The Policy Cycle Stages

The selected tools are there to support the planning and implementation of climate compatible development. Each tool has been classified by identifying what stages of the policy cycle it covers. The idealised policy cycle applied in this project (see figure below), explains each stage with an example of a tool from this study.

The dashboard of the userguide includes an interactive breakdown of the policy cycle stages, to help you find the most useful tools. Depending on which stage you are working on, you can select one or more stages.

Explaination of each stage of the policy cycle

• Awareness raising

Information is gathered about the key issues (e.g. need to reduce emissions, need to adapt to climatic changes); potential barriers and opportunities are identified, collected and analysed (e.g. opportunities relating to a change in energy infrastructure, barriers relating to the introducing of new drought-resistant crops). Example of tool: Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide

• Problem definition

Potential problems and their implications are identified (e.g. problems relating to energy infrastructure and droughts). Example of tool: Climate Vulnerability and Capacity Analysis (CVCA) CARE Handbook

• Identification of options

The consequences of potential policy options are assessed (e.g. the consequences of introducing renewable energy, the consequences of introducing drought-resistant crops and the impacts at the socio-economic, technical and environmental level). Example of tool: McKinsey Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC)

• Policy selection

The preferred policy options are chosen, once the problem and its implications are fully understood (e.g. choosing a renewable energy policy that reduces emissions, or introducing an agricultural policy that reduces vulnerability to drought). Example of tool: GTZ Climate Proofing for Development

• Implementation of policies

Policy is translated into concrete action (e.g. introducing a renewable energy policy that reduces emissions, or by introducing an agricultural policy that reduces vulnerability to drought). Example of tool: Adaptation Learning Mechanism

• Evaluation of policies

The progress of selected and implemented policies are evaluated, monitored and tracked (e.g. monitor whether emissions have declined and agricultural productivity has increased). Example of tool: Technology Needs Assessment Handbook

Finding the right tools

The tools in this guide have been grouped based on their function (for e.g. knowledge sharing) and divided into categories, using widely recognised groupings in the adaptation and mitigation communities. To learn more, go to the next section.

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