A framework for distributive equity of adaptation finance

The briefing introduces a three-step framework designed to move adaptation finance beyond simple fund allocation toward achieving equitable outcomes and structural change. It argues that current international funding often fails to reach the most vulnerable populations and frequently ignores the root causes of vulnerability. The framework guides actors through defining their equity goals, selecting guiding principles, and addressing eight specific elements of distributive equity across the project cycle. These elements range from ensuring fair allocation and resource access to more ambitious goals like protecting human rights, addressing intersectionality, and enabling decolonization to dismantle systemic drivers of marginalization.

• Current international adaptation finance is largely failing to reach the most vulnerable populations at both the global and national levels, and there is a significant lack of transparency from funders regarding how they define and evaluate distributive equity.
• The proposed framework categorizes the end goals of adaptation finance into three levels of ambition: equitable outputs (resources reaching the vulnerable), equitable outcomes (reducing vulnerability and enhancing adaptive capacity), and structural change (addressing systemic drivers of marginalization).
• The framework identifies five possible definitions of distributive equity: fair distribution of costs and benefits, fair allocation of goods and resources, fair use of resources, enhancing capacity, and addressing structural barriers.
• To achieve distributive equity, the framework outlines eight specific elements that should be addressed during project design, approval, implementation, and evaluation: fair allocation, enhancing access to resources, enhancing capabilities and opportunities, ensuring social protection, protecting human rights, addressing intersectionality, addressing unequal power dynamics, and enabling decolonization.
• Adaptation interventions that do not address the underlying drivers of vulnerability or contribute to long-term adaptive capacity risk reinforcing existing inequalities and becoming less effective.

APA

Shawoo, Z., Browne, K., Canales, N., & Nazareth, A. (2024). A framework for distributive equity of adaptation finance. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/framework-distributive-equity-adaptation-finance-sei2024-050.pdf

Chicago

Shawoo, Zoha, Katherine Browne, Nella Canales, and Anisha Nazareth. A framework for distributive equity of adaptation finance. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2024. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/framework-distributive-equity-adaptation-finance-sei2024-050.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Shawoo |first1=Zoha |last2=Browne |first2=Katherine |last3=Canales |first3=Nella |last4=Nazareth |first4=Anisha |title=A framework for distributive equity of adaptation finance |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=November 2024 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/framework-distributive-equity-adaptation-finance-sei2024-050.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{shawoo2024framework, author = {Shawoo, Zoha and Browne, Katherine and Canales, Nella and Nazareth, Anisha}, title = {{A framework for distributive equity of adaptation finance}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2024}, month = nov, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/framework-distributive-equity-adaptation-finance-sei2024-050.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }