Mainstreaming Adaptation in Action: Case Studies from Two States in India

The paper analyzes two case studies from Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand to demonstrate how climate adaptation can be 'mainstreamed' into the day-to-day operations, budgets, and programs of state-level sectoral departments. It argues that programmatic mainstreaming—integrating adaptation into existing departmental budgets—is more financially sustainable than time-bound, project-specific interventions. Key enablers identified include the use of sectoral funds for climate-resilient alternatives, the role of State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs) in providing early-stage guidance, and the complementary influence of political and administrative leadership. The document also emphasizes the necessity of building institutional memory and maintaining cross-sectoral coordination to manage climate risks effectively.

• Programmatic mainstreaming, where adaptation is integrated into a department's regular budgets and day-to-day work, is potentially more financially sustainable than project-based mainstreaming because program budgets remain accessible, whereas stand-alone interventions are typically time-bound.
• Sectoral funds can be strategically used to support adaptation without requiring a total overhaul of existing programs; for example, the Department of Animal Husbandry in Madhya Pradesh promoted more climate-resilient cow species using existing sectoral funds.
• State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs) provide critical early-stage support for mainstreaming, either through the collaborative process of their development (as in Madhya Pradesh) or by guiding the selection of project locations and activities (as in Uttarakhand).
• Successful mainstreaming requires complementary support from political leaders, who communicate high-level messages to local communities, and administrative leaders, who control the allocation and strategic use of funds.
• Building capacity and institutional memory through training and information-sharing is essential for sustaining adaptation actions despite personnel turnover, while persistent cross-sectoral communication is critical for managing risks, particularly in projects with multiple involved departments.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Mainstreaming Adaptation in Action: Case Studies from Two States in India. https://www.wri.org/research/mainstreaming-adaptation-action-case-studies-two-states-india

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Mainstreaming Adaptation in Action: Case Studies from Two States in India. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/mainstreaming-adaptation-action-case-studies-two-states-india.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Mainstreaming Adaptation in Action: Case Studies from Two States in India |url=https://www.wri.org/research/mainstreaming-adaptation-action-case-studies-two-states-india |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendmainstreaming, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Mainstreaming Adaptation in Action: Case Studies from Two States in India}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/mainstreaming-adaptation-action-case-studies-two-states-india}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }