Climate change threatens ecosystems as well as their services and endangers human development worldwide. The ultimate goal of mainstreaming ecosystem-based approaches is establishing EbA (and Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk reduction, Eco-DRR) as standard development practices in order to avoid and manage current and future climate risk. This means “doing things differently in the face of climate change” and requires integrating ecosystem-based adaptation and risk reduction into development decisions at all levels and in all areas at risk.
To learn more about EbA and its mainstreaming, the EbA e-learning course is now available on edX. Additionally, the EbA Mainstreaming Cycle shown below provides further insights into EbA mainstreaming.
Based on its operational experience worldwide in promoting (ecosystem-based) adaptation, GIZ’s framework for mainstreaming EbA employs an iterative six-step approach (known as the adaptation mainstreaming cycle, see diagram below). It includes the elements of mainstreaming and provides tools and methods that can be utilized at each step. This guidance is in line with the Voluntary guidelines for the design and effective implementation of ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction developed upon request by the CBD Conference of the Parties (COP) in its decision XIII/4. GIZ contributed to the development of the guidelines.
The adaptation mainstreaming cycle (GIZ 2019, adapted from CBD 2019)
Step 1: The use of a climate and ecosystem lens can help to define the context of EbA mainstreaming such as the problem definition (e.g. lack of water), identifying the system of interest (e.g. a watershed, sector or policy), and understanding the interconnections between human and natural systems.
Step 2: A vulnerability or climate risk assessment provides the basis for adaptation planning. The assessments should be conducted in an inclusive way considering local sources of knowledge and inter-linkages between social, ecological and economic systems should be considered. GIZ’s Risk Assessment Guidebook provides guidance for such assessments.
Steps 3&4: Informed by the climate risk assessment, the identification and selection of suitable EbA measures can be based on potential effectiveness, co-benefits, stakeholder buy-in, feasibility and other criteria. Instruments that support this process are cost-benefit and multi-criteria analysis which should be conducted in a participatory manner.
Step 5: The implementation requires robust planning, for example based on a theory of change, and engagement of suitable personnel. Coordination mechanisms with government partners and other actors need to be established.
Step 6: A monitoring and evaluation system needs to be designed based on four key considerations, namely the M&E purpose, the intended information and target audience and the available resources. A guidance manual on the design of M&E systems for EbA measures has been co-developed by GIZ.