How can you integrate EIA with community-based adaptation strategies?

1 Assess the context

Before you start an EIA, you need to understand the context of your project or policy, including the environmental, social, economic, and institutional factors that affect it. You also need to identify the stakeholders and their interests, needs, and preferences. A context assessment can help you to engage with the local communities and learn from their knowledge, values, and practices. It can also help you to identify the potential risks and opportunities of climate change and how they may affect your project or policy objectives and outcomes.

2 Define the scope

After you have assessed the context, you need to define the scope of your EIA, which means determining what aspects of the environment and society will be affected by your project or policy and how. You also need to decide what level of detail and analysis is required and what methods and tools will be used. A scoping exercise can help you to consult with the local communities and other stakeholders and incorporate their views and concerns into your EIA. It can also help you to align your project or policy with the existing or planned CBA initiatives and avoid duplication or conflict.

3 Conduct the analysis

Once you have defined the scope, you need to conduct the analysis of your project or policy, which means estimating and comparing the likely impacts of different alternatives and options. You also need to consider the cumulative and synergistic effects of your project or policy with other existing or planned activities and the changing climate conditions. An analysis exercise can help you to collaborate with the local communities and other experts and use a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods and data. It can also help you to identify and prioritize the mitigation and adaptation measures that can reduce the negative impacts and enhance the positive impacts of your project or policy.

4 Prepare the report

After you have conducted the analysis, you need to prepare the report of your EIA, which means presenting and communicating the results and recommendations of your EIA in a clear and concise manner. You also need to ensure that the report is consistent, transparent, and evidence-based and that it addresses the issues and questions raised by the local communities and other stakeholders. A reporting exercise can help you to disseminate and discuss your EIA findings and suggestions with the local communities and other decision-makers and solicit their feedback and inputs. It can also help you to integrate your EIA results and recommendations into your project or policy design and implementation.

5 Monitor and evaluate

After you have prepared the report, you need to monitor and evaluate your project or policy, which means tracking and assessing the actual impacts and outcomes of your project or policy over time and adjusting it as needed. You also need to consider the adaptive capacity and learning potential of your project or policy and how it can respond to the uncertainties and surprises of climate change. A monitoring and evaluation exercise can help you to involve the local communities and other stakeholders in collecting and analyzing the relevant information and indicators. It can also help you to share and learn from the experiences and lessons of your project or policy and improve your EIA and CBA practices.

6 Examples of integration

There are many examples of how EIA can be integrated with CBA in different sectors and contexts. For instance, in the water sector, an EIA can help to assess the impacts of a proposed dam or irrigation project on the water availability, quality, and demand of the local communities and the ecosystems and how climate change may affect them. A CBA can help to involve the local communities in identifying and implementing the water conservation, management, and allocation strategies that can enhance their water security and resilience. In the agriculture sector, an EIA can help to assess the impacts of a proposed crop or livestock project on the soil health, biodiversity, and productivity of the local communities and the ecosystems and how climate change may affect them. A CBA can help to involve the local communities in identifying and implementing the agroecological, diversification, and marketing strategies that can enhance their food security and resilience.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?