Support Tool In Planning

Support tool in planning

Introduction

Cristal is a support tool in the planning and management of development interventions at the local or community level, which links the project cycle with the process of adaptation to climatic variability and climate change, as well as with the reduction of environmental risks.

This tool helps users identify local livelihood resources most affected by weather and develop response strategies to impacts derived from climatic threats. The ultimate goal is to prepare projects that improve short and long term living under a context of climate risk. The application allows to obtain a list of living resources, proposals for the adjustment of existing projects in the area and new activities that promote climatic adaptation, in addition to a list of factors that must be monitored and another of desired results ofthe adaptation.

Developing

Cristal has a local, social and participatory approach, since it integrates different community actors during the process. The analysis with this tool requires the collection of preliminary information on the context of livelihoods and climate in the area in which the project is to be developed. This information is not only based on scientific knowledge and previous research but also on social imaginary about climatic threats and their impacts, as well as community responses before the risks. On the other hand, prioritizes gender variable, since men and women have different roles in the community, they are affected differently and respond in a different way, so the analysis must consider the opinions and experiences of both, in a wayseparated.

The collection and validation of information is carried out through consultations to the community, partners, experts, representatives of the local government and NGOs, using participatory methods (debates, focal groups, workshops, meetings), with the objective of adjusting the project to the project to thelocal needs and conditions. This is intended to sensitize and strengthen the capacities of communities so that they are in better conditions to manage risks and adapt to climate change. The key information must contain the conditions of living means in the area, the conditions and climatic forecasts at the local and regional level, as well as other environmental and socioeconomic trends that affect the area of the project. It is intended to understand the dynamics of the population’s livelihoods, to know how these are affected by the weather.

On the other hand, Cristal is based on the framework of sustainable livelihoods (natural, physical, financial, human, social and political resources) that helps users to focus on opportunities rather than problems, access and controlof the population about the resources and interests of the population for climatic adaptation.

Crystal comprises three phases linked to the phases of the project cycle. The first is the understanding of the climatic context, during which he describes he responded as livelihoods and climate risk analysis is analysis. The second evaluates the implications for the project through the review of the existing project activities and the design of new activities that promote climatic adaptation. By the last.

In my opinion, the integration of climatic adaptation in any cooperation initiative is crucial, because this will depend on the expected results and the positive impact on human development. The integral and sustainable management of natural capital has its implications in achieving development objectives.

The impacts of climate change, increasingly present, suggest the need to rethink traditional development models. These impacts are lived with intensity in rural communities exposed to risks and climatic threats, which gives them greater vulnerability. The rains are increasingly strong, causing floods, overflows and sliding, among others. A key part of development involves ensuring the resistance or subsistence resources of the communities, which are increasingly threatened by variability and climate change.

An intervention aimed at promoting sustainable development must integrate adequate management and integral management of environmental goods and services, since these are the livelihood of the population and local economies. Therefore, interventions should be aimed at risk reduction and include environmental impact reduction measures and ecosystems. The construction of housing in a risk area due to collapse or landslide does not contribute to the improvement of communities, but makes them more vulnerable. The construction of a bridge over a water course with risk of overflow is another of the examples that makes us rethink the methodology used in the planning and development of a project.

conclusion

On the other hand, the use of the crystal tool is of the utmost importance because it contributes to the empowerOpportunities of the inhabitants to understand their vulnerability and develop response strategies to climate change. This approach contributes to the construction of a development from below in which local actors become protagonists of this.

Therefore, rethinking the models to prioritize and transversal.