African and Latin American Resilience to Climate Change (ARCC) Program: 3rd QUARTERLY REPORT (April - June 2012)

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 3rd Quarter, ARCC carried out activities in all task areas of the Year One Work Plan. These included completion of the first ARCC scoping mission and piloting the first vulnerability assessment in Uganda, conducting a scoping mission in Malawi, participating in the Latin America Global Climate Change Technical Meeting in Ecuador, holding a working group meeting on climate change adaptation and agricultural intervention options, completing several vulnerability assessment background documents and reports, and advancing and completing several other key activities. A team from ARCC conducted the USAID Pilot Scoping Mission in Uganda on 8-27 April 2012. The scoping mission carried out more than 45 key informant interviews with multiple stakeholders in preparation for Phase 2 of the Uganda vulnerability assessment. A Scoping Mission Field Synthesis Report summarizing stakeholder key informant interviews was completed, and key takeaways were discussed during a strategic planning meeting held on 9-10 May 2012. The Phase II of the vulnerability assessment for Uganda was initiated on 1 June 2012 and will run through early July. The assessment will support the USAID Uganda Mission's efforts to identify climate change risks and adaptation options for the country. The ARCC project will also focus on the following geographic areas: Africa, including Angola, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda, as well as the Latin America and Caribbean region, including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Guatemala, Haiti, and Jamaica. The project's goals and objectives include promoting sustainable economic growth through the development of vulnerability assessment methodologies and other analyses, promoting 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, addressing the needs of vulnerable populations, and providing technical support to USAID missions and operating units.