Event

Background

Needs assessments and gap analysis in adaptation to climate change identify the priority sectors in Central Asia where urgent adaptation actions are necessary, which are water, agriculture and natural disasters. At the same time it was found that it is challenging to do an effective planning of further adaptation activities since there is a lack of comprehensive evaluation of ongoing and implemented adaptation projects. Therefore, the assessments reports and a series of consultations highlight the need in improving the capacity in project and programme evaluation methods.

Although in Central Asia there is a number of stakeholders conducting trainings related to adaptation (e.g. UNDP trainings on risk management, CAMP Alatoo on capacity building programme development, etc.), a small number of capacity building activities were conducted on assessment and evaluation tools. Moreover, the outcome of APAN consultation meeting in Turkmenistan in September 2011 suggests the relevance of such trainings for targeted subject matter specialists or technical experts in different sectors, as well as policy-makers.

Therefore CAREC, which since 2010 is a sub-regional node (SRN) of APAN, has conducted the first such a training for policy-makers and practitioners specifically targeted at evaluation methods in adaptation to climate change.

Overall training goal

To improve knowledge and skills of the key stakeholders – decision 
makers and practitioners – on evaluation methods in adaptation to climate change.

Participants

18 representatives of:

• UNDP country offices in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan;
• Ministries and departments of environmental protection, agriculture, and emergency situations;
• Non-governmental organizations, scientific institutions, farmers support agencies.

Coordinator of the Regional Hub for Asia-Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN), Dr. Puja Sawhney, also contributed to the training with the presentation and comments during the discussion sessions.

CAREC experts involved: Talaibek Makeyev, Mariya Genina, Ekaterina Strikeleva

External facilitators: Galiya Khamitova, Dina Abaydildinova – “Step&Grow” training agency.

Training components

• An overview of the conclusions and recommendations of CAREC publications within APAN (such as technology needs assessment, inventory of good adaptation practices on adaptation in Central Asia);
• Overview of international experience on adaptation assessment and evaluation methods including a separate presentation of APAN study on the available frameworks, methods and tools for assessing climate impacts, vulnerability and adaptive capacity, and their applicability in Asia-Pacific region;
• Clarification of the adaptation terminology;
• The review of priorities and measures in adaptation to climate change in each of the five Central Asian countries;
• Facilitation sessions with the use of the British technology Pinpoint ™.

Training results

• Improved understanding of the priority needs and practices on adaptation to climate change in Central Asia;
• Acquired and/or improved knowledge on evaluation methods in adaptation to climate change, and discussed the most applicable assessment methodologies for the region;
• Strengthened the practical skills to select and apply the appropriate evaluation methodology of existing adaptation practices;
• Positive feedback from participants was received after the training, especially emphasizing the relevance of the topics discussed, high quality presentations, as well as high level of participants’ involvement during the practical sessions.
• The training was covered by the regional media http://www.ekois.net/wp/?p=9934

Evaluation methodologies examined

• Economic efficiency: Cost-Benefit Analysis, Cost Effectiveness Analysis;
• Effectiveness: Real-Option Analysis, Multi-Criteria Analysis; and
• Participatory: ADAPT approach, Collective video; Vulnerability Reduction Assessment.

Recommended training topics

Based on the training evaluations from the participants and organizers, the recommendations for the future training topics are the following:

1. Development and implementation of NAPA;
2. Public awareness skills;
3. Innovative approaches in the field of adaptation;
4. The specific adaptation practices and technologies, including especially the water saving technologies;
5. Climate change impacts in general with an emphasize on agriculture;
6. Adaptation in the municipal housing sector; and
7. The legal, fiscal, financial support for adaptation practices.

Conclusions and future steps

During the training it was revealed that very few participants have had an earlier experience in project/programs evaluation. At the same time the overall interest and demand in this knowledge and skills has been expressed. Especially, the observation shows that the most urgent need is in the literature and practical manuals on different evaluation tools available to use in the adaptation sector. It was noted that the guidance document was been developed within the Asia-Pacific Adaptation Network “Review of assessment frameworks, methods and tools for climate impacts, vulnerability, adaptive capacity and decision support”, which could be translated into Russian and distributed among Central Asian stakeholders in the future.

The future steps will include:

1. Conduct further research on the needs and the assessment tools available in the sector of adaptation to climate change;
2. Translate the available Review of APAN mentioned above into Russian language and distribute it widely in Central Asia;
3. Improve the training module of the training conducted and extend the number and improve the quality of evaluation methods and cases presented.
4. Develop other training modules in the field of adaptation to climate change to respond to the growing demand of capacity building in various aspects of adaption from the local stakeholders;
5. Develop at least one additional project proposal by the end of 2012 to address the capacity building aspect of adaptation to climate change in the region.