Joining forces: how to make local climate partnerships a success

The document outlines five key strategies for local governments to build effective climate partnerships: choosing partners strategically beyond the environmental sector, involving marginalised and opposing groups, leveraging local actors while understanding their spheres of influence, ensuring mutual benefit through co-design, and employing a trusted facilitator or knowledge broker. It illustrates these points with examples such as solar energy initiatives in Pakistan and Indonesia, climate-smart agriculture in Nepal, and coastal management in Belize.

• Local governments should strategically select partners from diverse sectors beyond the environmental arena to gain necessary planning and practical expertise. For example, in Sialkot, Pakistan, partnering with the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) enabled communication of renewable energy benefits to small and medium companies, leading to the development of photovoltaic solar collectors as a low-carbon alternative to diesel.
• It is critical to include marginalised groups and those most exposed to climate change from the start to ensure solutions meet their needs. In Nepal, LI-BIRD partnered with farmer's groups, cooperatives, women's groups, and Dalit groups to promote climate smart agriculture, which resulted in improved economic status for women and Dalits.
• Engaging with opposing parties or those with conflicting interests can lead to wider buy-in if local governments negotiate and compromise without abandoning long-term goals. In Mexico City, the government addressed opposition from minibus operators regarding the Metrobus rapid-transit system by focusing on the shared goals of reducing traffic congestion and air pollution.
• Partnerships are more effective when local governments identify knowledgeable local actors and understand their spheres of influence and accountability, as some 'local' actors may be driven by international interests. In Belize, WWF-Belize used its global network to secure scientific support from American universities for coastal management research.
• To ensure sustainability and attraction, projects should be co-designed so all partners benefit. In Belize, the government and WWF-Belize partnered with tourism and fisheries industry bodies to create an Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan based on the specific needs of those sectors, which are highly climate vulnerable.
• A trusted facilitator or 'climate knowledge broker' is essential to manage cross-sectoral communication and keep partners briefed. Examples include the DHAN Foundation in Madurai, India, which used weekly 'river walks' in the local language to mobilise support, and the use of local parish councils in Jamaica to convene communities for geospatial data training.

APA

Reil, A., Dupar, M., Tiwari, S., Dedicatoria, R., Anton, B., Bood, N., Mandal, A., Ryan, D., Paul, A., & Madhankumar, A. (2016). Joining forces: how to make local climate partnerships a success. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Essentials_Partnership_FINAL_WEB.pdf

Chicago

Reil, Alice, Mairi Dupar, Sundandan Tiwari, Ranell Dedicatoria, Barbara Anton, Nadia Bood, Arpita Mandal, et al. Joining forces: how to make local climate partnerships a success. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2016. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Essentials_Partnership_FINAL_WEB.pdf.

Wikipedia

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BibTeX

@techreport{reil2016joining, author = {Reil, Alice and Dupar, Mairi and Tiwari, Sundandan and Dedicatoria, Ranell and Anton, Barbara and Bood, Nadia and Mandal, Arpita and Ryan, Daniel and Paul, Aditi and Madhankumar, A}, title = {{Joining forces: how to make local climate partnerships a success}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2016}, month = oct, url = {http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Essentials_Partnership_FINAL_WEB.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }