Mainstreaming Resilience

The definition of ‘mainstreaming’ does not exist yet, although the term is widely used and often used interchangeably with the term ‘integration’. Mainstreaming refers to the integration of adaptation objectives, strategies, policies, measures or operations such that they become a part of the national and regional development policies, processes, and budgets at all levels and stages (UNDP, 2005)

Read TERI-IIED Working paper Gorakhpur Policy Mainstreaming TERI-APN’s Capacity Building Program

In the context of addressing climate change and related risks, the term ‘mainstreaming’ is used to describe the integration of climate change adaptation into ongoing and new development policies, plans, and strategies, including laws and regulations (e.g. EIA requirements). ‘Mainstreaming’ aims at enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency, and longevity of initiatives by reducing climate-related risks, simultaneously contributing towards sustainable development and improved quality of life. Mainstreaming climate resilience is the iterative process of integrating considerations of climate change into policy making, budgeting, implementation and monitoring process at national, sector and subnational levels. It is a multi-year, multi-stakeholder, iterative process which entails working with a range of government and non-government actors, and other actors involved in the development field.

(UNDP 2011)

Enablers for Resilience Planning

Policy and mandate at the national and state level
Integration of climate agenda with city development agenda
Institutionalization of urban climate resilience planning
Strong political leadership at local and state level
Use and involvement of local expertise to generate context-specific locally driven solutions
Capacity building and awareness generation to generate momentum and to facilitate action at all levels
Access to knowledge about climate variability and change
Data management to facilitate decision making

Mechanism for Mainstreaming

Institutional Mechanisms

Establishing a city level resilience officer in the urban local body
Establishing a Climate Change or Sustainability Department under the State government departments
Institutionalising multi-stakeholder groups at the city level
Building capacity of all types of stakeholders such as policy makers, government officials, students, practitioners, and communities

Policy and Mandates

Formulating a State urban climate resilience policy or action plan

Capacity Building at All Levels

Dedicated programs on urban resilience for government officials, policy makers, students, practitioners and communities

References

United Nations Development Programme (2011). Paving the Way for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: Guidance for Practitioners and Planners. New York, New York: United Nations Development Programme. Available here
UNDP (2005). Adaptation Policy Frameworks for Climate Change. Developing Strategies, Policies and Measures, Ed. Bo Lim, Erika Spanger-Siegfried, Co-authors Ian Burton, Elizabeth Malone, Saleemul Huq. Available here