DESIGNING PROJECTS IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD

3.5 SYSTEM ASSESSMENT
RAPTA PROCESS
1. Scoping
4. System
Description
2. Engagement &
Governance
3. Theory of
Change
5. System
Assessment
SYSTEM ASSESSMENT
Step 1 Explore alternative futures)
Step 2 Assess general resilience
(adaptive or coping capacity for
unknown risks, trends or shocks)
Step 3 Assess specified resilience (to
known risks, trends, shocks)
Step 4 Identify the potential benefits
of maintaining current system
identity, adapting and/or
transforming the system
Step 5 Summarise resilience status and
adaptation/transformation
needs
6. Options &
Pathways
7. Learning
Figure 13 Map of the System Assessment component, showing the steps
3.5.1 Purpose of System Assessment
In RAPTA the System Assessment component contains
the core features of resilience thinking. This
distinguishes it from other approaches, such as triple
bottom line assessment or risk assessment methods.
However, these and other forms of assessment (e.g.
vulnerability assessment) may, if they already exist,
provide a useful entry point to the component.
3.5.2 Use in phases of project cycle
The System Assessment will be very different in different
phases of the project cycle. The assessment
conducted in the project identification phase will rely
on the judgement of a small subset of stakeholders.
It will not be supported by a well-developed system
description that reflects the interest and experience
of all stakeholders. Rather, it will be a minimal assessment,
developed for the purpose of contributing to
the output of this phase.
The project design phase requires a more detailed
System Assessment because it will underpin the
Options and Pathways. In the design phase, it
requires a robust Engagement and Governance
process. In the implementation phase, there will be
new insights and perhaps critical knowledge gaps
which need to be filled in the System Description
and System Assessment as project interventions are
implemented. For this reason, in the implementation
phase the System Assessment component provides
capacity to review and learn about the system in the
light of new findings.
3.5.3 Steps to conduct the System
Assessment
Step 1 Explore current and alternative future systems
and states
There are many ways and tools for envisioning and
modelling futures and scenarios, with forecasting,
hindcasting etc. This can be done in simple qualitative
ways, through to very theoretical, and/or
RAPTA guidelines for project design 63