The US Agency for International Development (USAID), through the Climate Resilient Cities consortium of partners Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), and Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), launched the Private Sector Engagement (PSE) Playbook for Climate Resilience and the Energy Resilience Handbook on November 27, 2024.
The CRC Project developed these knowledge products as part of its continuing efforts to promote collaborations between governments and private sector for advancing climate resilience measures throughout the country and accelerate the national progress toward a more resilient and sustainable future.
The PSE Playbook for Climate Resilience is a strategic resource detailing best practices, case studies, and actionable steps to enhance collaboration for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. Specifically, it offers a structured approach to collaboration between the private sector and local government units (LGUs) for climate resilience and innovation.
CRC Project, through the PDRF team, consulted with various private sector partners and collected real-world models and success stories of sustainability and climate resilience initiatives across the country. The Playbook will provide local governments with practical insights that can boost their confidence in the feasibility and impact of adapting these initiatives in their local implementations.
In congruence, the Energy Resilience Handbook developed with the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) at the helm, details the strategic approach to understanding and mitigating the impact of climate hazards on energy systems and how LGUs can access them by leveraging existing policies and financial mechanisms. The Handbook details various methods for accessing resilient energy resources and outlines the financial mechanisms available to LGUs, including public-private partnerships (PPPs), which can provide critical funding and expertise for resilience projects. The Handbook also covered how local governments can leverage these partnerships to enhance their energy infrastructure, promote long-term economic growth, and contribute to broader national goals of energy security and climate resilience.
A total of 75 stakeholders from the public and private sector attended the launch event.
The USAID CRC Project is a Php750-million ($15 million) project helping cities in the Philippines adapt to, mitigate, and endure the impacts of climate change by increasing their access to climate financing and tools to build resilience. This five-year project is implemented in partnership with six cities: Batangas, Borongan, Cotabato, Iloilo, Legazpi, and Zamboanga.
