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

This policy brief examines the disconnect between national climate adaptation policies and local-level implementation in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), highlighting the need to align national priorities with community needs to overcome adaptation deficits.

• 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 and the ongoing Jamaica National Climate Change Policy and Action Plan, as required by the UNFCCC. However, there remains a need to integrate climate adaptation into sectoral goals and improve inter-ministerial collaboration to link these national policies with local development needs.
• National Adaptation Programs of Actions (NAPAs) are used to secure donor funding from sources like the Adaptation Fund, Least Developed Countries Fund, and the Special Fund for Climate Change. While these funds support capacity building and assessment in sectors like forestry, water, fisheries, and agriculture, the resulting projects often prioritize national goals over local input, creating a gap between policy and implementation where impacts are most severe.
• Addressing 'adaptation deficits' in SIDS requires governance mechanisms that empower inter-ministerial collaboration and link national plans with local needs. While national governments can enable adaptation by changing policies, they may also hinder bottom-up initiatives by marginalizing local leadership and community input. GIVRAPD research suggests that collective action involving citizen science, local monitoring, and targeting national adaptation units can help overcome these implementation barriers.

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} }