– INCEPTION WORKSHOP –

Climate Adaptation Readiness Assessment:
Assessing the Capacity of Water Services Providers in Asia to Adapt to Climate Change Impacts

Purpose: The inception workshop aims to: (1) familiarize participants with the concepts of climate readiness and mainstreaming climate change adaptation; (2) identify criteria for a rapid assessment of levels of climate readiness in relation to water and wastewater services providers in Asian cities; and, (3) outline elements of a diagnostic tool on climate adaptation readiness.

Participating water and wastewater service providers will be asked to prepare for the workshop by familiarizing themselves with, and collecting any available information on, their current level of understanding of climate-related risks; existing plans and approaches for adapting to climate change; and (where relevant) future intentions on developing climate change adaptation plans, strategies and approaches. This should include, where appropriate, an outline of any links with other organizations that relate to climate change issues and their knowledge and understanding of any government policies and regulations concerning planning for climate change adaptation.

Format: Interactive presentations and small group discussions. Targeted Participants: 10-12 selected urban water supply and wastewater service providers from South and Southeast Asia as well as Australia.

Expected Outputs:

• Definition of climate adaptation readiness within urban water supply/wastewater community
• Summary of perceived climate change-related risks to services delivery
• Initial inventory of possible actions to strengthen readiness
• Approach to measuring, analyzing and presenting readiness (parameters, indicators, etc.)

Outcomes:

• Shared understanding of the key concepts and appropriate criteria for defining climate adaptation readiness among Asian water and wastewater service providers.
• Common understanding of objectives, process and expected results including presentation of findings for the assessment.
• Agreement by attending service providers to participate in the assessment activity.