Understanding of CEDRIG

Studying about Mainstreaming DRR automatically will turn someone towards different types of tools, strategies and mechanism. The first tool that I encountered was the CEDRIG. I found it quite amazing because the integration was critical. Even then it is user friendly. The paragraphs below are my understanding of the first part of CEDRIG.

Climate, Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction Integration Guidance – CEDRIG is a way of SDC to find out or investigate whether the present different sort of support, cooperation and planned approach are vulnerable towards the increasing disaster due to climate change, environmental degradation, tectonic movements, effect on GHG emission and the environment.

The CEDRIG is divided into two parts:

1. Rational and Framework of CEDRIG

2. A self explanatory Hands-on guidance practical handbook

Though there are several climate, environment and DRR integration guidance by different development organization. CEDRIG is the tool that is formulated by SDC and applicable to the specific SDC procedures.

As climate change, environmental degradation and frequent disasters can disrupt the process of sustainable development, development organizations follow two different approaches.

(1) Risk perspective – assessment and reduction of risks

(2) Impact perspective - Identification and reduction of impact

They key concept of risk perspective is disaster risk. It results from a combination of different factors. IPCC predicted in its last report that disaster will intensify even further in the coming years. Even in the best scenario, increasing natural and man-made hazards, environmental degradation are inevitable. If we really want to run towards development in this scenario, we must consider ‘increased resilient’ as in combination of Disaster Risk Reduction, Adaptation to Climate change and adaptation to degraded environment which will reduce the vulnerability evidently.

The key concept of impact perspective is mitigation. Mitigation in climate change, environment and in DRR context is all about impact perspective.  

CEDRIG incorporates both perspectives – risk and impact which incorporates the concepts of adaptation to climate change, adaptation to degraded environments, DRR, climate change mitigation and environmental impact mitigation.

CEDRIG is based on the following principles:

Principle 1 - OECD guidance and the Hyogo Framework for Action as references

Principle 2 - Modular approach and flexibility

            There are three modules - (Module 1) Risk and Impact Screening, (Module 2) Detailed Assessment at strategic and programmatic level and (Module 3) Detailed Assessment at project level – this third module has four steps.

Principle 3 - Integration in SDC standard procedures and Project Cycle Management (PCM)

Keeping the perspective approach in following the CEDRIG, the modules are to be followed. When the risk perspective is considered, the module 1: Risk Screening is a must. In this same perspective the module 2: Risk Assessment or the Module 3: Detailed Assessment should be used as tool for climate variability, climate change risks, risks from environmental degradation and risks from tectonic activities. At the time of consideration of Impact perspective, module 1: Impact screening and Module 3:  Impact Assessment should be used as tool for Impacts on GHG emission and environment.

The second and third section discusses about the organizational procedural approaches on using CEGRIG and list of supporting material used for CEDRIG.