Enhancing Climate Resilience and Sustainable Ecosystems
Project Information
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is implementing the project “Enhancing Climate Resilience and Sustainable Ecosystems” in the Swat and Buner districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. This 18‑month initiative aims to reduce climate vulnerability by mainstreaming ecosystem-based adaptation into district-level planning and governance frameworks.
Central to the project is the formulation and institutionalization of Local Adaptation Plans of Action (LAPAs), aligned with Pakistan’s National Climate Adaptation Plan (NCAP), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The project adopts a systems-strengthening approach that integrates capacity building for provincial and district government institutions with structured community engagement and targeted awareness-raising on EbA principles.
In parallel, the initiative promotes climate-resilient and ecosystem-sensitive agricultural value chains, with a strong emphasis on sustainable and blended financing mechanisms and private sector engagement. The establishment and strengthening of Women and Farmer Enterprise Groups are key components, supporting climate-resilient livelihoods, green entrepreneurship, and inclusive local economic development.
Implemented in accordance with IUCN’s Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS), the project is expected to directly benefit approximately 84,000 people. It is designed to generate a scalable and catalytic model for integrating ecosystem-based adaptation into local development processes and climate action planning
