CARE AUSTRALIA RESILIENCE INTEGRATION MARKER

Detailed Guidance for the application of the CARE Australia Integration Marker: environment, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and other shocks and stresses

These are potential considerations that could be made to strengthen the integration of environment, climate change adaptation (CCA), disaster risk reduction (DRR) and other shocks and stresses[1]into the key elements of a project design to better understand how the project can contribute to reduced vulnerability, increased capacity, and increased resilience. This could be considered as a menu of options that can be applied and amended based on country and project-specific needs in consultation with advisors at CARE Australia. These can also be used to develop feedback on a project design. This additional guidance is grouped under:

  1. Analysis
  2. Design Objectives / outcomes
  3. Design Activities / Outputs
  4. Monitoring and Evaluation
  5. Risk Matrix
  6. Environment

Design section / content / Questions for consideration
1. Analysis
Shocks and stresses /
  • Have past, present and projected future natural and man-made shocks and stresses been identified for the targeted area? This includes but is not limited: to weather related shocks and stresses from climate variability and climate change; disaster risks from climate and non-climate hazards and other shocks and stresses[2].
  • Have the effects of these shocks and stresses (on assets, resources, and facilities that community members’ wellbeing and livelihoods depend) been analysed and existing coping strategies reviewed for sustainability under future conditions?
  • Have political conditions and socio economic issues been included? (e.g. poor protection under the law, unsafe working conditions, lack of continuity of employment, inadequate compensation for workers that are victims of workplace hazards, marginalization/persecution, insecure land tenure)
  • Is there future risk of any of these shocks and stresses increasing due to migration, population growth, land degradation and poor natural resource management etc?

Vulnerabilities and impact groups /
  • Have the different vulnerabilities and capacities of livelihood groups and different socio-economic groups (women, men, elderly, PWD, ethnic minorities, children, socially marginalized) been analysed?
  • Has there been consideration of how these different groups currently deal with these shocks and stresses (identified above)? How effective and sustainable their coping methods are?
  • Has knowledge, attitudes, practices, roles and responsibilities of women and men with regards to these shocks and stresses been determined?
  • Have dynamic and root causes of vulnerability been identified?
  • Do target stakeholders have a voice in local, district and national decision making; critical livelihood resources; and equal access to infrastructure and services?
  • Are measures in place to provide women and men with relevant information about climate, hazards, etc in order for them to make informed decisions?
  • Are there existing conflicts that impede action to adapt to and prepare for shocks and stresses?

Policy environment /
  • What policies and institutions exist at the national and subnational level to support action to address climate change, disaster risk and other shocks and stresses? How strong are linkages between national, district and local levels?
  • What are the obstacles and gaps for government and non-government organizations implementing action to address climate change, disaster risk and other shocks and stresses? What is the capacity of government and civil society organizations in the target area to address climate change, disaster risk and other shocks and stresses? What is their capacity to respond to gendered capacity and needs?
  • What organizations may be potential partners and opponents in project activities? Are appropriate partners engaged in the project in some?
  • Are there any private sector activities that present opportunities or obstacles for action to address climate change, disaster risk and other shocks and stresses?

Livelihoods /
  • What is the existing capacity of target population’s livelihoods to cope and thrive despite shocks and stresses? (including knowledge, skills, organizations and networks, physical and economic assets) and how these might be developed to build resilience?
  • Are livelihoods diverse? Do they include non weather dependent activities?
  • Are livelihoods exposed to these shocks and stresses? (Consider land and natural resources, equipment and infrastructure, transport and access, water supply and storage etc PLUS as identified above: poor protection under the law, unsafe working conditions, lack of continuity of employment, inadequate compensation for workers that are victims of workplace hazards, marginalization/persecution, insecure land tenure.

2. Design: Objectives and Outcomes
Shocks and stresses /
  • Do the objectives respond to identified needs for adaptation and / or response to climate change, disaster risk reduction and other shocks and hazards?
  • Do objectives include reduced vulnerability, increased capacity, and increased resilience? Is there adequate detail included about what these mean for the project?

