Nature Based Solutions for Climate Change Resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction

This course is organised with the support of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nuffic.

Target audience:

This course is intended for Netherlands Fellowship Programme (NFP) and Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP) alumni from the Philippines and neighboring NFP/OKP countries. Alumni are allowed to invite colleagues, if well motivated and to a limited extent. This course is aimed at alumni whose current practice is related to the theme of the course. Female participation is strongly encouraged. The participants will be chosen based on their relevant professional backgrounds, strong motivation and high potential of prolonged development impact of the training.

Objectives:

At the end of the course, participants should be able to:

1. Understand what Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) are and critically reflect on the application of these solutions;

2. Learn and apply practical methods, tools, and techniques for mapping and assessing the potential of NBS;

3. Identify and prioritize NBS for addressing water management, climate resilience, and disaster risk reduction; and

4. Develop a local action plan as well as an implementation strategy for integrating NBS in towns and cities.

Course Content:

Week 1: Nature-based solutions (NBS) in theory and practice 

Day 1: Definition of NBS – Lectures on the concepts, definition, and characteristics of NBS.

Day 2: Analyzing NBS - Exercise on Strengths, Weaknesses,Opportunities, Threaths (SWOT) analysis for NBS in general. Dialogue sessions on the relevance of NBS in the participants' respective city contexts.

Day 3: NBS in Practice – Excursions in the Philippines where NBS are in place.

Days 4 and 5: Planning for NBS – Lectures and workshops on (a) the steps for planning for climate change adaptation, mitigation, and disaster risk reduction and (b) tools and techniques for mapping and assessing the potential of NBS in a participatory way.

Week 2: Decision-making and action planning

Days 6, 7 and 8: Decision-making for NBS – Lectures on the use of decision support and assessment tools (cost-benefit analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, and multiple criteria analysis) and workshops on how to identify, select, evaluate, and prioritize NBS using a Climate Action Prioritization tool.

Day 9: Action planning for NBS – Workshops on how to plan and implement NBS strategies.

Day 10 - Morning: Presentation – Presentation sessions of the results of the workshops.

Day 10 – Afternoon: Evaluation and closing of course – Sessions on the evaluation of the course, closing ceremony including handing out certificates, and alumni event.

Expected Output:

The main outputs of the course are:

1) 25 participants (at least 15 women) trained on NBS

2) 5 local action plans developed by 5 groups, which include:

a. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis

b. Case study examples

c. Mapped areas according to (gendered) vulnerabilities and risks

d. NBS identified and prioritised

3) 5 group presentations based on the local action plans

4) 25 individual Back Home Action Plans: a strategy for application of acquired knowledge and tools, resources and time needed

5) Creation of an NBS online network

The participants will gain the following knowledge and skills:

- Knowledge on NBS and practical methods and tools to improve water management, disaster risk reduction, and resilience

- Knowledge of the risk measures and factors that contribute to disasters

- Participatory mapping using analogue tools

- Multiple criteria analysis for evaluating projects

- Action planning skills: problem definition, negotiation skill, decision-making skill, presentation and communication skills

Language: All background and course materials will be delivered in English.

Admission requirements: A filled-out online application and a motivation statement expressing how the course will contribute to one’s professional development, and when applicable the link of past and/or current professional experience and academic research in one or more of the main themes of the course.

Please note!

Applications for this course will open in March 2019.