Climate Change is considered as a cross-cutting issue that should be taken into consideration while implementing community-based activities in the field of Health, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), including the various thematic areas, phases and cross-cutting themes under DRR. In line with this, the Climate Change Training of Trainers was organized in Yangon, Myanmar, from 7-11 March 2016. 

See Concept Note | Agenda | Report | Content of Training (bottom of the page)

Climate change, DRR and Health

MRCS Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR) Manual sets out that climate change adaptation (CCA) and community-based disaster risk reduction should be integrated to enhance aid effectiveness and reduce confusion for communities. In the context of increasing risks associated with the hydro-meteorological hazards and conditions related to climate variability and change, the rationale for integration of climate change into community programming is therefore to prepare the communities for any adverse effects climate change may have for their lives, health and livelihoods. In addition, it is very important to identify areas in on-going community-based DRR or health programs where efforts to address both climate change and environmental degradation can be combined to increase the overall resilience of communities, as they are often closely inter-linked drivers of risk and should not be addressed in isolation.

There is ample evidence of the impact of climate change in various health issues, such as vector-borne diseases, water borne diseases, temperature related illnesses as well as effects of food and water shortages. For example, variation in climatic conditions, such as temperature, rainfall patterns and humidity, has a profound effect on the longevity of mosquitoes, on the development of malaria and dengue parasites in the mosquito and, subsequently, on their transmission. Indirectly, climate change could also have an effect by influencing environmental factors such as vegetation and availability of breeding sites. MRCS health programming will need to take into account such emerging trends.

Group activity

Participants: Maximum of 30 participants composed of around 20 staff from the DM and Health departments, and 10 volunteers MRCS staff working for DM, Health, CSR or CC related programmes; RCVs who can facilitate in connection with CC to community and RCVs; Staff or RCVs who can work for MRCS at least 3 years continuously and are committed to MRCS; Basic knowledge on CC and interested to study & disseminate to other; Appropriate Education level (at least Matriculation or Graduate) Experience in facilitating trainings; and Representation of the States/Regions/ townships more affected by climate change Overall, the participants were a mix of DRR and Health staff and volunteers. However, there might be a larger representation from DM/DRR department.

Presentation during one of the sessions

Objective:  to build additional capacities of already qualified and experienced facilitators and/or programme officers and/or Red Cross volunteers from the MRCS HQ and branches to help them integrate climate change into regular MRCS programmes within a resilience-building context (and not as stand-alone CC initiatives). to enhance existing facilitation capacities of the participants to help them effectively deliver key climate change-related messages using participatory and innovative approaches

Content of the training:

Main facilitation were held in English with direct/simultaneous translations to be provided during the sessions.  However, most of the power point presentations were in English.

1. Basic Terminologies | see similar Powerpoint presentation | Session plan | Group Exercise
2. Basics of Climate Science and its Humanitarian Consequences | see similar Powerpoint presentation | Session plan
3. Building Resilient Communities in a Changing Climate through the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement | Powerpoint presentation | Session plan | Resource: IFRC 30th Resolution 2007 | Climate Guide
4. Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change, and Sustainable Development: Synergies and Overlaps
5. Climate Change Adaptation and Climate Change Mitigation | see similar Powerpoint presentations and resources on Climate Change Adaptation | Powerpoint presentation on Climate Change Mitigation | Session plan on Climate Change Mitigation
6. Early Warning Early Action and Use of Forecast Information across different Timescales | Powerpoint presentation in Burmese | Early Warning Translation in Burmese | Reference: Early warning early action learning guidebook and learning manual
7. Health and Climate | Powerpoint presentation | Exercise
8. Gender, Diversity and Climate | Powerpoint presentation
9. Youth and Climate
10. Communicating Climate Change:  Public Awareness, Education, and the Use of Various Information Platforms | Powerpoint presentation | Session Plan
11. Climate Policy Engagements and Advocacy | see similar Powerpoint presentation | Session plan
12. National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) | Powerpoint presentation | National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPA) of Myanmar
13. Climate Finance | Powerpoint presentation | Resources: Climate Finance in Asia | Gender and Climate Finance | Global Landscape of Climate Finance 2015 | Accessing Climate Finance | The Global Climate Finance Architecture | 10 Things to know about Climate Finance in 2015 | Green Climate Fund
14. Climate Risk Assessment  | Powerpoint presentation | Resources: A quick guide on Climate Smart VCA to DRR | National CCA Plan: Myanmar’s National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) to Climate Change 2012 |Scientific information tables-Myanmar | Exercise: Secondary information sources
15. Mainstreaming Climate Change into Programmes | Reference: Minimum Standards for local climate-smart disaster risk reduction | Exercise Minimum Standards on climate smart Disaster Risk Reduction
16. Action planning | Powerpoint presentation | Questionnaire for individual plan | Session plan