Vulnerability, Hazard & Risk Assessment
Effective disaster and climate risk management hinges on thoroughly identifying, analysing, and prioritising risks. By understanding the components of risk — namely hazards, exposure, vulnerabilities, and capacities within a specific context — a risk assessment forms the basis for implementing targeted risk reduction strategies. NIRAS facilitates disaster and climate risk assessments for governments and international agencies, focusing on developing and implementing cross-sectoral disaster risk management and adaptation plans. We help partners identify, quantify, and monetise climate risks, integrating these risks into their adaptation strategies. Our efforts raise awareness of climate change at both strategic and operational levels, fostering organisational readiness, developing analytical tools, and training staff on prioritising risk management solutions based on evidence and available resources.
Highlighted Projects
The Ocean Community Empowerment and Nature (OCEAN) Grants Programme is a global initiative that supports innovative proposals from local coastal communities and organisations that aim to deliver marine protection and reduce poverty. OCEAN is part of the UK Government’s £500m Blue Planet Fund (BPF) and aims to drive local, national and regional solutions for sustainable ocean action. OCEAN enables applicants to bring solutions for government support, focussing on protecting, conserving, and managing the marine environment and reducing multi-dimensional poverty.
The programme tries to reach local civil society organisations (CSOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), with development assistance for sustainable development. We operate OCEAN with a strong focus on developing understanding of, and promoting gender, equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) amongst applicants in their proposals and successful grantees through the implementation of their projects.
We manage the programme adaptively, with continual performance assessment and regular updating of all fund approaches and documents to respond to feedback from previous rounds and evolving policy priorities. Due diligence is conducted on every delivery partner, and risk management is an integral part of the Fund’s decision-making process and is incorporated within all strategic and operational planning.
The government of Liberia, through the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), received support from the World Bank Group for the Liberia Sustainable Management of Fisheries Project (LSMFP). NIRAS was hired to conduct a preliminary environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) for expanding the industrial fishing port facility at Mesurado pier, Freeport of Monrovia.
The ESIA aimed to inform the design and investment scale needed for developing fisheries port infrastructure in Liberia, analysing environmental, social, and technical aspects while considering climate change. It provided a preliminary analysis of the Mesurado industrial fisheries port and artisanal landing sites, applying World Bank Environmental and Social Standards (ESS) and specific guidelines for ports.
The project aimed to improve fisheries management and enhance livelihoods in selected fishing communities. Six scenarios were proposed for the design and scale of the port and landing sites. The ESIA assessed potential environmental and social impacts, concluding that while there could be substantial positive and negative effects, these could be mitigated with proper measures. The social aspects were provisionally covered, with a full ESIA study to emphasize them further.
The preliminary ESIA identified issues to be addressed in the full ESIA and further preparation phases, including a provisional monitoring framework focusing on dredging and reclamation processes. A draft monitoring and reporting plan was included to guide the project’s implementation.
The ASEAN region is rich in resources, with three countries classified as mega-diverse, four biodiversity hotspots, and vast areas of forests, mountains, and coral reefs. However, over 20% of assessed species in the region are considered threatened.
The overall objective of the Biodiversity Conservation and Management of Protected Areas project (BCAMP) was to enhance environmental, social, and economic well-being through better biodiversity conservation, effective management of protected areas, and reduction of biodiversity loss. The project had three main components: improving biodiversity conservation and protected area management at the site level, mainstreaming biodiversity conservation in development plans and the educational system at the national level, and focusing on capacity building and training at the regional level. This included strengthening the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) as a regional mechanism supporting ASEAN’s biodiversity conservation agenda.
The overall objective of the project was to achieve a sustainable good environmental status in the marine environment, aligned with the EU Acquis, particularly the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Working with the Turkish Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation, the project aimed to understand the legal, institutional, and technical requirements of the MSFD and to facilitate effective decision-making for its future implementation in Türkiye. This involved developing the necessary institutional and technical capacity for the transposition and implementation of the MSFD, preparing a gap analysis, and producing recommendations for coherent coordination among related institutions, activities, and projects. Additionally, the project focused on developing a methodology for implementing the Directive and applying it in selected regions.
NIRAS conducted an independent assessment of the IFC draft taxonomy for blue finance to confirm the list of economic activities contributing to water quality, ocean health, and life below water (SDGs 6 and 14). We advised on project eligibility and selection procedures. The review covered shipping vessels and yards, fisheries and seafood processing, measures to reduce plastics and chemical waste in coastal river basins, ocean-friendly products, water supply and wastewater treatment, marine protected areas and sustainable tourism, and offshore renewable energy.
For each activity, the review assessed relevance, expected contribution, and potential impact, adding missing sectors and identifying relevant sustainability standards. NIRAS provided recommendations for updating the draft Blue Taxonomy to align with the Green Bond Principles and prepare it for publication. Specific deliverables included a formal opinion on the acceptability of listed investment activities and annotated comments with recommendations for private sector finance. This work was part of the independent review preceding the launch of the IFC Blue Finance Guidance in January 2022.
