This report demonstrates the use of climate information in assessing adaptation needs and implementation of adaptation interventions.

It provides an outline of the change in thinking that is happening as adaptation moves from theory to practice, how this translates into a different approach for assessing adaptation needs, and the implications of this shift for climate information and services provision.

It provides information on the adaptation and decision policy cycle, outlining the sequence of activities associated with practical programming, and the use of climate information within this.

Finally, it demonstrates this sequence using a real case study application on mainstreaming climate adaptation into the sector agricultural development plan in Rwanda.

Key messages include:

• The approach to assessing climate adaptation needs is changing and this is influencing the needs of end-users for climate information.
• The policy-first approach targets early interventions; mainstreaming climate adaptation in decision-making and the consideration of uncertainty in climate science. It also prioritises the programming of actions for emerging climate finance. As a result, the needs of end-users for climate information are changing.
• The use of climate and risk information now falls within a sequence of activities, which are part of a broader decision policy cycle. This starts with the identification of relevent development objectives.
• The steps in this sequence are set out in this report. They are illustrated by a real and practical case study mainstreaming climate adaptation into the sector agricultural development plan in Rwanda.

[Adapted from publisher introduction]