Social Protection Series II

- Spotlight on Vulnerable Groups to Climate Risks -

18 & 20 May 2021

Two online sessions: Expert Lecture & Case Study Insights

Certificate Program

Background

Climate change along with the COVID-19 pandemic poses a serious challenge to implementing Sustainable Development Goals. In the 2019 United Nations Climate Change (COP25) conference, UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that the planet has come near “the point of no return” and this is “critical time” to combat climate change.[1] According to the World Economic Forum Global Risks Perception Survey released in 2020, climate-related risks by likelihood and impact accounted for half of the top 10 risks to be encountered by the global community over the next 10 years.[2]

Climate change globally recognized as one of the major threats to sustainable development is accelerating disproportionate impacts on different countries and social groups since it largely takes a toll on vulnerable people, communities, and countries. The poor living in rural areas whose livelihoods heavily depend on natural resources are easily exposed to the damaging effects of climate risks such as floods, droughts, and extreme changes in temperature. Their low incomes, lack of savings, and unstable livelihoods exacerbate the vulnerability to climate hazards. The poor in geographical locations highly vulnerable to climate change, as well as other marginalized groups including women and migrants, struggle with much higher income losses in the wake of disasters and the areas hit hard by disasters experience higher mortality rates.

The World Bank said that the pressures of climate change and conflict combined with the COVID-19 pandemic could put the goal of leaving no one behind by 2030 out of reach without prompt, substantial and determined policy action.[3] In order to develop adaptive strategies in particular for vulnerable groups to climate risks, a wide range of climate-resilient plans must be in line with interventions that reduce vulnerability to poverty. In this regard, Disaster Risk Reduction(DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation(CCA) management strategies might not be sufficient if those strategies are not incorporated into the efforts to address underlying causes of chronic poverty facing the vulnerable groups living in disaster-affected areas.

It is critical to strengthen the integration between climate risk management and poverty reduction strategies. This calls for a wider developmental approach, where social protection can play a significant role in safeguarding vulnerable groups to climate shocks. Social protection can complement programs and strategies developed to reduce vulnerability to climate risks and to enhance adaptive capacity by helping vulnerable groups escape poverty and less rely on negative coping strategies, providing a pathway towards climate-resilient livelihoods, and supporting inclusive responses to climate risks.[4]

With the role of social protection in reducing vulnerability to climate risks and poverty in mind, UNITAR CIFAL Jeju organizes its second social protection series workshop with focus on vulnerable groups to climate risks. This online event will take stock of who are most vulnerable in the context of climate risks and how social protection can contribute to managing climate risks and reducing vulnerability to poverty. The event will also discuss key challenges and opportunities for integrating social protection and climate risk management. The workshop is composed of two online sessions: one with expert lectures and case study analysis through group discussion, and the other with case study presentation by participants as well as expert inputs.

Objectives

ž  To provide a platform for good practices and lessons learned

ž  To explore how social protection can be integrated into climate risk management and contribute to reducing vulnerability to both climate shocks and poverty

ž  To analyze case studies on climate risk management through social protection and gain professional inputs for better designing and implementing a social protection plan towards resilient livelihoods of vulnerable groups to climate risks

Expected Outcomes

ž  Better understanding of who the vulnerable groups to climate risks are

ž  Sharing policy strategies implemented in different cities/countries to reduce vulnerability to disasters and enhance adaptive capacity of the vulnerable groups

ž  Policy recommendations shared through case study analysis and expert inputs

Target Audience

This program is open to national and local government officials and practitioners from CSOs and institutions who have been working in the DRR/CCA Management and supporting sustainable development.

Program Structure

* All online sessions will begin at 15:00 (Seoul Time, GMT+9).

* Please see the final page for the program details.

Requirements

Selected participants are required to:

ž  submit assignments on time - e.g. case study in both Word and PPT format

ž  actively participate in the training program

ž  be fluent in written and spoken English

* Applications will be screened, and successful applicants will be asked to engage at least for two hours on the designated time and dates.

Application and deadline

Send the following two documents to cifaljeju.jitc.1@gmail.com by 12 May 2021 (Wednesday)

*Kindly note that only selected applicants will be notified individually.

Organizer

UNITAR CIFAL Jeju/Jeju International Training Center

Certificate

ž  A Certificate of Completion will be awarded to those who have completed two online sessions and fulfilled the required tasks for the program – e.g. group discussion and presentation on case studies

ž  Once completed, the participants will be awarded a certificate jointly issued by UNITAR and UNITAR CIFAL Jeju.

Program Details

- All two online sessions will begin at 15:00 (Seoul Time, GMT+9).

* The above program is subject to change.