CRiSTAL User's Manual Version 5 (Community-based Risk Screening Tool - Adaptation and Livelihoods)

IISD, in partnership with IUCN, SEI, and HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation, has released a new version of CRiSTAL, a decision-support tool to help users design climate adaptation activities at the community level.

Key updates to the tool include: a more streamlined interface — the tool is now available as a desktop application that runs on Microsoft Windows 7 (and newer versions) for increased flexibility in data input and analysis; new issues and options — increased attention to gender and equity aspects, a module on designing and evaluating new project activities, links to monitoring and evaluation, improved guidance on data and information collection for each step; and new outputs — automatic generation of printable summary reports. This revised version of CRiSTAL was developed between 2010 and 2012 based on extensive user feedback and field tests in Africa, Latin America and the Pacific. The revised user's manual guides users through the new version of the tool.