climate change, humanitarian resilience & response

Climate change is a key driver of many of the world’s most significant developing challenges. Too much or too little water threatens food security, encourages migration and increases the likelihood of conflict. At the same time, growing numbers of natural disasters are threatening lives and causing human suffering on an unprecedented scale.

Alinea takes an integrated approach to addressing the challenges of climate change and humanitarian crises while safeguarding and enhancing development results and the environment. We work with governments and communities to adapt to and mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change, and empower people in building resilience.

Alinea was built upon a foundation of agricultural and food security expertise, which remains a core area of our expertise today. We strive to contribute to ending hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition, as well as promoting sustainable agriculture. We advise on all aspects of agricultural development and food security, ranging from agricultural policy analysis and strategic planning to building the productivity, asset base and self-reliance of smallholders, including adaptation to and mitigation of climate change.

The burgeoning demand for food, shelter and energy puts tremendous pressure on our land and water. Alinea is committed to finding innovative solutions and applying best practices to harness our natural resources in more efficient and sustainable ways. From feasibility studies and social impact and environmental assessments, to helping develop and implement policy and legislative frameworks and facilitating public-private partnerships, Alinea supports governments, public institutions, private sector companies, non-governmental organizations and local communities to effectively manage natural resources.

Responding to the challenge of more frequent natural disasters, Alinea helps vulnerable communities build resilience and cope with the aftermath of humanitarian crises. Whether designing crisis-ready facilities to speed up the delivery of humanitarian assistance or coordinating donor programming and flow of funds, we enable governments and communities to plan, prepare and deal with climate-driven emergencies.

WORLDWIDE: Australian Humanitarian Partnership (DFAT Australia)

Alinea manages DFAT’s Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) Support Unit. We strengthen the partnership between the Australian Government and Australia’s largest NGOs working in humanitarian assistance to ensure that Australia’s assistance is well-coordinated and well-targeted. The AHP operates in both rapid onset crises (e.g. earthquakes, cyclones) and protracted/slow on-set crises (e.g. South Sudan). Alinea works behind-the-scenes to support the work of the Australian Humanitarian Partnership and showcase the collaborative efforts of DFAT and NGOs in addressing global humanitarian need and regional disaster preparedness and resilience. Our monitoring and evaluation services bring a critical and strategic eye to the partnership and are backed-up by a robust focus on learning – for both the Australian Government and NGO partners. Our communications and media support builds the profile of Australia’s aid program in Australia and the region. Alinea is also responsible for contracting the NGO partners and ensuring the rapid disbursement of funds to NGOs at times of crisis.

ETHIOPIA: Mainstreaming Climate-Smart Approaches into the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) (European Commission)

Alinea is providing specialist assistance to develop a national protocol of climate-smart procedures to enhance the capacities of the Government of Ethiopia Public Works Coordination Unit and the Food Security Coordination Directorate. In partnership with DAI, the project team is supporting the Ministry of Agriculture to mainstream climate-smart initiatives in watershed and rangeland activities planning and implementation under the PSNP; enhancing the institutional and technical capacity of PSNP’s public works component to improve coordination with the Sustainable Land Management Program; and generating evidence to promote dialogue on climate-sensitive development programming and future climate financing. Key activities include a review of climate-smart social protection programs and local adaptation planning; the design and roll out of a national protocol of climate smart procedures, tools and processes; the use of modern instruments, such as geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing, for improved monitoring and evaluation; and strengthening linkages with climate and disaster risk reporting and early warning systems.

FIJI, VANUATU, PNG, SOLOMON ISLANDS, TIMOR-LESTE: Disaster READY (DFAT Australia)

Disaster READY is a five-year Australian government investment that builds disaster preparedness capability in five Pacific Island countries (Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Timor-Leste). Alinea supports management of Disaster READY through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) Support Unit. Disaster READY reflects the commitment of the Australian Government and its NGO partners to work towards the global “localization” agenda by prioritizing local decision-making and responses to building resilience and preparedness for disasters. With the ongoing support of Alinea, Disaster READY pays particular attention to social inclusion. Women, people with disabilities, youth and children are proactive in the Disaster Ready Country Coordinating Committees and their needs are recognized and met through community, sub-national and national mechanisms for disaster preparedness and response. Alinea’s AHP Support Unit facilitated and managed the design process that included 13 Australian NGOs and local NGOs. This gave particular attention to country driven planning and management, and social inclusion. Throughout implementation, Alinea is responsible for; managing the funds disbursement and coordination of reporting; in-country learning and annual planning; online reporting and information sharing; strategic level monitoring, evaluation and learning, and communications; and strong lines of communication between DFAT and the Australian NGO consortia.

AFRICA: Digital Earth Africa Investment Design (DFAT Australia)

Alinea is contracted by Geoscience Australia to deliver an Investment Design for Digital Earth Africa (DE Africa), this initiative aims to build the world’s largest operational platform for accessing and analyzing decades of satellite imagery specific to Africa’s lands and seas. DE Africa focuses on improving understanding of Africa’s changing landscape, providing insights, knowledge and analysis for more informed, strategic and inclusive decision making across the continent. This will enable African governments, NGOs, businesses and individuals to make more informed decisions about soil and coastal erosion, agriculture, deforestation, desertification, water quality and changes in human settlements. Alinea is working closely with Geoscience Australia and DFAT through a series of briefings and consultations to conduct a literature review, develop a workplan and a Theory of Change. These documents will be drawn on to establish an Investment Design which includes production of a robust Results Framework to measure success.