Climate Risk Management in Finnish Development Cooperation - Gaia

Ethiopia. As noted above, the climate screening has been complemented by a preliminary
assessment of potential direct and/or indirect implications of climate change in Ethiopia for
Finland. 9
This pilot assessment has looked at Finnish development cooperation and climate
adaptation needs in Ethiopia on three complementary levels, i.e. country level, sector level
and programme/project level. The preliminary climate screening 10 focused on the water
sector portfolio, which forms a cornerstone of Finnish development cooperation with
Ethiopia. Within the water sector, three programmes/projects have been reviewed,
providing examples of a variety of projects in different phases of their project cycle.
Given the overall objectives of the study as well as the pilot nature of this screening exercise,
the “combined approach” used in this study has drawn on experiences and lessons learned
from a series of climate screening forerunner countries and organizations (in particular
ORCHID - Opportunities and Risks of Climate Change and Disasters, DANIDA climate change
screening matrixes and CRiSTAL/Community-based Risk Screening – Adaptation and
Livelihoods, see Annex III). It also makes use of the climate risk management methods and
experiences (such as the Climate-CIVA 11 method) elaborated as part of the Finnish national
climate research adaptation programme 12 . This “combined approach” has allowed
consideration of climate risks widely from a strategic point of view as well as from a
livelihoods point of view.
The “combined approach” used in this study is presented in figure 1 below. The objective
has been to integrate risks of climate change and opportunities for adaptation into the
development programme rather than as stand-alone climate adaptation (or mitigation)
projects. This could be achieved in a manner that acknowledges latest climate science,
communicates climate risks in an easily understandable manner to all relevant stakeholders,
allows integrating climate risk management and reduces any climate vulnerability in a
manner that does not overstretch programme/project staff resources and supports reaching
of specific project objectives and development objectives at large.
9 See Annex I. These potential implications may be reflected e.g. through environment and conflict linkages,
increased need for humanitarian assistance and disaster risk reduction, increased migration and immigration,
potential repercussions through trade etc. This project component will serve more broadly the ISTO research
programme and make use of preliminary scoping activities conducted within it. See ISTO project IMPLIFIN: an
investigation of the international impacts of climate change having potential implications for Finland, conducted
by the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Finland.
10 The climate change screening will include an assessment of the risks of climate change in achieving the
outcomes of the Finnish development programmes and identification of opportunities for reduced vulnerability.
It will provide a preliminary screening of selected on-going activities and guidance for applying a “climate lens”
on planned and forthcoming activities.
11 The Climate-CIVA method (Climate Induced Vulnerability Assessment, in Finnish Ilmasto-KIHA), developed
within the Finnish adaptation research programme (ISTO), is a decision-making tool that allows systematic risk
mapping, impact assessment and identification of priority adaptation solutions.
12 The approach can also provide a screening for disaster risks reduction especially in some parts of Ethiopia
where disasters are predominantly associated with droughts and floods.
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