The first phase of climate risk management entails planning for an assessment of climate risks and opportunities. Planning involves two major steps:
- Review Previously Completed Assessment(s)
- Determine Assessment Approach
This page introduces the implementation of climate risk management (CRM) for activities. CRM is also implemented for strategies and projects (coming soon).
Although USAID policy allows flexibility in the application of climate risk management (CRM), the process generally comprises four phases (with several steps within each phase):
The graphic and eLearning tool aim to help USAID staff and partners think about how these phases and steps are integrated into activity planning and implementation. As the graphic shows, the phases are iterative. In addition, the order of the steps within phases is flexible and the overall process may be tailored to each mission’s or operating unit’s situation.
In the explanations below and the eLearning tool we refer to “design team” as shorthand for those responsible for CRM. Although USAID holds primary responsibility, implementing partners play a critical role in managing climate risks as part of activity implementation.
The first phase of climate risk management entails planning for an assessment of climate risks and opportunities. Planning involves two major steps:
Conducting a climate risk assessment consists of three interrelated steps: assessing risks, determining how to address risks, and planning for adaptive management. The assessment also involves consideration of opportunities to enhance results and build climate resilience.
To realize the benefits of conducting the climate risk assessment and be able to address and adaptively manage risks during implementation, design teams should incorporate assessment results into activity design and implementation. Incorporating assessment results involves these four steps:
Climate risk management should be incorporated as appropriate into implementation and monitoring, evaluation and learning to ensure climate risks are addressed and adaptively managed. This phase involves the following three steps: