This document contains guided questions to assess capacity for climate change adaptation at the national and local levels. At the national level, it addresses whether the government has the capacity to monitor climate risks, disseminate information, integrate climate data into policies, implement policies at regional/local levels, and allocate resources for adaptation. It also asks about understanding links between climate change and poverty/vulnerability. For local governments, it addresses disaster response capacity, ability to monitor/analyze climate risks, disseminate information, implement adaptation policies, allocate adaptation budgets, capacity needs, and engaging vulnerable social groups in planning processes.

1. Guided Questions for Exercise III:
National Level
Capacity development
1. Does the government have the capacity to monitor and and analyze
information on current and future climate risks?
2. Are there mechanisms in place to disseminate this information?
3. Is an appropriate structure in place within the Government with a
mandate to integrate climate information into relevant policies?
4. Is this information being integrated into relevant policies?
5. Are national policies rolled out at regional and local levels? Is
the government responsive to local priorities?
6. Are resources allocated for implementation of adaptation-related
policies? What is the budget? Where are the resources coming from?
7. What are the existing capacity and resource needs and/or gaps for
climate change adaptation?
Addressing Underlying Causes of Vulnerability
1. Do those responsible for climate change policies and programs
dmonstrate understanding of the link between poverty and climate change
vulnerability?
2. Do those responsible for climate change policies and programs
recognize the specific vulnerability of women and other marginalized groups to
climate change?
3. Is this knowledge and recognition translated into policy and
implementation of programs? Do policies and programs support empowerment of
vulnerable groups?
4. Do vulnerable groups have advocates at the national level?
5. Is civil society involved in planning for adaptation?
Local Government / Community Level
Disaster risk reduction
1. Does the local government have the capacity to respond to disasters?
Capacity development
1. Do local institutions (governmental and non-governmental) have
capacity to monitor and analyze information on current and future climate risks?
2. Are mechanisms in place to disseminate this information?
3. Do local institutions have capacity to plan and implement
adaptation-related policies:?
4. Are resources allocated for implementation of adaptation-related
policies? What is the budget? Where are the resources coming from?
5. What are the existing capacity and resource needs and/or gaps for
climate change adaptation?
6. What new capacities may be needed to address changing circumstances
due to climate change?
Addressing underlying vulnerability to climate change:
1. What social groups within the community are most vulnerable to
climate change?
2. Are local planning process participatory?