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Adaptation finance begins with the risk.

Adaptation reduces the harm caused by climate impacts and supports the ability to respond. A credible project explains who is at risk, how the proposed response helps and what evidence will show progress.

Start with the problem

A flood barrier, drought plan or early-warning system is a response to a particular risk. Define the hazard, the people and assets exposed, and the conditions that make them vulnerable. Separate the effects of climate change from other pressures such as land use, inadequate maintenance or unequal access to services.

Build an evidence base that serves the decision

Use observed conditions, relevant climate projections and local knowledge at a scale that fits the proposed intervention. Record uncertainty and the limits of the data. The analysis should help compare responses, select a location or set a design standard; a climate statistic with no connection to a project decision adds little.

Questions for project preparation

Who experiences the risk, and how does it differ across locations, livelihoods, gender, age and disability?
What would happen without the project, including measures already planned or funded?
Why is the proposed response appropriate compared with feasible alternatives?
Could the intervention shift risk to another group, place or time?
Who operates and maintains the measures after the initial funding ends?
Which indicators will measure changes in vulnerability, disruption or service continuity?

Illustrative example: flood risk

For a hypothetical flood-prone settlement, a project could combine drainage improvements, warning systems and community preparedness. The preparation task is to test the contribution of each measure, assess downstream effects and identify maintenance responsibilities. Counting drains or training sessions records activities; measuring changes in disruption or exposure examines the intended benefit.

Translate the response into a financing case

Separate the costs of studies, infrastructure, participation, operations and monitoring. Public benefits without a reliable revenue stream may require grants or budget support. Repayable finance needs an identifiable borrower and a repayment source. The financing proposal should explain who benefits, who pays and how the measures remain operational.

For technical review

Document the baseline, time horizon, scenarios, assumptions and methods used to estimate results. Test sensitivity to the assumptions that affect the choice of intervention. Inclusion, environmental and social risk management and the treatment of possible adverse effects belong in the project design and budget.

The questions and examples above are preparation guidance, not universal fund eligibility criteria.

Scientific reference: IPCC Sixth Assessment Report. Examples are hypothetical and do not describe client assignments.

Read the climate rationale service Compare adaptation routes

Turn the guide into a one-page brief

Summarise the climate risk, affected groups, options considered and preferred response. Add one measure of reduced risk, an owner for operations and a list of unresolved evidence needs. This is enough to organise a first conversation about preparation; it is not a funding application.