Vulnerabilities and impact groups /
  • Do the objectives to address climate change, disaster risks and other shocks and hazards that take into consideration the needs and capacities of women, men and other groups?
  • Do the objectives address the underlying causes of vulnerability to hazards and impacts of CC, including poverty, gender and marginalization?

Policy environment /
  • Do the objectives seek to influence local plans and policies to support climate change, disaster risk and other shocks and stresses?
  • Do the objectives strengthen governance and services that are important to adaptation and disaster risk reduction, such as financial and social protection?

Livelihoods /
  • Do the objectives include diversified and more resilience livelihoods, particularly for most vulnerable people?

3. Design Activities / Outputs
Shocks and stresses /
  • Has further assessment of vulnerabilities and capacities been included in activities? (CVCA, HVCA, Beneficiary Section)
  • Will community based plans be developed that address CCA DRR and/or other shocks and stresses? Are there actions to develop capacity of local institutions to integrate CCA and DRR into government planning processes?
  • Is there reference to functional early warning systems or their establishment?
  • Will hazard mapping, and disaster management plans be developed by communities in partnership with local stakeholders?
  • Are actions included to protect key assets such as shelter and water resources from shocks and stresses?
  • Are there action to strengthen services that are important to adaptation and disaster risk reduction, such as financial and social protection?

Vulnerabilities and impact groups /
  • Do activities promote participation of communities, particularly vulnerable groups, in local governance?
  • Do activities address challenges faced by marginalized groups in securing their livelihoods, and taking action to adapt to and respond to climate change, DRR and other shocks and stresses
  • Are issues of access to and control over resources addressed?
  • Do activities seek to resolve current or future resource based conflict?

Policy environment /
  • Do activities encourage local, regional, and national decision makers to consider CCA and DRR? (Stakeholder analysis)
  • Do project activities include advocacy for appropriate polices, adaptation and DRR?
  • Are there actions to develop capacity of local institutions to monitor, analyse and disseminate information on current and future risks and to respond to climate events and disasters?

Livelihoods /
  • Do activities address diversifying and strengthening livelihoods of targeted stakeholders? (e.g. sustainable livelihoods, diversification, efficient use of available resources, access to services, access to climate and disaster risk information for risk analysis and planning)

4. Monitoring and Evaluation
  • Have appropriate indicators been developed to measure progress made in addressing the underlying causes of vulnerability to shocks and stresses?
  • Have indicators been identified for sector specific issues?
  • Will monitoring systems be established to track changes in shocks, stresses and contributing factors such as environmental degradation and migration? Will project delivery be modified as needed?
  • Is there a clear strategy for building knowledge of staff, partners, and target stakeholders on climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and other shocks and stresses
  • Are learnings to be captured and shared with other communities, organizations and government?

5. Risk Matrix
  • Are specific shocks and stresses identified as a risk to project success? To particular groups?
  • Are elements that may increase shocks and stresses and their negative effects on society, communities, women and men identified? (eg environmental degradation, migration etc)
  • Does the design consider an approach to minimize negative effects on society, community, women and men? Is there a strategy to deal with residual risks?
  • Is appropriate risk monitoring in place for risks, including triggers for responding to slow and rapid onset hazards?
  • Do risk mitigation strategies include integration of disaster risk reduction strategies?

6. Environment
  • Is the information in this section appropriate or should it be included elsewhere?
  • Are potential environmental impacts identified?
  • Is there a strategy proposed to manage any impacts?
  • Is the strategy justified appropriately? What assumptions are made? Are these valid? Is there a monitoring strategy needed?
  • Does the design explain how it will meet the guidance in the current DFAT Environmental Management Guide or appropriate donor material?

[1]These include issues such as manmade hazards (industrial accidents, pollution), economic crises, and conflict, or stressors that may arise due to poor protection under the law (unsafe working conditions, lack of continuity of employment/compensation for workers, violence, marginalization/persecution, insecure land tenure), or political uncertainty.

[2]Includes issues such as manmade hazards (industrial accidents, pollution), economic crises, and conflict. Also includes poor protection under the law, unsafe working conditions, lack of continuity of employment, poor compensation for workers, violence, persecution, insecure land tenure, or political uncertainty