Climate Risk Management at the Activity Level

This page introduces the implementation of climate risk management (CRM) for activities. CRM is also implemented for strategies and projects.

C R M f o r S t r a t e g i e s C R M f o r P r o j e c t s C l i m a t e R i s k M a n a g e m e n t f o r A c t i v i t y D e s i g n a n d I m p l e m e n t a t i o n I . P l a n f o r A s s e s s m e n t » « I I . C o n d u c t A s s e s s m e n t « I I I . I n c o r p o r a t e R e s u l t s I V . I m p l e m e n t & M a n a g e »
Climate Risk Management for Activity Design and Implementation.
This graphic and the eLearning tool emphasize that climate risk management (CRM) is iterative and an integral part of program design and implementation, not a separate process. You may navigate this graphic to jump directly to the specific phases of the CRM process.

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):

  1. Plan for Assessment
  2. Conduct Assessment
  3. Incorporate Results
  4. Implement and Adaptively Manage

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.

CRM Resources for Activity Design

II. Conduct the Activity-Level Climate Risk Assessment

Conducting a climate risk assessment consists of three interrelated steps:

  1. Assess Climate Risks and Opportunities
  2. Address Climate Risks
  3. Plan for Adaptive Management

The assessment also involves consideration of opportunities to enhance results and build climate resilience.

Assessment teams have flexibility in the approach and resources they use to conduct the assessment. USAID’s Climate Risk Screening and Management Tool (CRM Tool) provides a systematic framework to help teams assess and address risks in a holistic and integrative manner. A series of sector-specific annexes associated with the CRM Tool provide more detailed guiding questions and illustrative examples of climate risks, CRM measures, and opportunities. Assessment teams may also elect to use other methods.

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III. Incorporate Results of the Activity-Level Climate Risk Assessment

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:

  1. Refine Tasks & Interventions
  2. Incorporate in Solicitation
  3. Document in Environmental Compliance Analysis
  4. Incorporate into Proposal/Application
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IV. Implement and Adaptively Manage the Activity

Climate risk management (CRM) 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:

  1. Incorporate in Work Plans
  2. Incorporate in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Processes
  3. Periodically Assess and Adjust
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