The Tandem framework: a holistic approach to co-designing climate services

The Tandem framework addresses the 'usability gap' in climate services by shifting from provider-led to collaborative, transdisciplinary co-design. It outlines a seven-step iterative process—ranging from identifying adaptation challenges to maintaining the service—supported by cross-cutting components like sustainable financing and capacity building. The framework is illustrated through an urban water security case study in Lusaka, Zambia, where co-produced hydrological models helped stakeholders assess water demand against climate scenarios.

• Climate services are frequently under-utilized due to a 'usability gap' where information is not tailored to the specific needs, capacities, or institutional contexts of decision-makers.
• Several systemic barriers hinder the use of climate information, particularly in the global South, including a lack of demand from decision-makers, limited technical capacity among users, and a mismatch between the scales of climate projections and policy needs.
• The Tandem framework consists of seven iterative steps: identifying adaptation challenges, engaging users/collaborators, understanding objectives and existing services, analyzing institutional contexts, co-exploring data needs, appraising adaptation options, and maintaining/evaluating the service.
• Effective co-design requires four cross-cutting components: tailored communication of climate concepts, continuous capacity and partnership building, the development of sustainable financing models, and integrated monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL).
• In Lusaka, Zambia, the application of the Tandem approach through 'Learning Labs' led to the co-development of a hydrological model for the Kafue River, revealing that while water is sufficient for demand, temperature increases of 1-2º Celsius could reduce hydropower reliability (and water pumping ability) to below 70%.

APA

Daniels, E., Bharwani, S., & Butterfield, R. (2019). The Tandem framework: a holistic approach to co-designing climate services. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/tandem-framework.pdf

Chicago

Daniels, Elizabeth, Sukaina Bharwani, and Ruth Butterfield. The Tandem framework: a holistic approach to co-designing climate services. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2019. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/tandem-framework.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Daniels |first1=Elizabeth |last2=Bharwani |first2=Sukaina |last3=Butterfield |first3=Ruth |title=The Tandem framework: a holistic approach to co-designing climate services |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=May 2019 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/tandem-framework.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{daniels2019tandem, author = {Daniels, Elizabeth and Bharwani, Sukaina and Butterfield, Ruth}, title = {{The Tandem framework: a holistic approach to co-designing climate services}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2019}, month = may, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/tandem-framework.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }