Courses

• Understanding risk as a function of hazard, exposure, and vulnerability (conceptual framework).
• Identifying who and what is at risk: people, infrastructure, livelihoods, ecosystems.
• Climate impacts on key sectors at an introductory level (e.g. agriculture, water, health, cities, coastal zones).
• Social dimensions of vulnerability: poverty, gender, age, livelihood type, and access to resources (conceptual).
• Basic tools and approaches for local climate risk and vulnerability assessment, using participatory and qualitative methods.

Sector-focused adaptation examples at a conceptual and practical level:

• Agriculture & food security (e.g. cropping adjustments, water management concepts).
• Water resources (e.g. storage, efficiency measures, demand management awareness).
• Urban and infrastructure adaptation (e.g. drainage, shading, planning considerations).
• Health and social services (e.g. heatwave awareness, vector changes, vulnerable groups).
• Community-based adaptation (CBA): principles of participation, local knowledge, and ownership.
• Working with communities to identify climate-related problems and explore locally appropriate options.
• Understanding limits of adaptation and the importance of managing expectations.

• The role of ecosystems and biodiversity in supporting resilience (e.g. wetlands, forests, coastal ecosystems) at an overview level.
• Concepts of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) and nature-based solutions at a conceptual level.
• Examples: using vegetation for slope stability, wetlands for flood mitigation, urban green spaces for cooling.
• Balancing human use and ecosystem protection when considering adaptation options.
• Integrating ecosystem considerations into adaptation planning and decision-making.

• Introduction to policy and institutional frameworks relevant to adaptation at local, national, or sector level (high-level awareness).
• Roles of government, civil society, private sector, and communities in adaptation governance.
• Awareness of funding sources and support mechanisms for adaptation (conceptual – not financial product training).
• Basic principles of adaptation project design: objectives, activities, stakeholders, timelines, risks, and simple budgets at a vocational level.
• Mainstreaming adaptation: integrating climate considerations into existing plans, programmes, and organisational strategies.

• The importance of monitoring and learning in adaptation, given uncertainty and evolving conditions.
• Simple indicators and qualitative tools to track adaptation activities and outcomes (introductory).
• Capturing lessons learned and adjusting plans based on experience.
• Communicating climate risks and adaptation actions to different audiences (communities, managers, partners) in accessible language.
• Personal and organisational learning: building a culture of continuous improvement and reflection in adaptation work.