1.4 Identifying and obtaining human and technical resources

The levels of human and technical resources needed for adaptation are critical factors for those seeking to initiate adaptation action in a city. A clear understanding of these requirements is important for securing high-level support from decision-makers.

Each adaptation process is unique and various management and institutional set-up arrangements are possible, each having different requirements for resources.In terms of human resources, the choices range from low-cost, one-person lead coordination of existing sectoral activities to setting up a dedicated adaptation unit that oversees and coordinates processes involving in-depth risk assessments, stakeholder involvement and participation, as well as detailed adaptation action planning, implementation, and monitoring.

The choice should be guided by the level of exposure and vulnerability of the urban area to climate change risks, the size of its population and assets under threat, the range of sensitive sectors, and the existing institutional set-up.

In the context of restricted budgets, different ways of reducing resource needs include:

• Building upon activities that are already taking place and are relevant for adaptation, i.e. mainstreaming adaptation into existing plans and policies (see Step 5.3);
• Participating in support networks and initiatives, such as The Covenant of Mayors (see Step 1.8);
• Accessing various sources of funding (see Step 1.5);
• Cooperating with the private sector (see Step 1.6);
• Collaborating with universities and research projects (see Step 1.6);
• Aligning with other processes such as implementing a sustainability strategy (see Step 2.6).

Exchange of experiences and case studies from other urban areas that have started an adaptation process can be helpful in understanding the resource needs. Please refer to Step 3.2 to find examples of good adaptation practices.