Developing a capacity development package on climate change adaptation for selected target groups in Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh

The Global Climate Risk Index 2020 ranks India as the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change. It is particularly vulnerable to extreme heat and changing rainfall patterns affecting the availability of water resources. The Indian government has addressed this with incentivization (e.g. through the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) 2015 and the State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs) 2019)) and the equal increase in adaptation projects. In this context the Indian government is now looking into further building capacities on the local level for more gender responsive participatory adaptation planning to meet the needs of local communities, especially most vulnerable groups including women.

To help reduce the risks of climate change for vulnerable groups, the Indian Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) initiated the Climate Adaptation and Finance in Rural India (CAFRI) programme with GIZ. Within the framework of this programme, adelphi was commissioned by GIZ to develop a capacity development package (CDP) to integrate climate change adaptation into local planning processes. The CDP had two main objectives: Awareness raising and training of selected target groups through participatory, needs-based and gender-sensitive approaches to evidence-based adaptation planning, financing and implementation, as well as engagement with local administration and line departments to leverage government support. The project activities specifically looked at the needs of two main target groups in the two Indian states Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh: PRI members and local women's organisations (Mahila Mandals) including women's self-help groups.

As the international project lead, adelphi played a major role in all stages of the development of the CDP. With the support of local organisations (CTRAN Consulting and Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group- GEAG), adelphi conducted a situation and needs analysis of selected target groups as well as line departments in key sectors in the form of interviews and field visits. This was to ensure that the CDP supports local adaptation needs in the best possible way. Building on existing trainings and identified gaps and needs, the CDP, including a Toolkit, was co-developed with key stakeholders. In this process, the project benefited from adelphi's long-standing expertise in toolification – an innovative approach that lays the foundation for participatory training by guiding participants step by step through interactive methods. In addition to a modular toolkit, the CDP provides trainer manuals for individual training sessions including standard operating procedures for participating institutions as well as presentation slides, handouts and an implementation plan. adelphi was also responsible for strategic and technical project planning and impact monitoring during the project duration.