African and Latin American Resilience to Climate Change (ARCC) Program: 10th QUARTERLY REPORT (January - March 2014)

The project aims to improve the ability of vulnerable populations to respond to climate challenges and safeguard economic growth. The Task Order for ARCC focuses on advancing the Economic Growth Objective within the USAID Foreign Assistance Framework by promoting adaptation to climate change and integration of adaptation into other economic investments. The project has four activity areas with predefined tasks and deliverables: Task Area 1, Development of Vulnerability Assessments Methodologies; Task Area 2, Outreach, Training and Support; Task Area 3, Knowledge Development and Management; and Task Area 4, Technical Support to USAID Missions and Operating Units. Key activities under these Task Areas include the provision of assessment methodologies to guide USAID programming of adaptation-related objectives, a vulnerability assessment tool to provide specific guidance into 'Feed The Future' planning for USAID programs, knowledge management support, and technical assistance for field missions in Africa and the Latin America and Caribbean region. During the 10th Quarter, the Senegal Vulnerability Assessment team finalized several analytical outputs and conducted a cross analysis workshop to corroborate VA findings. Dr. David Miller submitted a draft report to USAID on March 15. ARCC's work for the West Africa Vulnerability Assessment (WAVA) continued on various fronts, including consultant Claudia LaLumia's travel to Mali to conduct focus groups and interviews on adaptive practices promoted and adopted by farmers. A draft report was submitted to USAID on March 14. Mark Freudenberger led field work for an institutional analysis of Mali's meteorological agency and Ministry of Environment, and the report was submitted to USAID for comment on March 26. ARCC also drafted the SOW for the Mali Climate Change and Conflict Study, which will be carried out in partnership with FESS. The project will focus on the following geographic areas: Africa, including Angola, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda, as well as Africa Regional Missions in East Africa, Southern Africa, and West Africa. In the Latin America and Caribbean region, the project will focus on Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Guatemala, Haiti, and Jamaica, as well as Latin America Regional Missions in Central America, the Andean region, and the Caribbean. ARCC's goals and objectives include promoting sustainable economic growth through the development of vulnerability assessment methodologies and other analyses that provide information about the greatest climate change risks to sustainable growth and adaptation options. The project also aims to promote improved governance through the development of analysis and methodologies that increase public understanding of potential climate change impacts and broaden civil society participation in decision-making. Additionally, ARCC will address the needs of vulnerable populations, including gender considerations, by developing best practices in analysis of risk and mitigation of climate change impacts on these populations.