Reconciling national adaptation policies with local level implementation in SIDS: Insights for replication

The document highlights a disconnect between national-level climate adaptation planning in SIDS and local-level implementation. While many SIDS have developed National Communications and National Adaptation Programs of Actions (NAPA) to secure donor funding, these often reflect national priorities with minimal local input. The brief suggests that overcoming 'adaptation deficits' requires empowering local leadership, utilizing participatory planning, and improving inter-ministerial collaboration to ensure global change dynamics fit local institutional contexts.

• Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have made progress in creating national adaptation policies and action plans, such as the St Lucia National Climate Change Adaptation Policy, but struggle to integrate these with local development needs and inter-ministerial collaboration.
• National Adaptation Programs of Actions (NAPAs) are used to access donor funds like the Adaptation Fund and Least Developed Countries Fund, but the resulting projects often ignore local input, creating a gap between national policy and the areas where climate impacts are most severe.
• Successful adaptation requires addressing the 'problem of fit' between local institutions and global dynamics through governance mechanisms that support inter-ministerial collaboration and avoid marginalizing community leadership.

APA

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (2017). Reconciling national adaptation policies with local level implementation in SIDS: Insights for replication. https://cdkn.org/resource/policy-brief-reconciling-national-adaptation-policies-local-level-implementation-sids-insights-replication

Chicago

Climate and Development Knowledge Network. Reconciling national adaptation policies with local level implementation in SIDS: Insights for replication. 2017. https://cdkn.org/resource/policy-brief-reconciling-national-adaptation-policies-local-level-implementation-sids-insights-replication.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |title=Reconciling national adaptation policies with local level implementation in SIDS: Insights for replication |date=2 February 2017 |url=https://cdkn.org/resource/policy-brief-reconciling-national-adaptation-policies-local-level-implementation-sids-insights-replication |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateanddevelopmentknowledgenetwork2017reconciling, author = {{Climate and Development Knowledge Network}}, title = {{Reconciling national adaptation policies with local level implementation in SIDS: Insights for replication}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2017}, month = feb, url = {https://cdkn.org/resource/policy-brief-reconciling-national-adaptation-policies-local-level-implementation-sids-insights-replication}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }