International Training on Nature-Based Solutions for Disaster and Climate Resilience
Course Background
The accelerating impacts of climate change, combined with the increasing frequency and intensity
of disasters, pose serious challenges to communities, ecosystems, and economies worldwide.
Conventional “grey” infrastructure solutions, while valuable, often struggle to
address the complex and interconnected nature of these risks and may unintentionally exacerbate
environmental degradation.
Nature-based Solutions (NbS)
provide a transformative and sustainable approach by
harnessing healthy, well-managed ecosystems to reduce disaster risks and strengthen climate
resilience. By working with nature rather than against it, NbS offer cost-effective, adaptable,
and long-term solutions for challenges such as rapid urbanization, vulnerable coastal development,
and dryland expansion.
This approach recognizes the intrinsic link between human activities and ecological systems and
emphasizes inclusive, multi-stakeholder, multi-level, and multi-sector collaboration to integrate
nature effectively into policy, planning, and practice.
Course Objectives
By the end of this certificate course, participants will be able to:
What You Will Learn
This certificate course provides a structured learning journey into the theory and practice of
Nature-based Solutions for disaster and climate resilience. Participants will gain both
foundational knowledge and applied insights across diverse contexts.
Duration and Program
This is a Certificate Course with a flexible program designed to support
comprehensive learning and real-world application. The course is structured around
seven distinct units and is delivered through face-to-face sessions to encourage
interactive engagement and in-depth discussions.
The training can be customized for institutions and delivered at a preferred location upon
request, ensuring tailored and context-specific learning experiences.
Target Participants
This course is open to anyone interested in disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, and
sustainable development. It is particularly beneficial for:
Training Modules
Unit 1: Why Is This Topic Relevant for Me?
This introductory unit highlights the urgency of climate and disaster challenges and connects
global risks to participants’ personal and professional contexts.
Unit 2: What Are Nature-Based Solutions for Disaster and Climate Resilience?
This unit defines Nature-based Solutions, differentiates them from conventional approaches, and
explains their core principles and benefits for disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation.
Unit 3: Nature-Based Solutions Applied to Pressing Challenges
Focuses on practical NbS applications in rapid urbanization, vulnerable coastal development, and
expanding dryland environments.
Unit 4: Inclusive Action
Emphasizes the importance of multi-stakeholder, multi-level, and multi-sector collaboration for
effective and equitable NbS implementation.
Unit 5: From Policy to Practice
Explores how policy frameworks support the implementation and scaling of Nature-based Solutions,
linking decision-making processes with real-world action.
Unit 6: The Business Case for Nature-Based Solutions
Demonstrates the economic viability and financial benefits of NbS as sustainable and resilient
investment options.
Unit 7: Time for Action!
The concluding unit synthesizes learning outcomes and equips participants with actionable steps
to implement Nature-based Solutions in their respective fields.
