Toolkit for youth on adaptation and leadership

Summary

• Level: Introductory
• Time commitment: 8 modules, approximately 12 hours
• Learning product: online (PDF) toolkit (free, self-paced)
• Sector: Climate adaptation, leadership, youth, climate policy and action
• Language: English, French and Arabic
• Certificate available: No

You can access the toolkit on the Global Center for Adaptation website below, or download the content directly from the featured resource section in the right-hand side.

Introduction

Climate change is reshaping the world young people have inherited and they will bear the costs in the coming decades. However, young people are often excluded from taking on leadership roles and engaging in decision-making activities related to climate change adaptation.  This toolkit for youth on adaptation & leadership equips young people with the knowledge and skills to engage in climate adaptation policy, advocacy and action.

Institutional background

The “toolkit for youth on adaptation & leadership” is a project under the Global Center on Adaptation Youth Leadership Program, developed by the CARE Climate Justice Center with the financial support of Norad.

The toolkit modules were written by Hayley Capp and Palash Mondal from the CARE Climate Justice Center, in collaboration with Marlene Achoki, Camille André, Ellen Chigwanda, Anna Conrad and helpful inputs from Robert Otim. The development process benefitted greatly from the support and insights of Brendon Bosworth, Ayesa Lemence, Diana Kaekebeke, Margaret Mellor, Nadia Rinaldi and Inge Vianen.

The project is developed under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Patrick Verkooijen, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Center on Adaptation. Adriana Valenzuela oversaw the development and implementation of the project, with contributions from Mike Girling, Aoife Fleming, Niccolò Delporto, Celine Novenario, Yuelin Delporto, Gabriela Diaz, Dr. Fleur Wouterse, Dr. Gül Tuçaltan and Ysabella Goedhart. Special thanks to the CEO’s Youth Advisory Panel who shared valuable input along the way: Beniamin Strzelecki, Cathy Li, Desmond Alugnoa, Elysa Vaillancourt, Emily Vernall, Hayley Payne, Irfan Afridi, Joyce Mendez, and Neekhil Prasad.

Who would find this toolkit useful?

This toolkit is aimed at young people interested in gaining knowledge and building skills to engage in climate adaptation policy, advocacy and action. It uses the terms “youth” and “young people” to refer to people between 15 and 35 years old.

Course content

This toolkit includes eight modules, which are downloadable from the PDF in the right-hand column:

1. Understanding climate change: This module provides you with key information about the causes of climate change, the impact it is having globally, and the responses needed to address the climate crisis. It sets the scene for the subsequent modules in this toolkit.
2. The basics of vulnerability and climate change adaptation: This module explains vulnerability and highlights the impacts of climate change in Africa. It defines climate change adaptation and details available adaptation options. It also provides information about how to respond to the climate crisis through good practices in Community-Based and Locally Led Adaptation.
3. Vulnerable groups and climate adaptation planning: This module will help you understand how climate change affects the most vulnerable people. It provides a tool, developed by CARE, for assessing how climate change affects people with different gender identities differently. It addresses the ways inequalities can impact resilience and demonstrates the need for inclusive climate action.
4. Learning from youth-led climate adaptation solutions: African case studies: In this module, you will learn about examples of inspirational youth-led climate adaptation solutions in Africa. The module also explores what makes a climate adaptation solution a success and showcases what can be learned from existing initiatives.
5. Developing soft skills for youth leadership in adaptation: This module will equip you with important skills necessary to become an effective youth leader in adaptation. It includes success stories of effective youth leaders to inspire you.
6. Engaging in climate adaptation policies: local, national, and international: This module takes a closer look at climate adaptation policies at the local, regional, national and international levels. It highlights key adaptation plans and policies, including National Adaptation Plans and Nationally Determined Contributions. It includes guidance for how young people can get involved in shaping adaptation policy processes. It also examines key issues related to climate finance and the adaptation funding gap.
7. Designing and implementing your adaptation advocacy strategy: This module demonstrates how to identify policy gaps and design advocacy strategies for climate adaptation that work to fill the gaps. It details an eight-step process for planning and implementing an advocacy strategy. It covers how to identify key target audiences and highlights different tactics advocates can use to influence these audiences.
8. Designing your adaptation action: This module demonstrates how to develop climate adaptation actions and implement these in your communities and at the local level. This module will also equip you with relevant skills and tools to evaluate your adaptation actions. It provides guidance on how to scale up your adaptation action, identify adaptation funding opportunities and engage with potential investors.

Each module contains four sections:

• Warm Up is the place to start. This provides an overview of the module’s key concepts, based on the latest research and best practices. It highlights tools you can use to apply what you have learned, and develop your leadership skills.
• Heat Wave will deepen your understanding. Find links to supporting scientific research, important publications, and tools for exploring and applying key concepts.
• Bright spark is the place to get inspired. Read case studies, watch videos, and listen to podcasts about young climate leaders to get fired up for your own climate change actions!
• Cool Down is your last stop. Here, you have space to test your knowledge (with a short quiz) and consider how you can apply what you have learned to your own climate action.

Learning outcome

The toolkit covers essential materials and offers practical guidance for how you, as a young person, can take part in adaptation policy processes, lead advocacy campaigns, and approach adaptation with an entrepreneurial mindset.

It provides tools for designing and implementing your own climate change adaptation actions so that you can be part of the solution to the climate crisis.