Untapped Potential: The Role of Local Governments in Locally Led Adaptation

This research paper examines the role of local governments in locally led adaptation (LLA), focusing on the Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility (LoCAL) mechanism. Using case studies from Niger, Lesotho, and Cambodia, the paper argues that local governments are underutilized actors capable of mediating between national authorities and communities to manage climate finance and institutionalize adaptation within existing government structures.

• The Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility (LoCAL) advances locally led adaptation by providing local governments with performance-based climate resilience grants, technical support, and capacity building. This approach enables local governments to make adaptation decisions and integrate climate change into local planning, institutionalizing LLA within existing national systems.
• Local governments possess a unique and untapped ability to bridge the gap between national climate policies, climate finance, and adaptation actions at the community level.
• While local governments can facilitate LLA, they may also replicate exclusionary politics and power dynamics from higher government levels. The LoCAL mechanism alone cannot resolve these entrenched systemic power dynamics, necessitating broader engagement with various local actors to ensure representation.
• LoCAL enhances the involvement of vulnerable groups and non-state actors in subnational budgeting and planning. By linking with existing processes that allow for the devolution of power, the mechanism enables both local governments and nongovernmental actors to participate meaningfully in adaptation action.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Untapped Potential: The Role of Local Governments in Locally Led Adaptation. https://www.wri.org/research/untapped-potential-role-local-governments-locally-led-adaptation-experiences-local-climate

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Untapped Potential: The Role of Local Governments in Locally Led Adaptation. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/untapped-potential-role-local-governments-locally-led-adaptation-experiences-local-climate.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Untapped Potential: The Role of Local Governments in Locally Led Adaptation |url=https://www.wri.org/research/untapped-potential-role-local-governments-locally-led-adaptation-experiences-local-climate |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutenduntapped, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Untapped Potential: The Role of Local Governments in Locally Led Adaptation}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/untapped-potential-role-local-governments-locally-led-adaptation-experiences-local-climate}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }