Mr. Bubu Pateh Jallow DWR/CDKN Consultant Phone:

Transcription

1 Mainstreaming Climate Change into the Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment (PAGE) and other Development Frameworks of The Gambia GUIDELINES ON CLIMATE CHANGE MAINSTREAMING PROCESS Mr. Bubu Pateh Jallow DWR/CDKN Consultant Phone:

2 Guidelines for Mainstreaming Climate Change into Development Frameworks 1: Introduction: Mainstreaming of climate change is used to describe the consideration of climate variability and climate change issues in decision making processes such as planning and budgeting. Integration is used when specific climate change responses (adaptation and mitigation measures) are added to design and implementation strategies. Thus, integration occurs in instances where climate change is deemed to be a priority in order to effectively achieve development goals. Thus there is a fine line of distinction between the integration and mainstreaming processes and in this document the words are interchangeable. However, mainstreaming process is assumed to include integration process. The rationale for mainstreaming climate change into development is based on the fact that many of the interventions leading to enhanced climate change resilience generally benefit development objectives. Responses to climate change challenges require the development of human capital, strengthening of institutional systems, and sound management of public finances and natural resources. Such processes build the resilience of countries, communities, and households to all shocks and stresses, including climate variability and change, and are good development practices in themselves. Mainstreaming climate issues into national development policies ensures consistency between the needs of climate change responses (mitigation and adaptation) and poverty eradication. Separation of the two runs the risk of climate change mitigation and adaptation policies inadvertently conflicting with development and poverty policies, or conversely, development policies inadvertently increasing vulnerability to climatic factors. Accordingly, this issue is critical to the successful eradication of poverty and needs to be placed at the core of national development processes. In mainstreaming climate change into development frameworks, experience has shown that the process should start with integration of climate change into the main National Development Policy of the country. This could be the VISION, Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) or the most recent variations such as the Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment (PAGE) of The Gambia. Development and integration of climate change into such a National Policy document will enable review of policies, plans and programmes at the sectoral and local levels as discussed in subsequent steps. 2: Approaches to Mainstreaming Climate Change into Development Frameworks In this section attempt is made to present the approaches and the processes involved in the mainstreaming of climate change issues into national and sub-national (regions, districts and community levels) development frameworks. For mainstreaming to be effective, it should be infused into all levels of the planning frameworks that give effect to the implementation of climate change issues in particular (e.g. policies, plans, programmes, projects, etc.) while at the same time permeating the different stages from conceptualization and identification, design, appraisal, budgeting, implementation, to monitoring and evaluation. Figure 1 below shows the various levels of mainstreaming climate change concerns into development frameworks. DWR/CDKN Consultancy on the Integration of Climate Change: 2

3 Review of Policies, Plans, programmes and projects Dissemination of Final National Policy Institutionalization of the Multistakeholder Team Approval of Climate Change Integrated National Policy Public Consultation Figure 1: Mainstreaming climate change into National Policy and Planning Process (Nelson et. al., 2010,) The under-listed steps serve as a guide in the integration of climate change risks and responses (mitigation and adaptation) into national development policy and planning processes. Steps 1 to 4 are common to the process of integration of climate change into the Main National Policy (e.g., the Gambian PAGE) and also to sectoral and local level policies, plans and programmes. Step 1: Preparatory Phase OF Mainstreaming Climate Change The preparatory step sets the stage for mainstreaming climate change, focusing on activities designed to help countries identify entry points into the development planning process and to make a strong case for the importance of mainstreaming of climate change. The initial step consists of understanding the governmental, political and institutional context relevant to climate change risks, responses (mitigation and adaptation) and challenges (barriers) to mainstreaming climate change into development frameworks. At this stage it is good to know if: The Gambia is a Party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol, The Ministry that is leading and coordinating the implementation of the Climate Change Convention; in this case it is the Ministry of Forestry and the Environment, DWR/CDKN Consultancy on the Integration of Climate Change: 3

4 The UNFCCC Focal Secretariat (Department of Water Resources) and the Focal Point (Director, Department of Water Resources) The existence or non-existence of a National Climate Committee which is the Technical Committee tasked with the implementation of the Convention and its Kyoto Protocol in The Gambia The status of implementation of the Convention at the national level. At this stage it is essential to decide on which institution should lead the mainstreaming process and the candidates are the Ministry responsible for implementation of climate change Convention (Ministry of Forestry and the Environment, MOFEN) at national level, Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MOFEA), the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Office of the President (OP). All these four Government institutions have their merits and demerits in leading the mainstreaming process and it is important that all key stakeholders are aware and involved in the final decision of the selection of the Lead Institution for the climate change mainstreaming process. However, in the Gambian situation the Lead Institute for the development of the PAGE (MOFEA) and the PAGE Team are tasked with the climate change mainstreaming process and they work with the DWR/CDKN Consultant on this task. This First Step also takes into consideration the climate change situation in The Gambia and what are the human, material and institutional capacity needs for mainstreaming climate change into the PAGE and other national and sectoral policies, programmes and plans. The first requirement for mainstreaming climate change is awareness of the stakeholders about Gambia s contribution to global warming and the resultant climate change, the risks posed by climate change on the national economy and to mitigate and adapt to climate change. National greenhouse gas emissions, the potential impacts of climate change on the Gambian economy and its citizens and mitigation and adaptation efforts should thus be brought into discussions in order to raise awareness on the links between these issues, especially as they relate to achievement of the MDGs, poverty reduction, pro-poor growth and national development. Most of this information was provided to the PAGE Team during the Retreat through a Technical Paper and Power Point Presentations. The material was compiled from various studies conducted in The Gambia which have identified the major sources of greenhouse gases, efforts and measures to mitigate these emissions, the impacts of climate change and measures to adapt to these impacts for the national economy. The sectors of the economy most vulnerable to current and future climate change have been identified and documented. Armed with this knowledge and awareness, policy- and decision-makers of The Gambia are most likely to accept and to continue the efforts of integrating adaptation and mitigation into policies and strengthening human and institutional capacities required to mainstream climate change. The need to network climate change experts and development practitioners and build partnerships between institutions that can act as intermediaries between science (including socio-economic) and policymaking are paramount. It is important to note that a National Climate Change Strategy has not been developed for The Gambia. However, the integration of climate change in the Gambia PAGE is the first and DWR/CDKN Consultancy on the Integration of Climate Change: 4

5 prerequisite step in the development of such a Strategy. The process to develop the Gambia National Climate Change Strategy will be similar to the process of mainstreaming climate change into the PAGE but would be more extensive and inclusive of all sectors. Step 2: Institutionalization of a Multi-sectoral and Multidisciplinary Team (MMT) tasked to Mainstream Climate Change into the development of The Gambia Competent and committed representatives from all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of central government, private sector organizations, professional bodies, tertiary institutions, nongovernmental organizations (NGO), community-based organizations (CBO), development partners, other specialized institutions and outstanding individual professionals in related fields should be selected to be part of a multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary Team. Members of the Team should be empowered politically and technically to effectively represent their institutions on the Team. The Team should be provided with the Regulations/Acts, Policies, Strategies, Plans and other national, regional and international policy documents that will be relevant to Gambia s policy formulation process. Members of the Team will be required to have their sector and institutional policies for consideration and utilization in the mainstreaming process. Other strategic partners including NGOs, Academia, etc. will also be required to share their field experiences to enrich the available data and information, discussions and output. Step 2 of the climate change mainstreaming process will produce a competent Team that has received knowledge and capacity to take climate change issues into consideration during the execution of the task of mainstreaming climate change. For integration of climate change in the Gambia PAGE, such a Team already exists and is referred to as the PAGE Team. The Team has been trained on climate change issues including the country s contribution to the build-up of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, resultant global warming and climate change, impacts of climate change on the national economy and sectoral activities, and on-going and recommended actions (mitigation and adaptation) to face the challenges of climate change. For mainstreaming of climate change into Sectoral policies, programmes and plans such a Team is required for every sector and the National Climate Change Committee also exists to coordinate the whole process. The Sectoral Teams and the National Climate Committee will need to receive the training provided to the PAGE TEAM Step 3: Desk review of policies, plans, programs and projects. In this step the Team selected and capacitated to mainstream climate change into development frameworks conducts an assessment of current and relevant policies, plans, programmes and projects with the objective of identifying gaps and proposes new initiatives that take climate change into consideration. Consideration is given to concerns, challenges and recommendations in existing climate change reports such as the National Communications (NATCOM), National DWR/CDKN Consultancy on the Integration of Climate Change: 5

6 Capacity Self Assessment (NCSA), Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) and the National Adaptation Programme of Actions (NAPAs), just to name a few. The Team should also review all Local (Village and District Development Plans), sectoral (Agriculture, Energy, Water, Fisheries, Forests, etc), national (VISION, PRSPs, UNDAFs, etc), regional (ECOWAS, CILSS, UMOA, NEPAD, etc.), and international policy frameworks such as the MDGs. Cross-cutting issues such as gender, youths, etc should also be assessed. The major output of this step is baseline data and information that is able to inform and further guide the process of mainstreaming climate change into development frameworks. The review process identifies the impact of climate change on the level of achievement of policies, plans, programmes and projects. It sets the stage for engaging relevant stakeholders into a comprehensive consultation process. Step 4: Public Consultation and Sensitization The public consultation and sensitization step involves organization of scoping meetings, workshops and seminars for various stakeholders including the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary arms of Government; experts and professionals in the Public and Private sectors, Local Government Authorities, Civil Society Organizations (NGOs, CBOs, etc.), traditional authorities and grassroots level communities. The main objective of this public consultation and sensitization is to have two way learning process where the public is informed and educated on climate change and its impacts on the national and sub-national economy, the potential responses (adaptation and mitigation measures), the role of all state actors and the public in facing the challenges of climate change and the issue and requirements of mainstreaming climate change. Stakeholders participating in the consultation will also be informed of the experience of the public, particularly grassroots level communities, in facing previous and similar climate change risks and the coping strategies employed by them. The outputs of the consultation process include comprehensive baseline data and information and a well informed population that is ready to use all means available to them in mainstreaming climate change into their day to day participation in national and sub-national socio-economic development. Step 5: Development of the Climate Change integrated National Policy Document Having gathered sufficient data and information necessary for the development of the Gambian PAGE, the multi-stakeholder and multidisciplinary Team embarks on the writing of the document. In the Gambian situation of mainstreaming climate change in the PAGE, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs is the lead institution that coordinates the process. The PAGE DWR/CDKN Consultancy on the Integration of Climate Change: 6

7 Team is the multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral Team tasked with the responsibility of the development of the PAGE and also integration of climate change issues into the document. The PAGE Team has received some initial training and sensitization on mainstreaming climate change in the PAGE and the membership is now aware of climate and climate change situation of The Gambia, the national and sectoral emissions of greenhouse gases, the potential greenhouse gas mitigation measures, the impacts of climate change on the national economy and sectoral activities and the potential climate change adaptation measures. Implementation of this step involves the development of a schedule and Table of Contents, sharing of the tasks and the writing of the various drafts. Between the productions of each draft of the climate change integrated Policy document iterative reviews are conducted that involve a lot more national, sectoral and international stakeholders to make the document reach, acceptable, promote national ownership and international recognition and buy-in. This step has been reached in The Gambia and the document has just been circulated for review. Step 6: Approval of National Policy Framework The Final Draft is then subjected to further approval by all stakeholders. This will involve the organization of a National Validation Workshop that brings in all key stakeholders at the national level and international partners especially those that provided technical and financial support in the process of development of the Gambian PAGE. The validation is a very critical step in the process as it is at this stage that national ownership, public and private partnerships and international cooperation are consolidated. Following the validation the PAGE can be further subjected to discussions and approval by Cabinet of Ministers and the National Assembly of Representatives of political Constituencies. Step 7: Dissemination of Final National Policy Under this step, the validated and approved Gambia PAGE document is given nationwide dissemination through a Launching Ceremony officiated by an Official from the highest office. Public awareness and sensitization campaigns are conducted nationwide to discuss and inform all citizens of the salient policy issues contained in the document. It is also to inform citizens on government priorities within the Policy and for the planed period. The dissemination enhances ownership and participation during implementation. The BOX below shows the approach used by the National Commission of Science and Technology Initiative of Malawi to integrate climate change in the Science and Technology Initiative Policy. DWR/CDKN Consultancy on the Integration of Climate Change: 7

8 Approach to integrate Climate Change in the National Science and Technology Initiative Policy of Malawi (Source: Malawi/NCSTI/CC DARE Project Report, 2010) 1. A core team of two experts was selected to review relevant national and international literature, protocols, treaties and conventions on environment and climate change and also review national legislations and regulations relevant to environment and climate change. 2. The Team was also tasked to contribute a chapter on Climate Change and Environment in the STI Policy, which will have strategies, implementation, monitoring and evaluation plans. 3. The Core Team produced a First Draft of science, technology and innovation policy by updating and changing the relevant chapters of the 2002 policy according to the literature and inputs from stakeholder consultations. 4. The first draft underwent a series of consultations. 5. Following the above consultation the Core Team produced a Second draft of the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy by fully incorporating comments of the national stakeholders into the first draft. 6. The second draft was presented to the policy makers, who comprised 15 senior government (Principal Secretaries) officials from the line Ministries of Government that are responsible for the implementation and monitoring of the nine MGDS priority areas. 7. The Policy makers comments were incorporated into the second draft to produce a final draft of the science, technology and innovation policy. The Policy Makers recommended that the naming of priority areas and the sequence be changed to reflect the most recent changes in the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) which is the overarching policy that defines government priorities within priorities that include climate change and the environment as a as one of the priorities. 8. MGDS. Furthermore, the statistics in the current situation analysis section of the policy should be updated. 9. These comments were incorporated and a final draft has been produced for submission to Cabinet for final approval. 10. After the Policy is approved, it is planned to sensitize the general public on the STI Policy. This is a planned activity for the National Commission for Science and Technology. The NCST will also champion the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all the activities in the STI Policy beyond the project activities. Stem 8: Development of the Climate change integrated Sub-National Development Frameworks (Plans, Policies and Strategies) Under this step of the process, mainstreaming climate change will continue with the development of climate change integrated development frameworks at the sectoral and local levels. The process involves the identification of an ENTRY POINT at each of the levels (see Figure 2 below) being considered. The entry points provide opportunities for the identification, integration and implementation of climate change policies, strategies and response (mitigation and adaptation) measures and investments specifically designed to enable and support mitigation and adaptation to climate change but which had not been envisaged in the initial sectoral and local level policies, plans and programmes. At each of the stages where mitigation and adaptation considerations could be incorporated, specific interventions are identified. DWR/CDKN Consultancy on the Integration of Climate Change: 8

9 Monitoring and Evaluation Budgeting and implementation Planning Policy formulation Interventions will generally take a very different form at different points in the cycle, since they apply to very different processes and at different authority/jurisdiction levels. In the following sections, integration of climate change at the various levels is discussed. National level At the national level, several types of initiatives can be undertaken to enable the integration of climate change risks and responses into development processes. As discussed in Steps 1 to 4, inclusiveness is key, and will involve the engagement of key stakeholders, improving the coordination with existing mechanisms for disaster risk reduction and the implementation of relevant multilateral and regional environmental agreements. The review and adjustment of relevant policies and regulations to reflect climate change risks, impacts and responses conducted in Step 3 will be useful in conducting this step. The information gathered on the implications of both the current and projected climate in the country will be able to inform policy- and decision-makers on the need for integration of climate change into national development frameworks. It will also assist middle-level managers in both the public and private sector to climate-proof most of the activities of their sectors in the medium and long terms. Application LEVELS OF MAINSTREAMING National Climate change mainstreaming Sector Climate change mainstreaming District Climate change mainstreaming Figure 2: Levels of Mainstreaming (Nelson et. al., 2010) DWR/CDKN Consultancy on the Integration of Climate Change: 9

10 Accordingly, priorities at the national level include: Improving the coverage and quality control of climate monitoring data. Commissioning national-level assessments of climate change impacts, vulnerabilities and adaptation options. This will lead to improved and more targeted information on how climate change affects specific national priorities and core government functions. Including considerations of climate change risks within long-term visions, poverty reduction and sustainable development strategies. Making a sound economic case for investing in mitigation and adaptation. Creation of a Climate Change Fund and facilitate financial allocation from both the Domestic Budget and development partners to ensure adequate resource allocation for the incorporation of mitigation and adaptation considerations in policies, plans and programmes. International donors have a key role to play in supporting the above actions to facilitate the integration of climate change and its responses (adaptation and mitigation) at the national level. They can support capacity building efforts to better monitor climate, as well as to assess future climate change impacts and adaptation priorities at the national level. In this context there is a need for awareness-raising about the risks posed by climate change within development partners. Development Partners can also work closely with Government in using high-level policy dialogues as a vehicle to raise the profile of mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to climate change. In addition to capacity development support, development partners can provide financial support by contributing to an existing Climate Change Fund for mitigation and adaptation. Sectoral ministries could tap from the Fund to meet the additional costs of integrating the needed mitigation and adaptation measures into their planned activities or investments. Sectoral level At the sector level, climate change can be integrated at several stages along the policy cycle. At the activity and investment planning stage, the intervention involves building in necessary adaptation-specific activities. At the resource allocation and programming stage, three interventions are suggested: (i) incorporating the mitigation and adaptation activities and projects identified during the planning stage; (ii) including climate change risks in the screening criteria used to assess project proposals before their inclusion into the investment programme; and (iii) making room in the National budget for mitigation and adaptation responses identified in the context of cross-sectoral plans, or claiming resources from an existing National Climate Change Fund for mitigation and adaptation. Finally, at the monitoring and evaluation stage, interventions to incorporate climate change challenges and responses consist of mobilising the necessary resources to strengthen monitoring and evaluation systems and capacities, and producing indicators to track performance against mitigation and adaptation. DWR/CDKN Consultancy on the Integration of Climate Change: 10

11 A number of priority actions are suggested: Conduct an assessment of the available sector-specific information on climate change impacts and vulnerabilities; Conduct awareness raising and public sensitizations among both sectoral planners and their counterparts within donor agencies of the implications of climate change on their specific areas of activity; In cases where sectoral regulations and other decision-making processes are based entirely on historical climate information, carry out more frequent updating of the climate observation and monitoring network and the climatic baseline; Enhance in-house capacity within sectoral ministries and donor agencies to better evaluate the implications of climate change for specific sectors; Collect better information on the costs and benefits of mitigation and adaptation actions so that planners and decision makers at various levels can factor such information into their budgeting systems and decision making on how to implement mitigation and adaptation related actions. The BOX below illustrates the approach take by Senegal to integrate Impacts of Climate Change Risks in the Planning and Programming Strategies of Senegal (Ministry of Finance and Planning). Integration des impacts du risque climat dans les documents de planification et de programmation strategique au Sénégal (Source: Sénégal/CCDARE Final Project Report, 2011) 1. Organisation d un atelier de sensibilisation des directions (plan/finances) au changement climatique avec l appui d experts (DEEC, ENDA, PNUD..), 2. Organisation d un atelier méthodologique (mise à disposition d outils méthodologique (ENDA) pour les spécialistes de la planification. 3. Recrutement d une équipe restreinte de consultants issus de la direction du plan pour : la revue des programmes cadres tel le DRSP ainsi que les programmes sectoriels, la préparation des ateliers de formation au niveau national et régional, 4. Visite de travail au niveau des projets et programmes intervenant dans le domaine du changement climatique. 5. Partage et appropriation des bonnes pratiques en matière de planification sensible aux risques climat (en collaboration avec les projets et programmes du ministère de l environnement). 6. Elaboration d un guide adapté d intégration du risque climatique au niveau de la planification, 7. Revue du programme et recommandations à l endroit des autorités (Direction Plan) 8. Atelier avec les parlementaires / Plaidoyer, information, sensibilisation/pour intégration du risque 9. Organisations de sessions de formations et de sensibilisation Groupe Administration Centrale (Direction de la Planification Nationale, Direction des Stratégies de Développement, Direction de planification des Ressources Humaines, Cellules de Planifications des MT, CSLCP) Groupe Administration Déconcentrée (Service Régional de Planification, Agences Régionales de Développement et DREEC) DWR/CDKN Consultancy on the Integration of Climate Change: 11

12 Most of the national and sectoral activities mentioned above will be implemented in the form of development projects. Depending on the interventions of the development project such as the function of the type of infrastructure it establishes, the activities it supports, and its geographical location, a development project may be directly or indirectly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and its implementation may also impact the climate. The project may also increase or decrease the vulnerability of recipient communities or systems to climate change. The expected lifetime of project activities is likely to be a critical factor determining the need to assess climate change vulnerability. For example, investment in long lived infrastructure (such as a dam or irrigation network), should consider the effect of future climate conditions on the viability of the project, since climate change impacts will most likely become relevant during its planned useful life. It is therefore critically important to climate-proof climate change projects during the conceptualization and design phases so as to avoid maladaptation. The project cycle, from conceptualization to implementation, can be used as a framework to integrate the assessment of climate risks and the identification, analysis and prioritisation of mitigation and adaptation options. To achieve climate-proofing the following recommendations and key priorities for action are suggested. Increase emphasis on testing, comparing and reconciling the diverse tools for climate risk assessment; Improve the availability and reliability of downscaled climate change projections and ensure that the uncertainties associated with various projections are communicated to project managers in transparent ways; Increase analytical work on methodologies for prioritising and costing of mitigation and adaptation measures; Evaluate systematically the effects and effectiveness of implemented mitigation and adaptation measures; Invest more in capacity development and piloting of initiatives that can help project managers as well as other relevant decision makers to better understand the implications of climate change on their projects and to be better equipped to incorporate mitigation and adaptation considerations within their decision frameworks. Based on effective corporation and collaboration with development partners involving sectorlevel budget support and sector-wide approaches, donor agencies can support many of the above actions. They can help mobilise the additional resources required to integrate the needed mitigation and adaptation measures in the context of sectoral strategies, plans and programmes. In addition, they can provide support for capacity development needed for activities including climate information gathering and monitoring at the sectoral level, development and application of sector-specific methodologies to identify, assess, cost and prioritise the needed mitigation and adaptation measures and investments and for the implementation of the different associated interventions. This implies supporting the development and application of sector-specific methodologies to identify, assess, cost and prioritise the needed mitigation and adaptation measures and investments. Finally, donor agencies can encourage and support the monitoring DWR/CDKN Consultancy on the Integration of Climate Change: 12

13 and evaluation of progress towards integrating climate change into sectoral strategies, plans and programmes. This includes providing financial and technical support for the implementation of reporting tools and indicators as well as performance assessment frameworks. Local level (Village, District, Local Government Area, etc) Under this section, local level is considered to cover grassroots level communities, village development, district and Local Government Areas. The level is important for mainstreaming climate change because: 1) Climate change impacts are manifested locally, affecting local livelihood activities, economic enterprises, health risks, etc.; 2) Vulnerability, mitigative and adaptive capacities are determined by local conditions; and 3) Mitigation and adaptation activities are often best observed at the local level. The successful integration of climate change into local level development policies and activities generally involves the processes of: 1) Understanding climate risks and selecting mitigation and adaptation options; 2) Formulating and implementing development policies conducive to mitigation and adaptation; 3) Broad and sustained engagement with and participation of local stakeholders, including local governments, academia, communities, civil society organizations (NGOs and CBOs) and businesses; 4) Greater awareness raising and targeted messaging on climate change, as local actors need to know why they might have to take different decisions or call on different or additional resources in shaping their livelihoods; 5) Gathering, dissemination and utilization of appropriate information needs to inform locallevel adaptation decisions; and 6) Reconciliation of responses to short-term climatic shocks and those called for by projected long-term climate change impacts. The following Four entry points are identified to facilitate the integration of climate change adaptation into local development planning processes: (i) consideration of the implications of climate change in development planning processes of local governments (village action plans and rural or district development plans, as well as city development plans or strategies); (ii) adjustment of local regulatory and service provision frameworks, to include provision of information based on likely local impacts of climate change; (iii) adjustment of local government accountability mechanisms; and (iv) engagement of private-sector and civil society organisations and processes, which can support mitigation and adaptation at the local level by internalising and institutionalising climate risk management into their own decision-making processes and operations. DWR/CDKN Consultancy on the Integration of Climate Change: 13

14 To facilitate the integration of climate change at the local level, the following priority actions need to be taken: 1) Collect information on climate change mitigation and adaptation and make it available; 2) Provide human, financial and technical resources and services to support local level mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change adaptation; 3) Provide social protection for the poorest and most vulnerable (women, children, the elderly and handicapped) categories of the population; 4) Ensure a supportive policy and institutional framework by devising policy incentives for risk management behaviour, reviewing or revising policies that increase climate-related vulnerabilities, strengthening the institutions needed to manage communication and decision-making processes; introducing, promoting and facilitating a greater measure of flexibility into the overall policy process, and establishing provisions for increased bottom-up feedback, and more regular reviews. The BOX below shows some of the steps taken by the CURE NGO to support the development of a climate change integrated Contingency Plan of the Karonga District Assembly in Malawi. Development of a Climate Change Integrated Contingency Development Plan for the Karonga District of Malawi (Sources: Malawi/CURE/CC DARE Project Report, 2010) The following series of capacity building workshops were conducted. Capacity building workshops on mainstreaming climate change in Area development Plans for all for Village Development Committees (VDCs) and Area Development Committees (ADCs); Capacity building workshops on mainstreaming climate change in District Assembly Plans for the Karonga District Assembly (DA); District and Area (traditional authority) level workshops to review Contingency and District Plans to incorporate climate change adaptation Two guiding tools used during the training on integrating climate change adaptation into development planning system are: o The Community-based Risk Screening Tool: Adaptation and Livelihoods (CRYSTAL), and o The Local Options for Communities to Adapt and Technologies to Enhance Capacity (LOCATE) A climate change integrated Contingency Plan for the Karonga District Assembly was developed for Karonga District Council by the Trained Assembly staff in order to assist in executing a rapid response to mitigate the negative impacts associated with floods, dry spells, strong winds and earthquakes in the wake of changing climate Development partners and international agencies can support the development of climate change mitigative and adaptive capacities within rural and urban settings in a number of ways. Depending on their policy priorities, mandates and capacities, different agencies may focus on one or several of the options provided. First, they could review sectoral priorities in light of climate change. In urban areas, this may mean drawing attention of partner governments to the urgent need to increase funding for infrastructure, as the deficits in urban infrastructure provision and maintenance are serious constraints to mitigative and adaptive capacities. In rural areas, this DWR/CDKN Consultancy on the Integration of Climate Change: 14

15 may mean a long-term increase in support for agriculture and rural development, as well as for sustainable land and water management. Second, they could explore different options for channelling funds and stakeholder engagement to build local mitigative and adaptive capacities (e.g. by supporting municipal infrastructure funds). Third, they could support decentralisation processes that transfer authority to elected local governments. Support for decentralisation should be coupled with efforts to enhance local government capacity to take up the responsibilities afforded by decentralisation. Finally, donors could increase support to civil society organisations. Because these organisations interface most directly with communities, they represent a key constituent in local-level mitigation and adaptation processes. Additional Reading Ghana/EPA/CCDARE Project Report on preparation of National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (see Malawi/NCSTI/CCDARE Project Report on integrating Climate Change in the National Science and Technology Initiative Policy of Malawi (see Malawi/CURE/CCDARE Project Report on integration of Climate Change in the Contingency Plan of the Karonga District Assembly of Malawi (see Integrating Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction into National Development, Policies and Planning in Ghana Nelson et. al., 2010, Senegal/Ministry of Finance and Planning/CCDARE Project Report on integrating climate change in the planning processes of Senegal, 2011 (see DWR/CDKN Consultancy on the Integration of Climate Change: 15