United Nations Development Programme Project Document Least Developed Country Fund (LDCF) Project title: Strengthening Comoros resilience against climate change and variability related disaster. Country: Implementing Partner: Management Arrangements: National Implementation Modality Union of Comoros UNDP (NIM) UNDAF/Country Programme Outcome: Outcome 4 – By 2019, the most vulnerable populations ensure their resilience to climate change and crises. UNDP Strategic Plan Output: insert either 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 or 2.5 see item 5 under further information in the opening section of the annotated template UNDP Social and Environmental Screening Category: UNDP Gender Marker: 2. Low Atlas Project ID/Award ID number: 00103394 Atlas Output ID/Project ID number: 00105390 UNDP-GEF PIMS ID number: 5445 GEF ID number: 6912 Planned start date: this is defined as the expected Planned end date: 60 months project document signature date LPAC date: Brief project description: The Union of Comoros (Comoros) is comprised of four islands, namely Ngazidja (or Grande Comore), Mwali (Mohéli), Ndzuani (Anjouan) and Maoré (Mayotte). However, the project will only focus on three of the four islands, excluding Maoré from the project area. Comoros is a small island developing state (SIDS) with a population of ~8000 and is one of the most densely populated countries in Africa. Being a SIDS, the Comoros is characterised by limited resources and poor economic resilience. The Comorian population is predominantly dependent upon subsistence livelihoods based on traditional crops and reliant upon natural resources. Existing land use practices connected to natural resource management are poorly managed resulting in food and water insecurity. Furthermore, because of its geographical position and climatic factors, the Comoros is vulnerable to natural disasters such as tropical storms, floods, rising sea level, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and landslides. The exposure to natural disasters coupled with human-induced pressure on natural resources gives rise to the inherent vulnerability of the Comorian population, which will be further exacerbated under changing climatic conditions. Climate change is likely to adversely affect the Comoros by resulting in: i) an increase in annual rainfall variation; ii) an increase in temperatures; iii) a rise in sea level (resulting in salt water intrusion and coastal erosion); and iv) 1 | P a g e an increase in the frequency and severity of climatic hazards (such as tropical cyclones, droughts, episodes of heavy rainfall and flooding). Existing conditions increase the vulnerability of local communities in the Comoros to the above-mentioned climate change effects. The topography of the islands is rugged with many steep slopes and lava flows which intensify the runoff strength of rainwater. In combination with fragile soils, the topography causes erosion and flooding and results in the destruction of villages. This is exacerbated by the unsustainable land use practices, including deforestation and expanding agriculture. Local communities living in vulnerable areas within proximity of the sea are also exposed to coastal erosion as a result of heavy rainfall, tides or sand removal. Furthermore, climate- induced disasters – including tropical cyclones and storms leading to heavy rainfall, landslides, rock falls and flooding – affect the transport networks. Local communities are often cut off from food, water and medical supplies as well as emergency services during such climate-related natural disasters. The project objective is to strengthen the adaptive capacity of the Comorian population to manage the current disaster risks and reduce vulnerability to climate change. In so doing, the project will focus on improving early warnings and disaster risk management under changing climatic conditions. To achieve this, the following outcomes will be delivered: i) enhancing the political, regulatory and institutional framework of climate-related disaster risk management; ii) improving the knowledge and understanding of government ministries, departments and institutions of medium- to long-term climate-related natural disasters; iii) strengthening the climate resilience of the local communities’ livelihoods and assets against climate-related natural disasters; and iv) increasing knowledge-sharing and awareness of climate change adaptation. FINANCING PLAN LDCF USD 8,932,421 UNDP TRAC resources USD 550,000 (1) Total Budget administered by UNDP USD 9,482,421 PARALLEL CO-FINANCING Government USD 37,319,547 National institutions USD 611,361 (2) Total co-financing USD 37,930,908 (3) cGrand-Total Project Financing (1)+(2) USD 47,413,329 SIGNATURES Signature: print name below Agreed by Date/Month/Year: Government Signature: print name below Agreed by Date/Month/Year: Implementing Partner Signature: print name below Agreed by UNDP Date/Month/Year: 2 | P a g e I. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................................... 3 Acronyms and Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................. 4 II. Development Challenge ..................................................................................................................................... 6 III. Strategy ............................................................................................................................................................ 11 IV. Results and Partnerships.................................................................................................................................. 13 V. Feasibility ......................................................................................................................................................... 34 VI. Project Results Framework .............................................................................................................................. 43 VII. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan ........................................................................................................... 46 VIII. Governance and Management Arrangements ................................................................................................ 51 IX. Financial Planning and Management ............................................................................................................... 55 X. Total Budget and Work Plan ............................................................................................................................ 57 XI. Legal Context ................................................................................................................................................... 66 XII. Mandatory Annexes ......................................................................................................................................... 67 XIII. Additional Annexes .......................................................................................................................................... 95 3 | P a g e ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ACMAD African Centre of Meteorological Application for Development AFD French Development Agency AMAT Adaptation Monitoring and Assessment Tool CATI Analytical and Information Processing Centre CBO Community-based Organisation CCA Climate change adaptation COSEP Centre of Relief Operations and Civil Protection CSP Strategic Programming Framework CTA Chief Technical Advisor DGEF Directorate General of Environment and Forests DGSC Directorate General of Civil Security DIMSUR Disaster Risk Management Sustainability and Urban Resilience Centre DRR Disaster Risk Reduction DRSC Directorate Regional of Civil Security EWS Early Warning Systems FNC First National Communication FSP Full Sized Project GEF Global Environment Facility GEFSEC Global Environment Facility Secretariat IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development LDC Least Developed Country LDCF Least Developed Country Fund M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MSP Medium Sized Project NAPA National Adaptation Programme of Action OVK Karthala Volcanological Observatory PA Protected Areas PC Project Coordinator PIF Project Identification Form PIR GEF Project Implementation Report PMC Project Management Cost POPP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures PPG Project Preparation Grant PSC Project Steering Committee 4 | P a g e PTA Project Technical Assistant SIDS Small Island Developing States SNC Second National Communication SNRM Sustainable Natural Resource Management SNRRC National Strategy for Reduction of Risks and Disasters SSTrC South-South and Triangular Cooperation STAP GEF Scientific Technical Advisory Panel TDM Technical Directorate of Meteorology ToR Terms of Reference UNDAF United Nations Development Assistance Framework UNDP-GEF UNDP Global Environmental Finance Unit UNFPA United Nations Population Fund List of Tables and Figures Figure 1 Theory of change Page 9 Figure 2 Project Organisation Structure Page 47 Table 1 Baseline Projects Page 20 Table 2 Partner Projects Page 24 Table 3 Key Project Stakeholders, including responsibilities Page 27 Table 4 Risk Management Table Page 34 Table 5 Mandatory GEF M&E Requirements and M&E Budget Page 45 5 | P a g e II. DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE The Union of the Comoros (hereafter referred to as the Comoros) is an archipelago of volcanic islands situated off the south-east coast of Africa in the Mozambique Channel. The