Local cooperatives exchange knowledge about organic fertilizer production. | Credit: Equal Exchange, Peru

How You Can Build Your Skills to Combat Climate Change

By Neeha Mian

As we embark on the new year, USAID will move toward implementing the robust climate targets it announced at COP26, built on decades of work on climate change. Climate change affects every aspect of our international development work, from disaster relief, global health, and gender issues to migration. It touches the communities and programs we work with every day. And it threatens the decades worth of development gains we have already achieved. This moment demands all hands on deck, and we want to support staff across USAID and our development community as they build the skills to integrate climate change considerations across their work. We hope that these tools will help prepare you to confront the climate challenges you face every day. 

Note: All of the materials included are intended for USAID staff, partners, and the general public to utilize, unless indicated otherwise

1. Climate Resilient Development 101

This 2-hour course, intended for USAID staff and partners, uses interactive features and videos to introduce fundamental concepts of climate resilient development, including how climate impacts are affecting key development sectors. This course is available at USAID University.

2. What is the Climate Risk Management Process?

In this interactive e-learning course, USAID staff and partners can explore the full climate risk management (CRM) process, from planning through implementation. It walks users through the entire CRM process, but also allows users to skip to specific steps to easily get advice on whatever aspects of CRM they are seeking. This course is also available on USAID University.

3. Catalyzing Finance for Climate Action: USAID INVEST Resource Guide and Webinar Recording

At COP26, USAID announced a goal to mobilize $150 billion in climate finance by 2030. This will require catalyzing both public and private finance. USAID INVEST is an initiative that mobilizes the private sector to develop sustainable solutions to combat climate change. These resources offer a wide range of informational tools, videos, and frameworks to harness private capital to address climate challenges. To explore USAID’s approach to climate finance, check out this blog.

4. Applying Geospatial Data to Climate Adaptation–SERVIR Training Repository

Through a joint initiative between NASA and USAID, SERVIR employs satellite imagery with climate and weather data to manage climate risk and land use for over 45 countries. The SERVIR Repository provides access to trainings, tools, and events for utilizing geospatial data for climate-related themes such as land use, water, and agriculture. SERVIR is just one tool that USAID supports as part of the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience Initiative (PREPARE).

5. CEADIR-Climatelinks Webinar Series: Navigating the Climate Economy

In 2020, Climatelinks and the Climate Economic Analysis for Development, Investment and Resilience (CEADIR) Activity partnered together for a series of webinars related to “Navigating the Climate Economy.” These presentations reviewed topics such as financing energy resources, cost-benefit analyses of land use management, and scaling up finance models.

6. Advancing Energy Systems: USAID-NREL Partnership Learning Channel Playlist

The USAID-National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) partnership addresses critical aspects of deploying advanced energy systems in developing countries. The associated YouTube playlist provides a host of learning resources, webinars, and videos to address critical topics, such as renewable energy integration, grid modernization, and power sector resilience.

7. WASH 101: Development Result 4, Water Resources Management (USAID internal)

This course walks users through the importance of Water Resources Management and Planning, as well as how to manage climate stressors on water resources.

Note: For trainings on USAID University (accessible only to USAID staff), users may need to first open the USAID University homepage in their browser before following the direct link above.

8. AGENT Webinar – Gender-Based Violence and Environment Linkages: GBV and a Changing Climate

Advancing Gender in the Environment (AGENT) is a joint initiative with USAID and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature to increase the effectiveness of environment programming through the integration of gender considerations. This webinar offers a deep dive into the linkages between gender-based violence and tackling climate change. Learn more about USAID-IUCN’s AGENT initiative and webinars on the AGENT project page.

9. A Sourcebook for Community-Based Forestry Enterprise Programming 

This technical guide was created from the USAID ProLand Community-Based Forestry Enterprise Assessments to inform design and implementation of community forestry interventions and deliver positive outcomes in developing countries. To learn more about how to apply this sourcebook to your work, take a look at this brief explanation video.

10. Land and Conflict: A Toolkit for Intervention

This toolkit presents a practical understanding of the relationship between land and violent conflict. It offers best practices, key issues, and relevant program interventions to help practitioners assess the connections between development, land, and conflict. Check out the Climatelinks Conflict and Governance page for more toolkits related to climate and conflict. 


Don’t see what you’re looking for? Check out Climatelinks, Agrilinks, or Marketlinks for more trainings, toolkits, and webinars related to climate change. USAID employees can also find several online trainings related to climate change and the environment through USAID University. USAID expects to publish additional trainings on climate change throughout 2022

Strategic Objective
Adaptation
Topics
Adaptation, Climate Finance, Climate Risk Management, Climate Strategy, Mitigation, Partnership, Resilience, Training
Region
Global

USAID’s 2022-2030 Climate Strategy

USAID’s 2022-2030 Climate Strategy takes an unprecedented “whole-of-Agency” approach that calls on all corners of USAID to play a part. USAID will work on the ground with partner governments and local actors to set the global trajectory toward a vision of a resilient, prosperous, and equitable world with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

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Neeha Mian

Neeha Mian is a Climate Communications Specialist on the USAID-funded Sharing Environment and Energy Knowledge (SEEK) project. In this position, she offers specialized support to USAID environmental divisions, such as the Climate & Cross-Sectoral Strategy and Natural Climate Solutions Branches. Prior to this role, she served as Deputy Director of APS & Associates, a public affairs firm in Chicago, where she provided communications, research, and policy support on state legislation and issue/political campaigns. Neeha holds a Master of Public Policy degree with a concentration in Global Studies from Northwestern University, where she conducted research on the natural gas industry. Neeha also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Economics, and Environmental Studies from Kalamazoo College, where she completed independent research around climate-induced displacement.

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Climate Strategy Webinar Series

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