About the Course
Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA); also known as nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation) is increasingly gaining policy support and being implemented by diverse actors around the world. EbA is defined as “the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation strategy to help people adapt to the adverse effects of climate change.” It involves the conservation, sustainable management, and restoration of ecosystems, thereby enhancing the resilience of ecosystems and communities to climate-related risks. EbA has broad applications across diverse sectors in fostering sustainable development and can help achieve multiple benefits for nature and human well-being.
While EbA guidebooks, case studies, and principles have contributed to standardising the EbA approach, there is a clear need for further training opportunities to strengthen EbA implementation across diverse sectors while ensuring that rights-based approaches, gender equity, and better outcomes for biodiversity and ecosystems are achieved.
This EbA course, developed for a global audience, will equip learners with transferable and replicable skills in designing and implementing EbA initiatives by offering targeted training on key principles, risk assessments, monitoring, and governance. A key aim of the course is to increase EbA knowledge outside of the environmental conservation community, helping participants integrate EbA solutions into other sectors—including infrastructure, water, agriculture, public works, and social development—to better link research and science with practice.
The course targets decision-makers in public and private organisations; professionals who may not be familiar with EbA but who work in a related field (development, infrastructure, agriculture, integrated water resources management); civil society organisations; actors at community, national, and global scales; early-career EbA professionals, current students, and university faculty; and EbA practitioners from both the Global North and Global South.
The EbA MOOC is the product of a collaboration between Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). It builds on a decade of research, experience, and strong partnerships in implementing EbA. It is hosted by the SDG Academy and was produced by Vensight Learn and Econ Films.
By the end of this course, you will learn:
- Understand the role of EbA within an overall climate change adaptation strategy.
- Be able to plan EbA activities in a logical order and apply EbA best practices.
- How policy makers are including nature as a solution in policy processes for reducing disaster and climate risks.
- Consider and integrate social aspects, such as gender, livelihoods, and traditional knowledge, into EbA projects.
- About green infrastructure and designing with nature as a viable complement to grey engineered protection structures for reducing impacts of disaster events.
- Understand how to mainstream EbA across sectors.
Course Logistics & Requirements
This course is self-paced, which means that you can access all of the content as soon as the course begins on October 4, 2022. You have until October 3, 2023, to complete all of the materials.
A note on dates: For self-paced courses, edX suggests due dates for assignments and exams as a way to help you stay on track. These due dates are suggestions to help you plan and pace your studies. You can submit assignments any time up until the final end date of the course. Learn more about edX suggested due dates here.
The course includes 9 modules comprising video lectures, case studies, handouts, quizzes, and discussion activities. It is important that we get to know more about you, your level of knowledge and expectations, which is why we have prepared pre- and post-course surveys.
The estimated time commitment to complete all course components is this course should take on average 1-2 hours per module over the course of 9 weeks, though this depends heavily on the learner and their objectives in taking the course.
Assessments & Certificates
While this course is not credit-granting, we encourage learners to work with their own institutions to explore the option of granting credit for online coursework.
This course contains lecture videos, case study videos, quizzes, handouts, discussion activities, and pre- and post-course surveys. Upon completion of all modules, you have the opportunity to receive a Certificate of Completion. See the “Assessments & Certificates” tab at the top of your screen to learn more.
Contact Information
Questions? Concerns?
Please be sure to direct any technical questions about the course to edX using the "Help" button at the top of your page!
For any further communication and questions about the course, email us at courses@sdgacademy.org. Since this email is used for multiple courses, please specify that you are inquiring about the “EbA" course.