The second IMI CLIMTRAIN Workshop, “Climate Change Adaptation and Rural Development: Options and Instruments for IFAD”, focused on:
- Options for climate change adaptation in the agricultural sector; and
- Instruments for engaging IFAD in adaptation-related work at the operational level.
Attention has been given to community-based adaptation, providing concrete examples of local coping strategies, including from the experiences of other UN agencies. The role of micro-insurance and disaster risk management for adaptation has also been discussed.
Planning for adaptation discussed the role of the National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs) to identify priority areas of intervention for CC adaptation.
Participants received initial training in the use of CRISTAL: Community-based Risk Screening Tool – Adaptation and Livelihoods.
This tool allows for assessing the impact of climate change on local livelihoods and assists project managers in making project adjustments to take into account vulnerability to climate change.
The workshop has also discussed possible instruments to engage IFAD in adaptation-related activities. These include mechanisms at the level of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, such as the Nairobi Work Programme on impact, vulnerability and adaptation, and existing internal tools such as the IFAD Environmental and Social Assessment (ESA) procedures.
The workshop has been facilitated by resource persons from the World Food Programme (WFP), the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the Stockholm Environment Institution in collaboration with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Ambiente Italia.
The workshop has been articulated around four sessions.
- Working with rural people to respond to climate change
- Adaptation in action: what are the options?
- Adaptation planning and practices
- Engaging IFAD in climate change adaptation-related work
