In an era defined by unpredictable weather patterns and a global push for sustainability, understanding and mitigating climate-related risks is no longer an optional add-on for development projects, but a critical necessity. This training course is designed to empower M&E and project professionals to conduct thorough climate risk evaluations, transforming a potential threat into a strategic advantage. By systematically identifying, assessing, and addressing the physical and transition risks associated with climate change, participants will learn how to build projects that are not only resilient to future shocks but also aligned with a low-carbon, sustainable future.

This comprehensive program provides a practical, hands-on roadmap for integrating climate risk considerations into every stage of the project cycle. Participants will gain skills in using qualitative and quantitative methods to assess climate vulnerability, applying scenario analysis to forecast potential impacts, and developing robust adaptation and mitigation strategies. The course is a strategic investment for organizations aiming to enhance the credibility and long-term sustainability of their interventions, ensuring that their work is both a force for positive change and a safeguard against climate-related threats.

Duration: 10 days

Target Audience:

• M&E Specialists
• Program and Project Managers
• Disaster Risk Reduction Practitioners
• Urban Planners
• Researchers
• Government Officials
• Financial Analysts
• Environmental Scientists
• Community Development Workers
• Consultants

Objectives:

• Understand the core concepts of climate risk: physical, transition, and liability.
• Master the process of conducting a climate risk screening and assessment.
• Learn how to use qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate climate risks.
• Develop a framework for integrating climate risk into the project cycle.
• Build a more resilient project by identifying and selecting appropriate adaptation measures.
• Communicate climate-related risks and opportunities to stakeholders.
• Ensure ethical considerations and stakeholder participation in the process.
• Foster a culture of climate-aware, proactive project management.
• Apply climate risk evaluation to a wide range of sectors and contexts.
• Enhance the long-term sustainability and credibility of projects.

Course Modules:

Module 1: Introduction to Climate Risk

• The scientific basis of climate change and its impacts
• Defining physical, transition, and liability risks
• The business case for climate risk evaluation
• Key global frameworks and their relevance to projects
• An overview of the climate risk evaluation workflow

Module 2: Foundational Concepts of Risk Assessment

• Understanding hazard, exposure, and vulnerability
• The difference between risk and uncertainty
• The role of a program's theory of change in risk assessment
• Identifying the scope and boundaries of the evaluation
• The importance of a clear and testable hypothesis

Module 3: Step 1: Climate Risk Screening

• The purpose and methodology of a high-level screening
• Using a checklist to identify potential climate risks
• The importance of a "do no harm" approach
• The role of early-stage screening in project design
• Case studies on effective climate risk screening

Module 4: Step 2: Qualitative Risk Assessment

• The importance of a participatory approach
• Using a "vulnerability and capacity assessment" (VCA)
• The role of stakeholder interviews and focus groups
• Developing a risk matrix to prioritize risks
• Practical labs on conducting a qualitative assessment

Module 5: Step 3: Quantitative Risk Assessment

• The use of climate models and projections
• An introduction to probabilistic risk analysis
• The role of data from satellite imagery and remote sensing
• Measuring the financial and operational impact of risks
• Practical labs on quantitative risk assessment

Module 6: Scenario Analysis and Forecasting

• Understanding the purpose of scenario planning
• Creating plausible and relevant climate scenarios
• The role of different climate pathways (e.g., RCPs, SSPs)
• Using scenarios to test the resilience of a project
• Communicating scenario findings to non-technical audiences

Module 7: Mainstreaming Climate Risk into the Project Cycle

• Integrating climate risk into project design and planning
• The role of risk evaluation in project implementation
• Using monitoring data for continuous risk management
• The importance of a clear and transparent reporting system
• Case studies on successful integration

Module 8: Identifying and Selecting Adaptation Measures

• The difference between adaptation and mitigation
• The importance of a "no-regrets" approach
• A review of key adaptation measures
• The role of cost-benefit analysis in selecting measures
• Building a project that is resilient to future shocks

Module 9: Mainstreaming Climate Mitigation

• Understanding a project's carbon footprint
• The importance of a greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory
• The role of mitigation in reducing transition risks
• The use of carbon pricing and other economic instruments
• Case studies on mitigation in practice

Module 10: Governance and Ethical Considerations

• The importance of a clear governance framework
• The role of an ethical review process
• Ensuring stakeholder participation and equity
• The importance of a clear data management plan
• Navigating the complex world of climate finance

Module 11: M&E for Climate-Resilient Projects

• The importance of a clear M&E framework
• Selecting and measuring key resilience indicators
• The role of a "resilience scorecard"
• Using real-time monitoring to inform adaptive management
• Case studies on M&E for climate resilience

Module 12: Sector-Specific Applications

• Climate risk in agriculture and food security
• Climate risk in urban development and infrastructure
• Climate risk in water resources management
• Climate risk in public health
• Climate risk in humanitarian assistance

Module 13: CBM and Climate Risk

• The potential of community-based climate risk assessment
• Training community members as climate monitors
• The importance of a participatory approach
• The role of CBM in building local resilience
• The long-term benefits of a community-led system

Module 14: Practical Application and Simulation

• A hands-on simulation of a real-world project
• Participants work in teams to design a risk evaluation
• Troubleshooting common challenges in data collection
• Analyzing and interpreting a set of climate data
• Peer review and feedback sessions on the process

Module 15: The Future of Climate Risk

• The role of AI and machine learning in automated analysis
• The potential of new data sources (e.g., IoT, social media)
• The rise of complexity-aware M&E
• The long-term implications for the sector
• Anticipating the next wave of climate-related challenges

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.