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The RALI project helps developing countries speed their transition to climate-resilient, low-emission, and sustainable economic growth. RALI supports the technically rigorous development and implementation of low emission development strategies (LEDS) by providing tools, technical assistance, and resources to support USAID and its partners, as well as host country governments in the implementation of low emission development strategies. RALI developed the online CLEER Tool, for example, which provides a standard platform for estimating, tracking, and reporting emission reductions from clean energy programs.  

As countries adopt strategies to pursue low emission development, they need information to demonstrate the benefits of such strategies, and to efficiently achieve and amplify positive impacts. RALI shares lessons learned and supports evidence-based decision-making. The international community can use these standard approaches to improve measuring and reporting longer-term and transformational outcomes of low emission strategies. Such information serves as a critical input to mobilizing investment, quantifying and sharing lessons learned, and increasing momentum for low emission development.

Banner photo credit: Panos

The Adaptation Community Meetings are an informal opportunity for development practitioners, academic researchers, government officials, private sector representatives, and other international development professionals working to build climate resilience to exchange experiences and research. Meetings take place each month in Washington, D.C. and are open to the public and accessible to remote participants.

AGENT is a ten-year program launched by USAID in 2014 and implemented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The purpose of the partnership is to increase the effectiveness of USAID’s environment programming through the robust integration of gender considerations, improving gender equality and women’s empowerment outcomes in a broad range of environmental sectors. Recognizing women as agents of change, and the value of diverse knowledge, experiences and capacities of women and men alike, AGENT envisions a world that approaches environmental work at all levels with gender-responsive policy and action. AGENT drives transformation toward a more sustainable and equitable future for all.

Banner photo credit: IUCN/Intu BOEDHIHARTONO

Banner photo credit: IUCN GGO.

CCRD worked in thirty-six countries to enhance climate resilience of developing country populations, assets, and livelihoods through technical assistance, thought leadership, capacity building, tools, and guidance to USAID staff, national governments, and local communities. The project facilitated integration and mainstreaming of climate considerations into development policy, planning, and implementation.  CCRD developed and tested the Climate-resilient Development Framework and its six annexes for Coastal Resources, Conflict, Governance, Marginal Populations, Vulnerability Assessment, and Water Resources.  The Framework builds on the success of USAID’s 2007 Adaptation Guidance Manual for Development Planning and the 2009 Adapting to Coastal Climate Change Guidebook. 

CCRD leveraged over $3M in investments, supported thirteen countries in developing of National Adaptation Plans, helped prepare Local Adaptation Plans of Action in Nepal and Peru, created sixty-four risk screening and assessment tools, and provided 94,000 person hours of training.  CCRD also explored emerging climate change adaptation areas through innovative programs such as those featured below.

Banner photo credit: Michael E. Cote, Woman on her Fishing Boat, Pokhara, Nepal

CEADIR helps national and subnational governments, the private sector, and civil society make the business and economic case for climate change mitigation and adaptation by planning strategies, investments, and policies.

A joint development initiative of NASA and USAID, SERVIR works in partnership with leading regional organizations world-wide to help developing countries use information provided by Earth-observing satellites and geospatial technologies to manage climate risks and land use. SERVIR empowers decision-makers with tools, products, and services to act locally on climate-sensitive issues such as disasters, agriculture, water, ecosystems, and land use.

SERVIR is improving awareness, increasing access to information, and supporting analysis to help people in West Africa, Eastern and Southern Africa, Hindu Kush-Himalaya, and Lower Mekong regions manage food security, water resources, land use change, and natural disasters. With activities in more than 45 countries and counting, SERVIR has already developed over 70 custom tools, collaborated with over 200 institutions, and trained almost 3000 individuals, improving the capacity to develop local solutions.

ATLAS aims to improve the quality and effectiveness of climate risk reduction in development programs through tested, harmonized approaches to adaptation assessments; thought leadership; and by building the capacity of USAID and its partners.  By integrating adaptation into development investments, ATLAS helps to safeguard and promote sustainable, climate resilient growth.

As awareness of the socioeconomic consequences of climate change grows, USAID Missions and partner governments are increasingly looking for support in assessing climate change vulnerability and improving climate-related decision-making. Through new methodologies and tools for assessing climate risks, ATLAS helps evaluate adaptation options and synthesize best practices. A key emphasis of ATLAS is the uptake and use of information, helping to translate assessments into adaptation investment decisions and concrete actions at the country, sector, and program levels.

Banner photo credit: Henriques Balidy, 2015, Centre for the Sustainable Development of Coastal Zones.