Planning Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) using a ‘Living Sponge’ metaphor

This speaker pitch reports on our monitoring of the social (information) and physical (water) sponges in our pilot EbA projects. A living sponge metaphor guides IRHA’s two, pilot EbA projects: a catchment-scale water retention project (Nepal) and an agroforestry project (Senegal). These projects draw on our two decades of integrated sustainable development experience. The fifty-six Blue Schools IRHA has constructed since 2002 harvest rainwater to improve children’s learning environments. Blue School projects give us experience in consulting with community-based NGOs to address local school children’s vulnerabilities, a skill addressed by EbA Quality Standards 1.2, 4.2, 5.1, and 5.3. These NGOs co-organize committees to ensure our Blue School facilities’ sustainable governance (EbA quality standard 5.4). Valorising and maintaining these facilities requires social learning, which is key to EbA projects' long-term success. This pitch shares our 'living sponge' social learning model.