Vulnerability assessments

Kulima has specialist knowledge in the methods used, and results of, vulnerability assessments in the context of climate change at a variety of scales.  This stems in part from Katharine Vincent's academic background in vulnerability assessments.  Specific projects that we have undertaken in this regard include:

PROVIA guidance on assessing vulnerability, impacts and adaptation to climate change

Kulima worked with an international team of experts from with SYKE (the Finnish Environment Institute), Stockholm Environment Institute and Global Climate Forum to revise the guidance on how to conduct impacts, vulnerability and adaptation assessment for the Programme of Research on Climate Change Vulnerability, Impacts and Adaptation.  It is intended that this guidance will complement that produced by the UNFCCC targeted at the National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).

-Climate Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (CVCA) of the Lamu seascape and Tana landscape, Kenya (WWF, 2012)

Kulima was commissioned to train staff from WWF Tanzania and Kenya Wildlife Service to undertake a CVCA of the Lamu seascape and Tana landscape, and provided mentoring for the production of the report.

-Vulnerability assessment within the Limpopo river basin (Gaza and Inhambane provinces), Mozambique (INGC, 2011)

As part of a project to undertake a vulnerability assessment and assess adaptation options for the Limpopo river basin in Mozambique (Gaza and Inhambane provinces), Kulima analysed existing literature and assessed the social vulnerability of communities to projected changes in water availability and crop production.

-Teaching Introduction to Vulnerability Risk Assessment at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (2009-2011)

Katharine Vincent and Tracy Cull co-designed and facilitated four runs of a short professional training course (South Africa’s National Qualifications Foundation Level 5-rated) through the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg on vulnerability risk assessment for disaster risk reduction, whose alumni include participants from government, international organisations and NGOs across Africa.

Vulnerability assessment of East African eco-regions (USAID, 2011)

As part of the project to assess the costs imposed by climate change in three eco-regions of East Africa, Kulima undertook a review of existing vulnerability assessments for the region.

-Involvement with the Southern African Regional Vulnerability Assessment Committee (RVAC)(2008-2010)

Whilst working with the Regional Hunger and Vulnerability Programme, Katharine Vincent and Tracy Cull were appointed facilitators of a technical working group of the RVAC on capacity building.  The membership of this technical working group comprised representatives of National Vulnerability Assessment Committees in the SADC region, and international organisations concerned with early warning around food security.  Through this involvement, they are familiar with various methods used for vulnerability assessment (including the Household Economy Approach and Integrated Phase Classification) within the Vulnerability Assessment Committees.