Skip to main content

CCVA Platform User Guide

A comprehensive guide to understanding and using the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Platform for coastal fishing communities.

Platform Overview

The CCVA Platform is designed to help governments, NGOs, and community leaders visualize and analyze climate vulnerability data. By combining interactive mapping, detailed area profiles, and a library of adaptation actions, the platform supports evidence-based decision-making to build climate resilience.

Explore Data

Visualize vulnerability scores geographically and filter by administrative regions.

Analyze Variables

Deep dive into specific indicators like 'Fish Biomass' or 'Access to Credit' that drive vulnerability.

Plan Actions

Select adaptation strategies from a curated library to create custom action plans.

Generate Reports

Download professional PDF reports for specific areas to share with stakeholders.

Getting Started: Exploring Data

Step 1: Navigate to Explore Data

From the main navigation menu, click on "Explore Data". You'll see an interactive map displaying all coastal areas with CCVA assessments.

🔍 What you'll see:

  • Color-coded markers: Each area is displayed with a color representing its vulnerability level (green = low, yellow = moderate, red = high).
  • Left panel - Controls: Filter by country, province, municipality, or specific managed access area. Use the search bar to quickly find locations.
  • Right panel - Summary Statistics: View key metrics for the currently visible areas, including most and least vulnerable locations.

Step 2: Hover and Click on Areas

Hover over any marker to see a quick popup with the area's name, vulnerability score, and category. Click on a marker to view the full Area Profile.

Step 3: Understanding Area Profiles

When you click on an area, you'll be taken to a detailed profile page that includes:

Executive Summary

Overall vulnerability score (0-1 scale), geographic context, and assessment date.

Component Breakdown

Visual bar chart showing how the area scores on each of the five components (Exposure, Sensitivities, Adaptive Capacities).

Key Variables Snapshot

Heatmap showing scores for all 30+ variables. Toggle "Highlight highest-risk variables" to identify priority areas for intervention.

Vulnerability Trends

Line chart showing how vulnerability has changed over time (if multi-year data is available).

AI-Generated Insights

Context-aware analysis highlighting key vulnerabilities and suggested priorities.

đź’ˇ Pro Tip:

Use the "Export Report" button at the top of the profile to download a professional PDF report for sharing with stakeholders, funders, or community leaders.

Understanding Variables

What are Variables?

Variables are the individual indicators that make up each component score. Examples include "Fish Biomass," "Access to Credit," and "Sea Level Rise." Each variable is measured on a 0-1 scale and contributes to the overall vulnerability assessment.

How to Use the Variables Page

  1. Navigate to Variables: Click "Variables" in the main menu.
  2. Browse or Search: Use the search bar to find specific variables (e.g., "coral") or filter by component using the dropdown menu.
  3. Review Definitions: Each variable card includes:
    • An icon representing the variable
    • A clear definition of what it measures
    • Information about data sources and measurement methods
    • The variable's weight in the overall calculation
  4. Identify Priorities: Look for variables with high scores in your area of interest—these represent the greatest vulnerabilities or weakest adaptive capacities.

Building Adaptation Action Plans

Purpose of the Action Library

The Action Library contains curated, evidence-based adaptation strategies designed specifically for coastal fishing communities. These actions address various aspects of vulnerability, from ecosystem restoration to livelihood diversification.

Step-by-Step: Creating Your Action Plan

  1. Go to the Actions Page: Click "Actions" in the navigation menu.
  2. Browse and Filter:
    • Use the search bar to find actions by keyword (e.g., "mangrove," "insurance").
    • Filter by Difficulty (Low, Medium, High) based on your capacity.
    • Filter by Timeframe (Immediate, Short-term, Long-term) to match your planning horizon.
  3. Review Action Details: Each action card shows:
    • A clear description of the action
    • Expected impact on vulnerability
    • Implementation difficulty and timeframe
  4. Add to Your Plan: Click the "Add to Plan" button on actions you want to implement. Selected actions appear in the right-hand sidebar.
  5. Download Your Plan: Once you've selected multiple actions, click "Download Plan (PDF)" to generate a formatted action plan document ready to share with partners, funders, or community stakeholders.

đź’ˇ Best Practice:

Select a mix of immediate "quick wins" (low-hanging fruit) and longer-term strategic actions. This creates a balanced plan that shows early progress while building toward transformative change.

Comparing Multiple Areas

Why Compare Areas?

The Compare feature allows you to place two or more areas side-by-side to understand where risks and capacities differ. This is especially useful for:

  • Identifying which areas need the most urgent attention
  • Understanding regional patterns in vulnerability
  • Allocating resources fairly across multiple communities
  • Learning from areas with stronger adaptive capacity

How to Use the Compare Tool

  1. Navigate to Compare: Click "Compare" in the main menu.
  2. Select Areas: Use the search/filter interface to select 2 or more areas you want to compare.
  3. Review the Comparison Table: The table displays:
    • Overall scores at the top for quick reference
    • Component-level scores with visual progress bars
    • Individual variable scores (expand each component to see detailed breakdowns)
  4. Analyze Differences: Look for components or variables where areas diverge significantly—these reveal the specific drivers of vulnerability differences.
  5. Visualize with Radar Chart: The parallel radar chart (if available) provides a visual comparison of component scores across all selected areas.

Methodology & Scoring

The Vulnerability Formula

The platform calculates vulnerability based on five key components. The final score is normalized to a 0 to 1 scale, where 0 represents very low vulnerability and 1 represents very high vulnerability.

(Exposure + Ecological Sensitivity + Social Sensitivity)
-
(Ecological Adaptive Capacity + Social Adaptive Capacity)

Exposure

External climate hazards like sea-level rise, storm frequency, and temperature changes.

Sensitivity

How susceptible the ecological and social systems are to those hazards (e.g., Coral Susceptibility, Economic Dependence).

Adaptive Capacity

The ability of the community and ecosystem to cope and recover (e.g., Social Trust, Gear Diversity).

📊 Score Interpretation Guide:

0.0 - 0.2

Very Low

0.2 - 0.4

Low

0.4 - 0.6

Moderate

0.6 - 0.8

High

0.8 - 1.0

Very High

Variable Reference

The CCVA score is composed of over 30 individual variables. Below is a complete list of variables categorized by their component.

Loading...

© 2025 CCVA Platform. Generated documentation.