Making adaptation easier...

November 25, 2011 at 2:32 PM

GCAP is developing a Climate Safeguards System (CSS) for the African Development Bank (AfDB). It provides a set of decision-making tools and guides, enabling the Bank to screen projects in vulnerable sectors for risks associated with climate change. It then identifies appropriate adaptation measures to reduce those vulnerabilities.

 The CSS comprises four modules:

  • A Climate Screening Module, to assess the vulnerability of a project concept to climate change and assign the project to categories, using scorecards, ranging from one (most vulnerable) to three (least vulnerable).
  • An Adaptation Review and Evaluation Procedures Module, enabling users to identify adaptation measures for a project according to the screening categorisation of the project and integrating these at early project design stage.
  • A CSS Information Base Module, a knowledge portal supporting the modules above and giving direct access to the climate projections developed for Africa, a database of adaptation activities and links to a wide range of information sources on adaptation.
  • Country Adaptation Factsheets, based on a template into which up-to-date information on climate projections and country indicators can be imported from various sources, to support the project design.

The first public deliverable of the CSS; the “Climate Screening and Adaptation Review & Evaluation Procedures Booklet” was launched during a two-day workshop in Tunis recently. The workshop was attended by more than 30 AfDB task managers plus other environment and climate change specialists – and the CSS received great acclaim.

The booklet is available for download from the AfDB website here (French version), or from our own site here (English and French versions).

Alternatively, you can read it on-line here (English).

This innovative project has benefited from the expertise of:-

  • Atkins (UK) in developing water scorecards
  • The Climate Systems Analysis Group from University of Cape Town in South Africa (CSAG) in understanding climate projections for Africa
  • And from iSpace in India, who made it possible to transfer original concepts and ideas into a fully functional suite of web-based tools.

Work continues as the Bank becomes familiar with the CSS.

If you are interested in this dynamic approach to mainstreaming climate adaptation and safeguarding your projects contact the Global Climate Adaptation Partnership (GCAP) now.

Contact: Tom Downing

T: +44 (0) 1865 261425 | M: +44 (0)7968 065957 | E: tdowning@climateadaptation.cc

Tags: GCAP AfDB CSS booklet iSpace Atkins CSAG screening review evaluation knowledge management adaptation decision making factsheets knowledge base