support countries in translating NAPs into concrete implementation actions?"
  • "What mechanisms are being developed to enhance coordination between national and subnational adaptation efforts?"
  • "How can adaptation monitoring frameworks better capture local-level outcomes?"

5. Agriculture and Food Security

Core Messages

  • Water-Agriculture Nexus: "NEWMAP-EIB addresses the critical intersection of water management and agricultural resilience through integrated watershed approaches."
  • Soil Conservation: "Our erosion control measures directly contribute to maintaining agricultural productivity in the face of increasing climate variability."
  • Livelihood Resilience: "The project demonstrates how adaptation measures can simultaneously address environmental degradation and improve agricultural livelihoods."
  • Climate-Smart Agriculture: "Watershed management provides the foundation for climate-smart agricultural practices by ensuring water availability and soil health."

Technical Contributions

  • Watershed-Agriculture Integration: Share approaches to integrating watershed management with agricultural development.
  • Soil Conservation Techniques: Present specific erosion control measures that enhance agricultural productivity.
  • Livelihood Diversification: Outline strategies for reducing farmers' vulnerability to climate impacts.

Strategic Questions

  • "How can the Sharm el-Sheikh Joint Work on Agriculture better integrate watershed management approaches?"
  • "What mechanisms are being developed to scale up successful agricultural adaptation practices?"
  • "How can we better quantify the agricultural benefits of watershed management?"

6. Nigeria's Climate Commitments

Core Messages

  • NDC Implementation: "NEWMAP-EIB directly contributes to implementing Nigeria's adaptation commitments under its NDC and National Adaptation Plan."
  • Ambitious Targets: "Nigeria has demonstrated ambition through its updated NDC targets of 20% unconditional and 47% conditional emissions reduction by 2030."
  • Implementation Framework: "Nigeria's recently launched NDC Implementation Framework provides a comprehensive roadmap for climate action across sectors."
  • International Support: "Nigeria's experience demonstrates how international support can enable more ambitious climate action in developing countries."

Technical Contributions

  • NDC-Project Alignment: Share how NEWMAP-EIB activities align with specific NDC commitments.
  • Implementation Challenges: Present honest assessment of implementation challenges and solutions.
  • Monitoring Progress: Outline approaches to tracking adaptation progress against national commitments.

Strategic Questions

  • "How can the Enhanced Transparency Framework better capture adaptation progress in developing countries?"
  • "What support mechanisms are being developed to help countries implement their NDCs?"
  • "How can successful projects like NEWMAP-EIB be scaled up to achieve national adaptation goals?"

7. Regional Cooperation

Core Messages

  • African Priorities: "NEWMAP-EIB addresses key adaptation priorities identified by the African Group of Negotiators, particularly related to water resources and disaster risk reduction."
  • Replicable Model: "The project's approach to watershed management and erosion control offers a model that can be adapted to similar contexts across Africa."
  • Regional Learning: "Nigeria is committed to sharing lessons from NEWMAP-EIB with other African countries facing similar challenges."
  • Coordinated Action: "Regional cooperation is essential for addressing transboundary climate impacts, particularly related to shared watersheds."

Technical Contributions

  • Regional Relevance: Share how NEWMAP-EIB approaches could be applied in other African contexts.
  • Knowledge Sharing Mechanisms: Present approaches to facilitating regional learning and exchange.
  • Transboundary Considerations: Outline approaches to addressing cross-border watershed issues.

Strategic Questions

  • "How can regional cooperation on adaptation be strengthened within the UNFCCC process?"
  • "What mechanisms exist to facilitate knowledge sharing on adaptation between African countries?"
  • "How can successful adaptation approaches be effectively transferred between different contexts?"

8. Response to Challenging Questions

On Project Impact

Question: "How do you measure the actual adaptation impact of NEWMAP-EIB beyond physical infrastructure?" Response: "NEWMAP-EIB employs a comprehensive monitoring framework that tracks not only physical outcomes like reduced erosion rates but also socioeconomic indicators such as livelihood improvements, community resilience, and institutional capacity development. Our approach recognizes that successful adaptation must address both biophysical vulnerability and adaptive capacity."

