The third annual strategy meeting of LDC climate change negotiators, funded by CDKN, took place on 15-16 March 2014, in Bonn, Germany, directly following ADP 2-4.

Chaired by Mr. Mathema, the meeting brought together twenty-four LDC Group negotiators (including coordinators and core team members) to strategise on the way forward as discussions progress on the future global climate regime. Among represented LDCs were Angola, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burundi, Ethiopia, the Gambia, Malawi, Nepal, Senegal, the Solomon Islands, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, and Zambia.

Over the course of the two days, presentations were made on the strategy for LDC engagement in the context of various thematic areas of the UNFCCC negotiations. Each session also allocated time for lively interactive discussions among participants. On the first day, Mr. Mbaye Elhadji Diagne (Senegal) and Mr. Gebru Jember (Ethiopia) led a session on mitigation, followed by Dr. Abdalla Gaafar Mohamed Siddig (Sudan) who presented on REDD+. Ms. Renilde Ndayishimiye (Burundi) then spoke on capacity building, while Mr. Evans Njewa (Malawi) and Mr. David Kaluba (Zambia) discussed finance. On adaptation, participants heard presentations from Dr. Sumaya Zakieldeen (Sudan) and Mr. Bubu Jallow (Gambia), followed by those delivered by Mr. Adao Soares Barbosa (Timor Leste) and Mr. Hafijul Islam Khan (Bangladesh) on the topic of loss and damage. Finally, Mr. Fred Onduri (Uganda) and Mr. Karma Tshering (Bhutan) each spoke about recent developments related to technology development and transfer.

Much of the second day was devoted to discussing the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP). Mr. Pa Ousman Jarju (Gambia) provided an overview of results from the ADP 2-4 session, focusing on discussions related to Workstream I, followed by an update of negotiations on Workstream II by Ms. Sandra Freitas (Togo). Dr. Ian Fry (Tuvalu) subsequently provided an overview of options on the legal form of the 2015 agreement. The strategy meeting concluded with a revisit to the overall strategy for the LDC Group’s engagement for the rest of the year’s meetings and beyond, including agreeing on specific actions to be taken by individual participants.

Overall, participants were satisfied with the strategy meeting, and several also highlighted the importance of such discussions to strengthen LDC engagement in the UNFCCC process.