Building and sharing knowledge for adaptation: Lessons from the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Knowledge Platform for Asia

This policy brief evaluates the first phase (2009–2012) of the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Knowledge Platform for Asia (AKP), a collaborative initiative designed to build adaptation knowledge and capacity across Asia. The program utilized a three-tiered approach—sharing, generating, and applying knowledge—to mainstream climate adaptation into development planning. While the AKP successfully established a diverse network of local experts and produced over 50 knowledge products, it faced significant challenges regarding leadership consistency, language barriers in dissemination, and the limitations of linear project planning frameworks in measuring long-term social learning.

• The AKP supported adaptation research and capacity-building across 13 countries between 2009 and 2012. This included pilot projects in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam; scoping assessments in Bhutan, China, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Laos, and the Philippines; and limited work in Myanmar.
• A core strength of the AKP was its collaborative model, which allocated a portion of the budget to local partners. This approach empowered local experts and stakeholders to analyze national policies and test new approaches, rather than relying on interventions from outsiders.
• The program identified that while uncertainty is often seen as a barrier to adaptation, it can be used as an incentive for 'mainstreaming' adaptation into development to ensure that new infrastructure and development do not create new vulnerabilities.
• Despite its goals, the AKP found that mainstreaming adaptation is hindered by limited coordination across sectors, conflicts between sectoral policies, and limited interaction between different levels of government. Additionally, power imbalances often exclude women, the poor, and marginalized populations from these processes.
• The AKP produced over 50 knowledge products, including journal articles, toolkits, and synthesis reports. An independent 2012 survey found that 96% of respondents believed the AKP facilitated the exchange of regional experiences and adaptation knowledge, and 91% agreed it added value to other initiatives.
• The program suffered from a lack of consistent leadership and coordination due to high staff turnover, which led to compromised quality and timeliness in some projects. Furthermore, the reliance on English for most outputs limited the reach of the findings to target audiences who require local languages.
• The AKP concluded that linear project planning frameworks are insufficient for capturing the complexities of adaptation. Measuring outcomes like social learning and increased adaptive capacities requires long-term monitoring and evaluation over several years rather than short time frames.

APA

Salamanca, A., & Davis, M. (2013). Building and sharing knowledge for adaptation: Lessons from the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Knowledge Platform for Asia. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/SEI-AKP-PB-2013-Lessons-from-AKP-experience.pdf

Chicago

Salamanca, Albert, and Marion Davis. Building and sharing knowledge for adaptation: Lessons from the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Knowledge Platform for Asia. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2013. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/SEI-AKP-PB-2013-Lessons-from-AKP-experience.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Salamanca |first1=Albert |last2=Davis |first2=Marion |title=Building and sharing knowledge for adaptation: Lessons from the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Knowledge Platform for Asia |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=2013 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/SEI-AKP-PB-2013-Lessons-from-AKP-experience.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{salamanca2013building, author = {Salamanca, Albert and Davis, Marion}, title = {{Building and sharing knowledge for adaptation: Lessons from the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Knowledge Platform for Asia}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2013}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/SEI-AKP-PB-2013-Lessons-from-AKP-experience.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }