Abbey Abramson

  Climate projects monitoring and evaluation standards What the standards actually say (and how to use them) Sphere Standards (2018) —minimums across WASH, Food Security, Shelter, Health, plus Core Humanitarian Standard for accountability and participation. Use Sphere to argue for transparent criteria, accessible complaints, and monitoring that measures outcomes (not boxes handed out) (Sphere, 2018). The IFRC Emergency Response Framework (2025) defines roles, decision thresholds, and risk appetite in large emergencies, pairing with DREF timelines (10–14 days) to plan pre-positioned controls (IFRC, 2025; IFRC DREF, 2020) (ifrc.org). Open Contracting evidence —publish emergency contracts in OCDS ; evidence links disclosure to increased competition and savings (OCP, 2024). CaLP/CHD Data Responsibility —protect CVA data, document data flows, minimize what you collect, and ensure community consent and exit options (CaLP/CHD, 2020) (data.humdata.org). World Bank ASP (2023–2025) —build s...

  Risks and emergency management in climate change Speed without “disaster capitalism”: designing controls that survive the rush Pre-disaster contracts and vendor pools The IFRC ’s Emergency Response Framework and DREF guidance say rapid response means higher risk. But this risk can be managed. Pre-qualified vendor pools, framework agreements, and vetted specifications speed procurement while reducing collusion (IFRC, 2025; IFRC DREF, 2020). Radical transparency defaults Adopt a 10-day rule : Publish every emergency contract within ten days with the supplier, including unit prices, quantities, delivery evidence, and beneficial owners. Where countries adopted ProZorro-style open data and dashboards, competition widened and savings increased (OCP, 2024; OCP impact story: Ukraine).  Emergency awards should auto-check ownership against sanctions and past performance. Blacklists should be centralized and public. Otherwise, suspended firms return under new names. The International ...

  Marginalised groups' vulnerability to climate change impacts At the margins of decision-making: women, IPs, and fisherfolk Gendered vulnerability—and missing seats IPCC AR6 and UN bodies underscore what practitioners observe daily: climate risks are differentiated by gender, wealth, location, and identity, and adaptation is more effective when governance is inclusive (IPCC AR6 WGII SPM; UNFCCC policy briefs). Yet, women remain underrepresented in environmental decision-making, from local councils to national planning (UN Women/UN factsheets). It is crucial to differentiate the types of representation women hold within these bodies. Whether women hold decision-making roles, advisory positions, or quota seats significantly affects their influence. Acknowledging and expanding their roles from token participation to effective involvement can substantially improve inclusivity and efficacy in environmental governance. In the Philippines, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act (...

  Social funds and relief for climate change Social Funds, Relief, and the Politics of Disaster Why this chapter matters When a cyclone hits or monsoon floods surge , the need for immediate aid is critical. Picture a mother, clutching her child, waiting on a flooded rooftop for tarps, safe water, and cash for food or transport. Her resilience demonstrates why speed and integrity in disaster relief are crucial. Governments and aid agencies must act quickly. However, speed without safeguards can lead to favoritism, kickbacks, and 'ghost' beneficiaries. Help gets diverted, trust erodes, and next time, fewer heed the siren's call (IFRC, 2025). Relief leakage and procurement abuse are not victimless. They lead to hunger, untreated illness, polluted wells, and unsafe shelter. Audits and watchdog research from the Philippines and Bangladesh, along with open contracting reforms, demonstrate both the failures of relief and how social funds and rapid contracting can maintain integri...