African and Latin American Resilience to Climate Change (ARCC) Program: 4th QUARTERLY REPORT

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. ARCC has four main goals: to promote sustainable economic growth through the development of vulnerability assessment methodologies and other analyses; 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; to address the needs of vulnerable populations, including gender considerations, by developing best practices in analysis of risk and mitigation of climate change impacts; and to provide technical support to USAID missions and operating units by providing analysis, design, and evaluation support for activities related to adaptation. The Task Order for ARCC consists of four activity areas: 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 on topics such as evaluation of publicly available indicators of vulnerability, and technical assistance for field missions in Africa and the Latin America and Caribbean region. During the 4th Quarter, ARCC carried out activities in all task areas of the Year One Work Plan, including launching the Scoping Mission for the ARCC vulnerability assessment in Senegal, completion of the field work phase of the ARCC vulnerability assessment in Malawi, holding a series of working group meetings to review results from the vulnerability assessment in Uganda, participating in a LAC Global Climate Change Technical Meeting in Jamaica, and undertaking preparations for significant expansion in ARCC Program capacity. The phase II (field work) of the vulnerability assessment for Malawi was initiated on 21 August 2012. The assessment will support the USAID/Malawi mission's efforts to identify opportunities to promote sustainable climate change adaptation, inform their Country Development Cooperation Strategy, and provide specific guidance into 'Feed The Future' planning for USAID programs. The ARCC project will likely 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 and Latin America and Caribbean, including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Guatemala, Haiti, and Jamaica. ARCC will provide technical support to USAID missions and operating units by providing analysis, design, and evaluation support for activities related to adaptation. The project will also have the flexibility to address unforeseen support needs for the Africa Bureau and the Latin America and Caribbean Bureau. The ARCC project aims to promote sustainable economic growth, improve governance, address the needs of vulnerable populations, and provide technical support to USAID missions and operating units.