The Conference of the Parties,
Recalling decisions 5/CP.7, 29/CP.7, 7/CP.9, 4/CP.10, 4/CP.11 and 8/CP.13,
Recognizing the specific needs and special situation of the least developed countries under Article 4, paragraph 9, of the Convention,
Having considered the reports on the seventeenth and eighteenth meetings of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group, the report on possible elements for a future mandate for the group and the report on the training workshops on the implementation of national adaptation programmes of action,
Expressing its appreciation to the Least Developed Countries Expert Group for its good work in implementing its work programme for 2008–2010, supporting the preparation and implementation of national adaptation programmes of action and conducting regional training workshops on the implementation of national adaptation programmes of action,
Noting that the least developed country Parties continue to require technical support for the preparation, update and implementation of their national adaptation programmes of action,
1. Decides to extend the mandate of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group under its current terms of reference;
2. Also decides that the Least Developed Countries Expert Group should be mandated to provide technical guidance and advice on:
(a) The revision and update of national adaptation programmes of action, to further improve their quality, to facilitate the integration of adaptation actions of least developed country Parties into development planning and to reflect increased adaptation knowledge and changed priorities in the countries, upon request by least developed country Parties;
(b) The identification of medium- and long-term adaptation needs, their integration into development planning and the implementation of identified adaptation activities;
(c) Strengthening gender-related considerations and considerations regarding vulnerable communities within least developed country Parties;
(d) The implementation of the elements of the least developed countries work programme other than the preparation and implementation of national adaptation programmes of action that are relevant to the expertise of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group;
3. Requests the Least Developed Countries Expert Group to develop a two-year rolling programme of work for consideration by the Subsidiary Body for Implementation at its first sessional meeting of each year, and to report on its work to the Subsidiary Body for Implementation at each of its sessions;
4. Decides that the membership of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group should be expanded from 12 to 13 members in order to include one additional member from a least developed country Party;
5. Requests the Least Developed Countries Expert Group to engage a wide range of organizations to support the implementation of its work programme;
6. Decides that, consistent with decision 7/CP.9, paragraph 2, new experts may be nominated to the Least Developed Countries Expert Group, or existing members of the group may continue in office, as determined by the respective regions or groups;
7. Requests the secretariat to continue to facilitate the work of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group;
8. Decides to review, at its twenty-first session, the progress, need for continuation and terms of reference of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group, and to adopt a decision thereon;
9. Also decides on the following actions and steps necessary for the Subsidiary Body for Implementation to initiate the review at its forty-second session, with a view to complete the review referred to in paragraph 8 above at its twenty-first session:
(a) To request the Least Developed Countries Expert Group to convene a meeting, including Parties, the Global Environment Facility and its agencies, and other relevant organizations, with the assistance of the secretariat, to take stock of its work, before June 2015;
(b) To invite Parties to submit to the secretariat, by 1 February 2015, their views on the work of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group, for compilation by the secretariat into a miscellaneous document for consideration by the Subsidiary Body for Implementation at its forty-second session;
(c) To request the secretariat to prepare a report on the stocktaking meeting for consideration by the Subsidiary Body for Implementation at its forty-second session, as input to the review;
(d) To request the secretariat to prepare a synthesis report on the progress, need for continuation and terms of reference of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group, based on the submissions from Parties, reports of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group, the report on the stocktaking meeting and other relevant information, for consideration by the Subsidiary Body for Implementation at its forty-second session, as input to the review.
