Expanding the Community of Community-Based Adaptation

The document examines the limitations of narrow definitions of community-based adaptation (CBA), asserting that local efforts cannot succeed in isolation. It highlights that communities are not homogenous entities and that the success of adaptation depends on 'enabling conditions' provided by external institutions and policies. The author argues that because vulnerability is driven by a complex mosaic of assets and social dynamics, adaptation must be circumstance-specific rather than based on universal templates.

• Local community-level adaptation can lower individual and household vulnerability, but communities cannot adapt entirely independently. Success is contingent upon 'enabling conditions' provided by external policies and institutions.
• The term 'community-based' must be expanded to include external pressures and trends, as local adaptation can be either supported or blocked by the surrounding market and policy environments.
• Communities are not homogenous; they consist of diverse individuals and households with varying levels of vulnerability. Factors that allow some groups to adapt may simultaneously hinder others, and one group's successful response can increase another group's vulnerability.
• Adaptation is highly specific to the circumstances of a location; there is no universal list of measures applicable to all sites. Measures successful in one area may fail elsewhere because the necessary enabling conditions differ.

APA

Schipper, E. L. F. (n.d.). Expanding the Community of Community-Based Adaptation. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Sustainable-livelihoods/Vulnerability_approach_to_livelihood_development/Expanding-Community-Community-Based-Adaptation.pdf

Chicago

Schipper, E. Lisa F. Expanding the Community of Community-Based Adaptation. Stockholm Environment Institute, n.d. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Sustainable-livelihoods/Vulnerability_approach_to_livelihood_development/Expanding-Community-Community-Based-Adaptation.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Schipper |first1=E. Lisa F. |title=Expanding the Community of Community-Based Adaptation |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Sustainable-livelihoods/Vulnerability_approach_to_livelihood_development/Expanding-Community-Community-Based-Adaptation.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{schipperndexpanding, author = {Schipper, E. Lisa F.}, title = {{Expanding the Community of Community-Based Adaptation}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Sustainable-livelihoods/Vulnerability_approach_to_livelihood_development/Expanding-Community-Community-Based-Adaptation.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }