5 December 2014: In 2015, the Global Programme of Research on Climate Change Vulnerability, Impacts and Adaptation (PROVIA) will launch an electronic tool (e-tool) to accompany its ‘Guidance on Assessing Vulnerability, Impacts and Adaptation to Climate Change.’ During the Lima Climate Change Conference, the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), which developed the Guidance and the e-tool, held consultations with potential users of the tool to garner feedback in the lead-up to its launch.

Representatives from developing countries and international organizations that participated in the hands-on consultations tested a prototype of the e-tool on 5 December. The first session focused on national planners, with participants from the Gambia and Benin, who used case studies of national planning in the Gambia and agriculture in Benin to experiment with the e-tool. A second session was geared toward funding agencies.

In addition to positive feedback on the user interface, participants provided insights on how the application prompted long-term thinking on adaptation. They also discovered areas for improvement, such as confusing elements on public versus private and collective versus individual adaptation. Participants also recommended in-person training and guidance for any new user of the e-tool. Their feedback, along with input gathered from UN Environment Programme (UNEP) staff, is being incorporated by developers into the next version of the e-tool, to be followed by further testing and development, in anticipation of the 2015 launch.

Following the basic premise of the Guidance that in adaptation planning there is no “one-size-fits-all,” the e-tool uses interactive decision trees to guide planners through the PROVIA adaptation planning cycle: assessing climate change impacts and vulnerability; identifying adaptation options; appraising those options; planning and implementing adaptation measures; and monitoring and evaluating adaptation.

SEI foresees the e-tool being used in the creation of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) in developing and least developed countries (LDCs). PROVIA is a joint programme of UNEP, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). [SEI Press Release] [PROVIA Guidance on Assessing Vulnerability, Impacts and Adaptation to Climate Change] [PROVIA Webpage] [IISD RS Sources] [IISD RS Story on Launch of PROVIA Guidance] [IISD RS Coverage of Lima Climate Change Conference]