CDCS Supplemental Guidance for Integrating Global Climate Change

As one of three Presidential Initiatives, Global Climate Change is a critical component of the USAID Climate Change and Development Strategy. This strategy aims to enable countries to accelerate their transition to climate-resilient, low-emission, sustainable economic development. The impacts of climate change compound pre-existing and overlapping social, political, and economic stresses, including poverty, hunger, migration, water scarcity, the spread of disease, and conflict. Climate change challenges offer important opportunities and incentives to make economic growth and social well-being improvements that are sustainable and beneficial to host-country governments and citizens. Therefore, it is essential for USAID to carefully consider the impacts of climate variability and change on development goals and objectives, national and local development plans, and public and private investments. The USAID Climate Change and Development Strategy has three strategic objectives: (1) accelerate the transition to low-emission development through investments in clean energy and sustainable landscapes, (2) increase resilience of people, places, and livelihoods through investments in adaptation, and (3) strengthen development outcomes by integrating climate change in Agency programming, learning, policy dialogues, and operations. These objectives will be advanced through two complementary approaches: integration of climate change issues and actions within other core development objectives and programs, and dedicated climate change programming that tackles the unique risks and opportunities presented by climate change. Throughout the CDCS process, Missions are required to demonstrate that they considered integrating climate change mitigation and adaptation into the CDCS. This includes answering four questions: (1) how have previous strategic plans or program results in specific sectors been affected by climate change, (2) how have climate events affected citizens and host-country government development strategies, activities, and priorities, (3) are there opportunities to avoid or reduce climate impacts by building national, community, and household resilience, and (4) how emissions-intensive are current USAID-funded development or economic growth activities. Missions should consider 10 Guiding Principles for climate change analyses and strategic program planning, including investing in policy reforms for climate resilience, engaging at multiple levels of government, strengthening civil society, and promoting conflict-sensitive programming. Additionally, Missions should apply mandatory gender analysis when designing and implementing climate programming and engage women and youth.