The DIY Manual is a step-by-step guide that offers insights, participatory approaches, practical guidance, and experiences from local authorities, along with thematic tools for involving stakeholders and citizens in climate adaptation planning.
Free keywords
Stakeholder and citizen engagement; Participation; Communication; Collaboration; Co-creation
Readiness for use
Tool broadly used
This tool is fully deployed and available in all official EU languages. It has been refined based on user feedback from previous versions and on insights, experiences and needs expressed by regions and local authorities.
Applications
The Manual is used in Europe by regions, local authorities and communities, stakeholders and citizens, and partners of EU-funded projects.
Since its first publication in April 2023, it has been downloaded 2610 times by June 2025, including updates and complementary flyers. It has been used in the Technical Assistance with regions and local authorities (e.g. Tallinn, Galicia, Valladolid, etc.).
Strengths and weaknesses, comparative added value to other similar tools
Strengths:
(+) The Manual is flexible and multilingual, clear and structured, aligned with the Regional Adaptation Support Tool (RAST). It gives practical examples that can be applied to very different contexts. Its tools and methodologies were carefully selected, based on research and feedback from practitioners.
(+) There are very different examples of tools and methodologies, some that require low effort or resources and others that imply more resources, time and effort.
(+) The DIY Manual includes summary tables for the different adaptation steps, which are easy to understand.
Weaknesses:
(-) It is a written document. It might require time to read it. It still needs adaptation to each local context and needs, with more specific local technical assistance.
(-) Most of the participatory processes mentioned would need facilitation capacity and specific skills.
Complementarity: The Manual works well with other tools and approaches needed for climate adaptation, like risk assessment tools, climate risk indicators, decision-support tools, and participatory budgeting processes, among others.
Input(s)
No specific technical data inputs are required for this tool.
Stakeholder and citizen engagement requires institutional and political commitment in communication and participation, staff time, organisation, and facilitation capacity.
The tools need to be applied to each context (as explained in the Manual). Pre-existing local knowledge, stakeholder mapping and analysis, and adaptation plans or starting process or willingness of adaptation are helpful, as it is a Manual on how to engage stakeholders and citizens in climate adaptation.
Output(s)
Outputs are varied, such as stakeholder mapping and analysis, and structured participative methodologies. Outputs are qualitative and process-oriented
Replicability: Cost/effort for (new) usage
Not applicable.
Materials or other support available
The DIY Manual is further supported by thematic flyers, video materials, templates, examples, and an online helpdesk on the Mission Portal. Targeted training sessions have been developed in 2024 and 2025, and the recording and shared materials can be found on the website.
Website and maintenance
Contact
Link to Helpdesk
Associated project(s)
EU Mission Implementation Platform for Adaptation to Climate Change (MIP4Adapt), funded under Horizon Europe.