On Funding Efficiency

Question: "How can you justify the high cost of erosion control measures compared to other adaptation priorities?" Response: "Our cost-benefit analyses demonstrate that investing in erosion control and watershed management delivers multiple long-term benefits beyond the immediate infrastructure, including preserved agricultural land, protected settlements, enhanced water security, and reduced disaster response costs. These integrated benefits make it a highly cost-effective adaptation approach when viewed holistically."

On Community Engagement

Question: "How do you ensure that local communities have genuine ownership rather than just token participation?" Response: "NEWMAP-EIB places communities at the center of both planning and implementation. Communities participate in vulnerability assessments, help design locally appropriate solutions, contribute to implementation through labor and local materials, and lead ongoing maintenance. This approach has resulted in high levels of community ownership and sustainability of interventions."

On Technical Capacity

Question: "Does Nigeria have the technical capacity to maintain these complex watershed management systems?" Response: "A core component of NEWMAP-EIB has been building lasting technical capacity at multiple levels. We've trained state and local government staff, community watershed committees, and local contractors in maintenance techniques. The project has also strengthened university curricula to ensure a pipeline of technical experts in watershed management and erosion control."

9. Session-Specific Contributions

Technical Expert Meeting on Adaptation Metrics

  • Present NEWMAP-EIB's framework for measuring adaptation outcomes
  • Share specific indicators used to track watershed health and erosion reduction
  • Discuss challenges in attributing adaptation benefits to specific interventions

Roundtable on Climate Finance Access

  • Share Nigeria's experience accessing international climate finance
  • Highlight successful aspects of the EIB financing arrangement
  • Identify barriers that still need to be addressed

Workshop on Ecosystem-based Adaptation

  • Present case studies of nature-based solutions from NEWMAP-EIB
  • Discuss integration of green and gray infrastructure
  • Share monitoring approaches for ecosystem-based interventions

Side Event on Agriculture and Water Security

  • Highlight the water-agriculture nexus in NEWMAP-EIB
  • Present specific interventions that enhance agricultural resilience
  • Discuss approaches to farmer engagement and capacity building

10. Elevator Pitches (30-60 seconds)

For Climate Finance Representatives

"The NEWMAP-EIB project demonstrates how international climate finance can deliver concrete adaptation outcomes that transform vulnerable communities. With EUR 175 million from EIB, we're implementing comprehensive watershed management and erosion control measures that protect infrastructure, enhance agricultural productivity, and build community resilience. Our approach integrates engineering solutions with ecosystem restoration and community engagement, creating lasting impact. We're now looking to scale these proven approaches to other vulnerable watersheds in Nigeria and would welcome the opportunity to discuss potential collaboration."

For Technical Experts

"NEWMAP-EIB has developed innovative approaches to watershed management that integrate traditional knowledge with modern engineering. Our comprehensive vulnerability assessment methodology identifies priority intervention areas, while our community-based monitoring system tracks both biophysical and socioeconomic outcomes. We've successfully adapted international best practices to local contexts, creating solutions that are both technically sound and socially acceptable. I'd be happy to share our technical approaches and lessons learned in more detail."

For Regional Partners

"Nigeria's experience with NEWMAP-EIB offers valuable lessons for other African countries facing similar erosion and watershed challenges. Our integrated approach addresses multiple dimensions of vulnerability while building lasting technical capacity at local and national levels. We're committed to sharing our methodologies, tools, and lessons learned to support adaptation efforts across the region. I'd welcome the opportunity to discuss how our experiences might be relevant to your context and explore potential collaboration."

For Potential Donors

"NEWMAP-EIB represents a proven model for effective adaptation investment with multiple co-benefits. Our comprehensive approach to watershed management not only reduces immediate climate risks but also enhances agricultural productivity, protects infrastructure, and improves water security. With strong institutional arrangements and community ownership, we've created sustainable solutions that will deliver benefits long after project completion. We're now seeking support to scale these approaches to other vulnerable watersheds, where we can apply our tested methodologies to deliver similar transformative outcomes."