CRiSTAL Overview

CRiSTAL (Community-based Risk Screening Tool – Adaptation and Livelihoods) is a screening tool designed to help project designers and managers integrate risk reduction and climate change adaptation into community-level projects.

It helps project designers and managers:

1. Understand the links between livelihoods and climate in their project areas;
2. Assess a project’s impact on community-level adaptive capacity; and
3. Make project adjustments to improve its impact on adaptive capacity and reduce the vulnerability of communities to climate change.

Structure

CRiSTAL has been structured around four framing questions divided into two modules. The tool takes users through each of these modules:

Format

CRiSTAL is available in multiple formats (e.g., Excel, hardcopy) and languages (English, French and soon in Spanish). It can be tailored to meet the needs of different sectors and communities, and can be used as part of a suite of tools (e.g. vulnerability assessments, participatory action research) that support local-level vulnerability reduction and adaptation to climate change.

Users

CRiSTAL is primarily targeted at project planners and managers working at the community level on sustainable livelihoods and ecosystem management and restoration. That said, the tool is flexible enough to be used by other users in different contexts.

Intended results

CRiSTAL is intended to enhance local adaptive capacity through a better understanding of:

• How current climate hazards and climate change affect a project area and local livelihoods;
• How people cope, looking specifically at the resources needed to cope with climate stress;
• How project activities affect livelihood resources that are vulnerable to climate stress and/or important to local coping strategies; and
• How project activities can be adjusted so they enhance adaptive capacity.

If you have any questions or require clarification on any point, please consult our FAQs section or contact the CRiSTAL team directly.