Enviro News Asia, Kigali — More than 250 participants from across the world are set to gather in Kigali, Rwanda, for the NAP Expo 2026 from 18–21 May 2026, as countries intensify efforts to strengthen climate resilience and accelerate adaptation implementation by 2030 and beyond.
Organized by the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the annual flagship event will bring together government representatives, climate finance institutions, technical experts, United Nations agencies, development partners, and private sector stakeholders to advance the implementation of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).
Held under the theme “Climate Resilience by 2030 and Beyond,” this year’s Expo will place stronger emphasis on transforming adaptation plans into implementation-ready projects, financing strategies, and delivery systems capable of addressing escalating climate risks.
Since its launch in 2013, the NAP Expo has become a leading global platform for promoting national adaptation planning and supporting countries in building long-term resilience against climate change impacts.
The 2026 edition introduces a more interactive and implementation-oriented format designed to help countries move beyond planning toward concrete adaptation action and financing pathways.
One of the key features of the Expo will be collaborative working sessions involving five pre-arranged country groups tasked with translating National Adaptation Plan priorities into finance-ready projects and programs.
Participants will engage directly with climate finance providers, technical assistance organizations, multilateral development banks, and development partners while refining their national adaptation priorities and implementation strategies.
Discussions and technical sessions will focus on major adaptation themes, including early warning systems, nature-based solutions, water security, sustainable agriculture, and drought resilience.
Throughout the program, participating countries will progressively develop adaptation project concepts, strengthen implementation approaches, and present proposals directly to climate funds and financing institutions attending the Expo.
Technical assistance providers, including UN agencies, development organizations, and specialized institutions, will also offer practical guidance on project preparation, readiness support, and access to climate finance.
The event will additionally introduce updated UNFCCC technical guidelines for National Adaptation Plans and launch the NAP Exchange (NAPX), a new platform designed to help countries transform adaptation plans into structured, implementation-ready, and AI-enabled adaptation knowledge systems.
Participants are expected to explore how NAPX can support project development, financing engagement, monitoring systems, and implementation planning.
Additional sessions and technical clinics will address adaptation portfolio design, costing methodologies, monitoring and evaluation systems, AI tools for adaptation, climate risk data, remote sensing, adaptation reporting, and strategies to strengthen national delivery systems.
NAP Expo 2026 will also provide countries that have submitted new National Adaptation Plans since the previous Expo with an opportunity to present lessons learned and share progress in advancing national adaptation efforts.
Through practical collaboration, peer learning, and direct engagement with funders and technical partners, the Expo aims to strengthen countries’ implementation readiness and accelerate climate adaptation action worldwide. (*)
