The state of the environment and climate change are serious concerns for society today. The unsustainable use of natural resources and impacts of human activities on the environment are well-documented. It is widely recognised that new approaches and solutions are needed if we are to adapt to climate change. The balance between the environment and nature, on the one hand, and the need for development and growth, on the other, presents a serious challenge but also offers new opportunities.
NIRAS recognises that people, livelihoods, and ecosystems must all be taken into consideration for the successful management of natural resources and the environment. We advocate a holistic and interdisciplinary approach that seeks to maximise synergies between economic, social, and environmental objectives while minimising trade-offs. Together with the key stakeholders, we analyse the often-complex situations. We emphasise socially acceptable solutions and the analysis of opportunities and alternatives.
In the last 15 years, NIRAS has carried out over 150 assignments in disaster risk management and climate change adaptation. Our experience has highlighted the increasing need for action in this field and we strive to make a significant change towards greater resilience through all of our projects.
In the last 15 years, NIRAS has carried out over 150 assignments in disaster risk management and climate change adaptation. Our experience has highlighted the increasing need for action in this field and we strive to make a significant change towards greater resilience through all of our projects.
NIRAS staff are trained in environmental management and planning
Ongoing projects directly related to SDG 13 (climate action) and SDG (life on land)
Global warming of 2 °C would put over
of Africa’s population at risk of undernourishment
Since 1970, climate hazards in Africa have killed
people and had an economic cost of USD38.5 billion
Active Projects
Ocean Community Empowerment and Nature (OCEAN) Grants Programme
FUNDER:
UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
DURATION:
2023-2029
The Ocean Community Empowerment and Nature (OCEAN) is a competitive grants scheme that supports locally-led projects to deliver lasting change to the marine environment and coastal communities. Part of the Blue Planet Fund – the UK’s ground-breaking £500 million initiative dedicated to supporting developing countries in protecting the marine environment and reducing poverty – OCEAN offers two types of grants: (1) community grants of up to £250,000 for small-scale, local, in-country organisations and (2) partnership grants of up to £3 million for organisations who partner with locally-led organisations to deliver solutions at scale. For the coming two years, NIRAS is the Grant Administrator for this £60-million fund, which runs from 2023 to 2029 and targets up-to-now insufficiently funded organisations working closely with communities most affected by declining ocean health.
Strengthening Climate Resilience Systems on Water Sanitation Hygiene (SCRS-WaSH) Programme
FUNDER:
UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)
DURATION:
2021-2026
The Strengthening Climate Resilience Systems on Water Sanitation Hygiene (SCRS-WaSH) Programme aims to improve access to climate-resilient water and improved sanitation services, in addition to good hygiene practices for 1.2 million people in the prioritised drought-affected and drought prone areas of Ethiopia.
NIRAS has successfully improved the long-term WASH sustainability across six regions and promoted gender equality by supporting the establishment of women and youth-led enterprises, and training 116 of their members in spare parts provision and operations management. These enterprises, predominantly led by women, now support local water supply schemes and utilities, contributing to community resilience amidst climate challenges. Moreover, the program has distributed reusable menstrual hygiene products to 29,000 girls in 150 rural schools, aiming to reduce school absenteeism and improve educational outcomes.
Climate Just Communities (CJC)
FUNDER:
The Scottish Government
DURATION:
2023-2026
A flagship programme under the Climate Justice Fund, Climate Just Communities (CJC) is working to develop and deliver – through a participatory approach – interventions to build more inclusive and climate change resilient communities in some of the most climate-vulnerable regions of Zambia, Rwanda, and Malawi. CJC aims to empower communities to identify their own priorities to be addressed through climate justice support and build resilience to the local, material and social impacts of climate change, facilitating especially the participation of the most marginalised within this work. The programme also strengthens the ability of communities to better advocate for climate justice and local equity and aim to bring long-term, sustainable change within communities in line with the pillars of climate justice.
