Climate Change
In the 21st century, climate change adaptation and mitigation has become a vital component of
any sustainability-related endeavor. Whether undertaking vulnerability-related assessments,
supporting the implementation of disaster risk reduction measures, or providing guidance on
policy and regulatory frameworks. SSIC consultants bring on-ground experience
and a holistic perspective to the work.
Reviewing the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) Project, ‘Reducing Climate Vulnerability of Coastal Communities of Myanmar through an Ecosystem-based Approach’ against the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) Engagement Principles following the military takeover of the civilian government on 01 February 2021, to ensure that programming benefits accrue primarily and directly to the people or local communities without discrimination.
Providing specialist and team leader support to the National Committee for the Sub-National Democratic Development Secretariat (NCCDS) developing the Green Climate Fund supported project ‘Climate-sensitive agroecology: transitioning Battambang to an agroecological landscape’.
Undertaking formative research into the attitudes, behaviours and social norms that drive practices around plastic use and disposal, in recognition of the growing environmental impacts of plastic consumption. The findings will be used to inform Mercy Corps’ social behavioural change strategy connected to its work on creating a circular economy for plastics and reducing the negative impacts that are exacerbated by climate change.
Developing project documents for a REDD project on peatlands under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), including design and implementation of a peat depth assessment, and calculation and analysis of emission reduction from the project.
Providing advisory support to the implementation of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) for Climate Change in Papua New Guinea.
Providing technical advice, research support and assistance to ISF-UTS and WaterAid Timor-Leste team in conducting climate change vulnerability and capacity assessments for gender and socially inclusive WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) program in Likisa Municipality, Timor-Leste. Assisting in facilitating community-based learning activities, recording findings and learnings, interpreting and translating results.
Supporting the reflection of learning activities and developing guidance for WaterAid Timor-Leste team on how to better integrate considerations of climate change into their gender and socially inclusive WASH programming.
Providing Design Specialist support and leading the team for the project formulation of the GEF-led project ‘Reducing Climate Vulnerability of Coastal Communities of Myanmar through an Ecosystem-based Approach’ in the Rakhine State of Myanmar. For this project, a broad ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) approach will be adopted to restore and strengthen ecosystem functionality focused on the rehabilitation, management and protection of the mangrove ecosystems as an integral element of climate adaptation and disaster resilience of the Rakhine coast.
Supporting clients of the Green Infrastructure Center, Inc. (GIC) to identify strategies to protect and enhance natural assets and recommending land plans and policies to conserve the most critical resources. GIC was formed in 2006 to help local governments, communities, and regional planning organizations, land trusts and developers evaluate their green infrastructure assets and make plans to conserve them. Support includes provision of a suite of tools – economic analysis, mapping, land use planning and asset assessment – needed by communities to protect and restore their natural assets. Staff teams help localities inventory their assets and create strategies for their conservation or restoration, at the regional and local scale, in rural, suburban and urban environments.
Undertaking a landscape assessment of climate change-related funding and partnership opportunities relevant to sexual health and reproductive rights in the Asia Pacific region. This involved assessing all major bilateral, multilateral and philanthropic donors known to be investing in climate change adaptation and examining their strategies in relation to public health, community development and gender responsiveness. Assignment resulted in the development of new strategies to engage partners working in CC adaptation in East Timor and Papua New Guinea, and investment in pilots to demonstrate the potential for enhanced family planning as an adaptation response.
Providing consultancy support to Oxfam and the START Consortium partners for developing preparation and response activities and mechanisms for the prolonged El Nino-induced drought in Timor-Leste. Supporting INGO advocacy around the development of appropriate and practical Early Warning Systems (EWS) for slow-onset disasters such as drought. Developing recommendations for the START Fund Network members (Oxfam, World Vision, CARE International, Plan International, Mercy Corps, CRS and Caritas) on data collection approaches and indicators to inform START Fund Consortium activities.
Undertaking an evaluation of the ‘Building the Resiliency of Indigenous Communities on Climate Change Adaptation’ (BRICCCA) project, which aims to strengthen the capacities of indigenous communities and their organizations in the face of climate change and enhance their resilience. Assignment included assessing the project’s achievements, identifying gaps, strengths and weaknesses in the project implementation and providing recommendations for future programming. The project was implemented by three of AIPP’s network members: NGO-FONIN in Nepal, NIPT/IMPECT in Thailand and CorDisRDS in the Philippines.
Conducting data analysis and supporting technical report writing for an REDD+ project PD on peatlands in Sumatra.
Conducting the data analysis for a REDD+ a feasibility study project on peatlands in Sumatra.
Facilitating innovative permaculture trial operations that promote both climate resilience of coral reef systems and seaweed aquaculture opportunities for local communities.
Supporting the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Thailand and the Thai Royal Irrigation Department (RID) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC) jointly in developing the initiative ‘Enhancing climate resilience in Thailand through effective water management and sustainable agriculture’– aimed to improve water management and climate resilience in parts of Thailand. This assignment formulated and supported the full design and feasibility development.
Supporting the design, development and implementation of the 2016 Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) Regional Exchange (REX) under the CCA Technical Working Group (TWG) of the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI), focused on the development of a ‘Center of Excellence’ in the Coral Triangle (inter-governmental meeting for: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste). Assignment under the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat.
Providing overall management and technical co-ordination for implementation of climate vulnerability assessments and pilot adaptation projects in partnership with WWF coastal & marine programmes in three countries. Included: baseline studies; community vulnerability assessments; downscale climate modeling (in association with University of Cape Town); stakeholder-based vulnerability assessment and implementation of pilot adaptation projects.
Conducting the data analysis for a REDD+ a feasibility study project on peatlands in Kalimantan.
Supporting the Government of Timor-Leste in building resilience to climate change. Project and programming in developing projects of over US$22 million in (GEF, GCF, LDCF) funding. Proposing, developing and implementing projects that include: ‘Building shoreline resilience of Timor-Leste to protect local communities and their livelihoods’; the Initial and Second National Communications to the UNFCCC for Timor-Leste; ‘Developing capacities for an iterative National Adaptation Planning process for climate resilient development’; ‘Promoting sustainable bio-energy production from Biomass’, and ‘Building ecosystem-based resilience of Timor-Leste through protected areas’; supporting the development of the National Centre of Climate Change and Biodiversity and various climate resilience working groups.
Providing support to the Timor-Leste Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment’s National Directorate for International Environmental Issues and Climate Change, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment, in preparedness and access to the Green Climate Fund; and facilitating Cross-cutting Capacity Building (CCCB) for the Directorate.
The evaluation of this Community Based Climate Change Adaptation program explored the progress of pilot community planning processes and implementation of preparedness and mitigation activities implemented by partner communities. The evaluation made use of quantitative and qualitative tools designed by the consultant to assess Development Assistance Criteria (DAC) of Relevance, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Impact and Sustainability of the interventions.
In response to Typhoon Haiyan Mercy Corps launched in January 2014 ‘TabangKO’ in partnership with BPI Globe BanKO and MICRA. Assignment analyzed collected data and undertook participatory research with stakeholders to generate evidence on how humanitarian response, in this case mobile cash transfers and financial products and services, can be delivered in a way that enhances economic recovery and builds resilience to future disasters beyond the immediate impacts of delivering conventional cash transfers.
USAID Indonesia’s technical assistance supports the development and implementation of environmental policies, laws, and regulations for natural resource protection and sustainable management. USAID Indonesia works with the Government of Indonesia (GoI) to assist vulnerable areas of Indonesia to become more resilient to the effects of climate change. This assignment assessed climate change vulnerability assessment (VA) processes’ effectiveness in leading to local investments in risk management and identifying key lessons learned, best practices and opportunities to inform future climate change adaptation programming for Indonesia.
Impact assessment covered the period of 2001 – 2014 and reviewed all coastal resource management projects supported by Lutheran World Relief (Philippines) in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur implemented through this period. The assessment included a household survey and qualitative data gathering to document achievements and lessons learned in the areas of: women empowerment, enterprise development, coastal resource management, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and to a lesser extent emergency responses.
Research and coordination for the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Knowledge Platform for Asia (AKP)/Asia-Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN) – supporting research and facilitating climate change adaptation (CCA), disaster risk reduction/management and resilience policy and interventions at the local, national and regional levels, by strengthening adaptive capacity in the region, as well as developing research projects, publishing policy documents and research publications and proposals, workshops/conferences on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. Research and coordination work for the Sustainable Mekong Research Network (SUMERNET), which informs and influences policy on sustainable development issues in the Mekong region.
Building awareness of Climate Change and incorporating associated natural resource management concerns at organizational and community levels into project activities in western Flores, through: establishing climate context review methodologies with project staff; development of educational materials; socialization of climate change science to environmental groups and broader communities; and participatory assessment of climate change risks, hazards and adaptation approaches.
Clients:
- Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP)
- Birdlife (Burung) Indonesia
- Climate Foundation (CF)
- Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) Regional Secretariat (RS)
- Forest Carbon
- Green Infrastructure Center (GIC)
- Lutheran World Relief (LWR)
- Marie Stopes International
- Mercy Corps
- Mercy Corps Timor-Leste
- Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment, Government of Timor-Leste
- Oxfam Australia
- Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) Asia
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- University of Technology, Sydney (UTS)
- UNDP Myanmar
- USAID Asia Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Project Preparation Facility (ADAPT Asia-Pacific) – AECOM
- USAID Indonesia
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF)