The Challenge

Pakistan is one of the countries most affected by climate change due to its low adaptive capacity and poor infrastructure. It is ranked the 8th most affected country in the world as per the German watch’s Long-Term Climate Risk Index (2000-2019) report. According to the World Bank, between 1992 and 2021, climate- and weather-related disasters in Pakistan resulted in a total of around 

27 billion EUR of economic losses (inflation-adjusted to 2021 US dollars) from damage to property, crops, and livestock, equivalent to 11.1% of 2020 GDP. Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of these events as well as exacerbate the vulnerability of local populations. Estimates show that more than 21 million people could fall into poverty by 2050 if Pakistan does not take measures to adapt to climate change. Additionally, the technical and financial capacity of the public institutions and that of communities to respond to climate change consequences is low.

Achievements of 2022-24

- SAR has launched Climate Risk Profiles with political partners at national and provincial levels. The project is preparing climate risk assessments for health, water, and agriculture, with 8 assessments focusing on women and vulnerable groups. 7 sub-national policy documents will include gender-sensitive assessments. Additionally, the Climate Transparency Project aims to improve monitoring, reporting, and evaluation of climate change impacts.

- SAR has developed 5 climate risk training and awareness concepts for rural communities in southern Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Women of the communities are also learning climate-smart agricultural practices. 4 training workshops for climate youth forums and 20 climate school clubs have engaged over 5000 students in climate resilience activities.

- 6 courses on climate change, developed with the Universities of Kassel and Potsdam, are being launched. These courses, shaped by stakeholder workshops with 84 higher education professionals and researchers, address critical gaps and emerging climate issues in Pakistan's curriculum.

- A resource book on climate change has been developed for journalists across Pakistan, and Climate Reporting Awards have been given to 4 reporters who have written impactful stories in this regard, following bootcamps in both regions.

- SAR is supporting partner institutions to strengthen planning and financing capacities for climate adaptation and resilience, along with climate risk management measures in KP and Punjab. 

Collaborating closely with provincial Planning and Development Departments, the project has facilitated the integration of climate risks into planning and budgeting processes. Efforts are concentrated on enhancing provincial capacities to include climate change indicators effectively. A landmark Climate Change Cell has been set up in KP at the Planning and Development Department.

- Efforts are also focused on enhancing the capacity of officials responsible for reviewing public projects through training provided by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), aiming to improve project planning and execution quality. Initiatives led by UN Capital Development Fund-Local are integrating climate adaptation measures into local-level planning processes, benefiting communities.

SAR is supporting the development of climate change specialists by creating and delivering a contemporary climate change diploma course. It is currently supporting the IM Sciences Center for Water Informatics and Climate Resilience in executing a 6-month diploma course.

- The project has been pivotal in assisting the government to improve access to international climate finance for adaptation, resilience, and risk management measures. It has focused on enhancing the capacities of partner institutions and individuals in navigating international adaptation finance, understanding donor requirements, and developing concrete project proposals.

The project has facilitated inter-provincial learning and dissemination of lessons learned, contributing to national policy processes. Presently, achievements include improved capacities

among over 90 decision-makers and experts for accessing climate finance. Additionally, 5 gender-sensitive funding applications confirmed by the Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) have

been successfully submitted: 4 to the Green Climate Fund and 1to the Adaptation Fund.

- The Adaptation Challenge Fund (ACF), initiated by the project,called for proposals from social businesses and local organizations to support innovative financial instruments for climate adaptation, strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities. 3 projects were shortlisted due to high local interest in empowering climate actors to develop and test creative climate resilience solutions. In Chitral, KP, the Karakoram Area Development Organisation (KADO), with Jazz Mosafir, is increasing farmers' resilience through advanced technology, training, and Index-Based Community Climate Insurance. In Nowshera, KP, Rural Aid, in consortium with MS Worldwide, is using drones for geospatial sensing and climate-smart agricultural training, coupled with low-interest microfinance, to help small-scale farmers.

In Muzaffargarh, South Punjab, PRSP supports 250 underprivileged households with interest-free loans and climate-resilient training. These initiatives collectively enhance community resilience and provide financial protection against climate risks