Economic assessment of the impacts of climate change in Uganda with Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN)

Leading a consortium composed of Metroeconomica, Makerere University, and the University of Wolverhampton’s Centre for International Development and Training, in 2016 Baastel completed a large-scale, two-year study of the economic impacts of climate change in Uganda. Commissioned by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), the study contributed to Government of Uganda efforts to implement its National Climate Change Policy.

Baastel’s selection to coordinate the study not only highlights our reputation as a leader in this field, but also our capacity to combine technical expertise with excellence in project management, capacity development, and policy dialogue. This combination was critical to achieving the mandate’s two complementary aims. The first – to produce an evidence base for increased investment for adaptation in climate-sensitive sectors – depended on the consultants’ expertise in areas such as climate modelling and economic analysis. The second – to increase government capacity to use such evidence in development and investment planning – depended on the team’s communications and facilitation skills. Managing a diverse group of more than 30 consultants, Baastel’s approach was to build a scientific evidence base while simultaneously building and disseminating a solid and user-oriented knowledge base, rooted into the Ugandan context and international best practices.

Over the course of the study, Baastel delivered a series of interrelated activities and products. This involved downscaling climate change scenarios for Uganda, developing an overall approach to economic modelling, and carrying out economic assessments of climate change impacts for sectors such as water, agriculture, transportation and infrastructure, and energy. As part of this process, the team carried out several site-specific and sector-specific case studies. Meanwhile, the team promoted local capacity in a number of ways, including mobilizing stakeholders around the study, establishing an online knowledge management platform, organizing training workshops on topics such as statistical climate downscaling, and engaging in policy dialogue.

The study provided the economic case for prioritized Government of Uganda interventions and investments in climate-resilient development, informing decision-making for budgetary allocations at national, sectoral, and district levels. It also framed the government’s approach to climate finance mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund. In addition, the knowledge base was used to establish Uganda’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Related Service(s)

• Strategic Planning, Design & Research