The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is currently developing and testing a new generation climate and disaster risk screening and assessment tool for their investment projects. This builds on a decade of experience in enhancing the climate and disaster resilience of ADB investments and incorporates feedback from a wide range of ADB staff, consultants, and external experts.

The tool is designed to deliver scientifically robust and context-specific risk screening for climate, climate change, and geophysical hazards at the project concept and preparation stage. It aims to support the design of effective adaptation and resilience strategies by offering improved access to underlying data, enhanced flexibility for exploring specific risks, and the ability to handle complex spatial project configurations such as power grids and agricultural projects. A semi-automated module now under testing also supports the generation of light-touch Climate Risk and Adaptation (CRA) assessments. Other modules included will address Paris Agreement alignment,  and enable automated input into relevant sections of the adaptation (BB2) assessment.

FutureWater contributes technical expertise on climate and hazard data, climate projections, and risk assessment methodologies, as well as capacity building. The tool’s development is guided by an iterative, consultative process involving ADB staff, external experts, and software developers. The methodology integrates hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and user-defined data for risk calculation. The tool is being tested in pilot applications in Laos and Uzbekistan, amongst others, to ensure alignment with national contexts and data availability. FutureWater plays a key role in piloting the methodology and developing example risk screening and CRA reports to validate and refine the tool’s functionalities.