Climate Risk & Vulnerability Assessment of Lesotho's Integrated Catchment Management Programme
FUNDER:
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
DURATION:
2022-2024
The aim of the Lesotho’s National Programme for Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) is to rehabilitate degraded watersheds across the country and to put in place prevention measures that will halt the further degradation of Lesotho’s catchment areas. Funded by GIZ, over two years NIRAS is undertaking an analytical and institutional climate risk and vulnerability assessment (CRVA) as part of the ICM programme to understand the sectors’ vulnerability to the effects of climate change and to support decision making for integrated catchment management plans at community council and catchment level. Analytically, the aim is to identify the risk factors (i.e. who and what is vulnerable to climate change), but also identify the driving forces behind this vulnerability through the development of cause and impact chains. This includes mapping of the hazards, vulnerabilities and exposure levels. The assessment also aims to promote institutionalisation of CRVA processes by identifying and assessing national institutions which have the mandate and capacity to conduct CRVA and building the capacity of key national and catchment stakeholders in carrying out CRVAs.
Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative
FUNDER:
Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad)
DURATION:
2021-2025
NIRAS is providing consultancy services mostly – but not limited to – the Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI) as part of a framework agreement on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+). The overall thematic focus of the framework agreement is related to REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) including land use planning, sustainable food systems and forest law enforcement. Further, green economy and low carbon development are also thematic focus areas. NICFI is global and operational in Niger, Mali, Zambia, Ethiopia and Tanzania, among other countries. Most recently, NIRAS conducted an appraisal of the development of an MRV System and National Capacity towards the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) for the United Republic of Tanzania (MRV4Tanzania). The appraisal reviewed the funding application and commented on its relevance, realism, budget, implementation modalities, and its results framework. It advised on possible improvements to the programme document and indicated critical elements that should be in place before programme initiation. Previously, among other call down assignments, NIRAS conducted an end review of the project ‘Contribution to the Climate Resilient Green Economy Facility’ in Ethiopia, assessing the level of achievement against the programme targets, objectives and outputs, as per the agreement with the Government of Norway.
Other significant projects in recent years
Development of Climate Resilient Strategies to the Second Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Programme
COUNTRY: Kenya
CLIENT: AFD
CONTRACT VALUE: €235K
DURATION: 2022-2023
Delivering Climate Resilient Water and Sanitation in Ethiopia
COUNTRY: Ethiopia
CLIENT: FCDO
CONTRACT VALUE: €1.1M
DURATION: 2019-2022
Sustainable Reserve Management Project - West African Savannah Foundation
COUNTRY: Benin
CLIENT: KfW
CONTRACT VALUE: €2M
DURATION: 2015-2021
Ocean Conference in Liberia
COUNTRY: Liberia
CLIENT: Sida
CONTRACT VALUE: €100K
DURATION: 2018-2020
Reducing Climate Vulnerability in São Tomé & Príncipe
COUNTRY: São Tomé and Príncipe
CLIENT: EU
CONTRACT VALUE: €200K
DURATION: 2017-2019
Development of Climate Resilient Strategies to the Second Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Programme
COUNTRY: Kenya
CLIENT: AFD
CONTRACT VALUE: €235K
DURATION: 2022-2023
Delivering Climate Resilient Water and Sanitation in Ethiopia
COUNTRY: Ethiopia
CLIENT: FCDO
CONTRACT VALUE: €1.1M
DURATION: 2019-2022
Sustainable Reserve Management Project - West African Savannah Foundation
COUNTRY: Benin
CLIENT: KfW
CONTRACT VALUE: €2M
DURATION: 2015-2021
Ocean Conference in Liberia
COUNTRY: Liberia
CLIENT: Sida
CONTRACT VALUE: €100K
DURATION: 2018-2020
Reducing Climate Vulnerability in São Tomé & Príncipe
COUNTRY: São Tomé and Príncipe
CLIENT: EU
CONTRACT VALUE: €200K
DURATION: 2017-2019