The National Communications Support Programme (NCSP) is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and is jointly managed by UNDP and UNEP.  The primary objective of the NCSP is to provide technical and policy support to Parties not included in Annex I (NAI) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for preparing their Second (or Third) National Communications (SNCs or TNCs).  The NCSP is hosted by UNDP-GEF in UNDP headquarters, New York. 

The GEF Secretariat, UNDP, UNEP, UNFCCC Secretariat, the Consultative Group of Experts on National  Communications from NAI countries (CGE) and donor countries are represented on NCSP’s Advisory Committee. Guided by the principles of country-drivenness, comprehensiveness and cost-effectiveness, the NCSP makes provisions of and delivers an integrated package of support services through the following activities:

• Undertaking technical consultations with NC teams for the development of overall and thematic implementation strategies at the early stage of the NC process;
• Developing and disseminating guidance documents to assist NC teams in planning and implementing SNC projects;
• Developing and managing Knowledge Networks on the key thematic areas of NCs to facilitate learning, exchange of information and sharing of good practices and lessons learned;
• Providing on-site technical backstopping to overcome technical “bottle-necks”;
• Maintaining a helpdesk to provide distance technical backstopping by responding to technical queries from NC teams;
• Planning, developing, delivering and evaluating in-depth technical training workshops;
• Planning, developing, delivering and evaluating workshops on the initiation of the SNC process;
• Organizing technical review of NC drafts.

The design and planning of the NCSP’s support activities are responsive to needs for assistance directly from NAI countries, guided by the Advisory Committee and informed by analysis of relevant activities undertaken by partner organizations. The NCSP develops and delivers technical and policy assistance with regional centres of excellence and regional and international experts.

The NCSP always encourages NAI NC teams and partner organisations to provide feedbacks and suggestions on how the NCSP could best assist the timely delivery of quality SNCs (TNCs).