Welcome messages from Pradeep K. and Martin Fr
“This intensive course aims to equip participants with a better understanding of the interlinkages between climate change, agriculture, food security and the role of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). The course is an important learning opportunity for climate change practitioners, academics, students and government representatives interested in increasing their knowledge on what it means to incorporate climate change risks into planning and budgeting processes involving the agriculture sector.”
Dr. Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, Head of Climate Change Adaptation, UNDP
“Climate change is considered a significant ‘hunger-risk multiplier,’ and in many regions, food security is already being adversely affected by climate change. For this reason, FAO and UNDP are working jointly to create the transformative change that we need to reach the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda.”
Dr. Martin Frick, Director of Climate and Environment Division, FAO
Course
This massive open online course on National Adaptation Plans: Building Climate Resilience in Agriculture brings you closer to the nexus of climate change adaptation, agriculture and sustainable development. If you want to learn from development professionals currently engaged in national adaptation planning and agriculture, then this 6-week course is for you.
Using videos, interactive lessons, case studies and stories, this course explores the central elements and the process for addressing the agriculture sectors in the formulation and implementation of National Adaptation Plans.
You will be introduced to Zipora and Alice - two women from different countries and cultures who share a common experience of ways in which climate change is affecting their worlds. Through their stories you will gain insights into what it really takes to build climate resilient agricultural systems.
The NAP-Ag MOOC is presented as part of the Integrating Agriculture in National Adaptation Plans (NAP-AG) Programme and is a joint effort between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). It is was made possible by the generous funding of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) through its International Climate Initiative (IKI).
Course Structure
Week 1 Introduction to climate change adaptation, agriculture and food security
Week 2 International frameworks and National Adaptation Planning
Week 3 Identifying and assessing climate change impacts and risks
Week 4 Identifying and prioritizing climate adaptation options
Week 5 Governance, coordination and finance
Week 6 Communication, monitoring and evaluation
Sign up now!
The MOOC is available on the UN CC:e-Learn platform.
Please register on unccelearn.org.
Course at a glance
Length
Time bound, 6 weeks
Effort
2-3 hours / week
Price
Free
Subject
Climate change adaptation and agriculture
Level
Introductory
Language
English
Platform
UN CC:e-Learn
Assessment
- Complete videos
- Quizzes
- Peer-review project
- Forum participation
Certification (upon)
- Pass 6 weekly quizzes
- Upload min 4 assignments in the forum
- Review min 4 peer assignments
Meet the Experts

FAO
Dr. Anne Mottet
Livestock Policy Officer

FAO
Astrid Agostini
Senior Natural Resources Officer

UNDP
Dr. Bonizella Biagini
Manages Climate Information for Resilient Development in Africa (CIRDA)

UNDP
Cassie Flynn
Global Climate Change Advisor

UNDP
Jo Scheuer
Director and Chief of Profession Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction

FAO
Julia Wolf
Natural Resource Officer, Climate Change

FAO
Dr. Martin Frick
Ph. D. Director of Climate and Environment Division

UNDP
Dr. Pradeep Kurukulasuriya
Head of Climate Change Adaptation Program

UNDP
Rohini Kohli
Lead Technical Specialist

FAO
Dr. Solomon Asfaw
Economist
Meet the Anchor

Aamena Ahmad
A young development professional from India with a passion for education both inside and outside the classroom. She is engaged in raising awareness about the NAP-Ag to draw attention to climate change impacts on food security and farmers’ livelihoods.
Who is this course for?
If you are a decision maker, development practitioner, government official, academic, student or anyone who is interested in climate change adaptation, agriculture and sustainable development, this MOOC is designed for you. Prior knowledge on the topic will be a plus but is not required.
What will I learn?
By the end of the MOOC you will be able to able to discuss:
- The links between climate change, agriculture and food security;
- The role of international agreements, including the 2030 Agenda, Sendai Framework, and the Paris Agreement and the National Adaptation Planning process;
- How to identify and prioritize adaptation options in agriculture sectors;
- Coordination and governance aspects of implementing adaptation actions in agriculture;
- Mechanisms for funding and safeguarding livelihoods in climate change adaptation in agriculture.
How will I be assessed?
You will be able to assess your knowledge by taking ungraded exercises, engaging in the forum discussions, submitting weekly quizzes and working on a personal project. To complete the course, you will be expected to submit and pass all quizzes, upload your personal project, which is split in six small assignments, and comment on the assignments of four peers.
Will I get a certificate?
Yes, if you complete the course, you will receive a personalized UN Certificate from FAO, UNDP and UNITAR.
How much time will I have to complete the course?
The course starts on November 13, 2017 (the second week of the 23rd Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC) and takes 6 weeks. You can complete the course and receive a certificate by December 24, 2017
Who developed the course?
NAP-Ag Programme
The course is developed as part of the “Integrating Agriculture into National Adaptation Plans initiative. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Development programme (UNDP) have joined together in this programme to support countries as they integrate their agriculture sectors in the national adaptation planning processes.
UNDP Climate Change Adaptation
UNDP works in nearly 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. UNDP helps countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results. Together with partners, UNDP supports climate change risk management in the context of agriculture and food security, water resources, coastal zone development, public health, and climate change-related disaster risks.
FAO Climate
FAO is the lead agency fighting for a world without hunger. Achieving food security for all is at the heart of FAO's efforts to ensure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO considers climate change a top-line corporate priority and focuses its work on enhancing institutional and technical capacities of 174 Member States and improving integration of food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries within the international climate agenda.
Through its climate change portfolio of over 300 projects worldwide, FAO is supporting countries to both mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change as an integral part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
BMUB
The NAP-Ag programme is financed by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) as part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI).
Since 2008, IKI has been financing climate and biodiversity projects in developing and newly industrialising countries, as well as in countries in transition. The IKI is a key element of Germany’s climate financing and the funding commitments in the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Initiative places clear emphasis on climate change mitigation, adaption to the impacts of climate change and the protection of biological diversity.
UNITAR
An autonomous UN body established in 1963, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is a training arm of the United Nations System, UNITAR provides training and capacity development activities. UNITAR’s Green Development and Climate Change Programme (GCP) develops methodologies, executes training, supports learning strategies, and facilitates knowledge-sharing with the goal to strengthen capacities in developing countries to implement the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and to advance a green, low emission and climate resilient transition. The Programme also hosts the Secretariats of the One UN Climate Change Learning Partnership (UN CC:Learn).