Search Climate Insights Directory

The evaluation finds that while the GCF has a robust 'do-no-harm' policy framework, it is primarily treated as a compliance exercise rather than a strategic opportunity to empower Indigenous Peoples (IPs). Systemic barriers in the GCF's accreditation-based business model make direct access to resources nearly insurmountable for IPs. The report highlights inconsistent application of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), limited integration of traditional knowledge, and a lack of portfolio-level monitoring for IP-specific results. It recommends establishing a dedicated IP-specific funding window and shifting the organizational culture from passive compliance to proactive engagement.

The document argues that while Africa's food systems face profound climate impacts, only a small fraction of adaptation finance reaches local actors. It proposes a shift toward 'locally led adaptation' through principles like subsidiarity, flexible funding, and risk-taking, alongside practical strategies such as engaging local governance, supporting microfinance, and leveraging digital technologies like blockchain.

The study examines vertical integration—the coordination between national and sub-national governments—in Indonesia, Brazil, and India. It identifies common barriers such as fragmented governance, capacity gaps, and financing shortages at the local level. The paper recommends improving cross-sectoral governance, enhancing official capacity for planning and evaluation, harmonizing risk assessment data, and ensuring traceable financial mechanisms to bridge the gap between national commitments and local resilience outcomes.

The document outlines the key priorities for COP29, emphasizing the establishment of the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance and the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund. It highlights the need for intensified Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) before the 2025 deadline and the advancement of the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) and Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs). Additionally, it identifies the importance of nature-based solutions, the operationalization of Article 6 regarding carbon markets, and the need to address transboundary climate risks and socioeconomic disparities in adaptation, all within a complex geopolitical landscape influenced by Azerbaijan's fossil fuel economy.

The brief evaluates 62 of 95 water investments established between 2013 and 2018 in Kenya's ASAL regions, finding that functionality generally declined between 2019 and 2023 due to poor maintenance funding, governance gaps, and insufficient climate data. It recommends integrating indigenous knowledge, securing dedicated operations and maintenance budgets, and adopting landscape-level management to ensure long-term resilience.

The document unpacks the IPCC's findings on how systemic inequalities—including gender, race, and socio-economic status—increase vulnerability to climate change. It argues that adaptation efforts are more effective and less likely to be maladaptive when they incorporate inclusive participation, diverse knowledge systems, and a focus on climate justice. The brief uses illustrative examples from Africa to demonstrate how marginalized groups, such as Indigenous Peoples and women, experience disproportionate impacts and how community-based, human rights-based approaches can generate social co-benefits.

The document translates the technical findings of the IPCC's Working Group II report into accessible messages, emphasizing that vulnerability to climate change is driven by systemic inequalities. It argues that adaptation efforts are more effective and just when they integrate gender, equity, and justice, and warns that ignoring these factors leads to 'maladaptation'. The briefing advocates for inclusive participation, the integration of indigenous and local knowledge, and a shift toward 'climate-resilient development' that addresses the root causes of vulnerability.

The document argues that the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) must include a specific annual adaptation finance target of at least USD 215 billion, prioritizing public grants and concessional loans over non-concessional debt. To be effective, the goal should balance global, national, and local priorities, including support for locally led adaptation and transboundary climate risk management. For equity, the brief recommends prioritizing Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), increasing funding for Indigenous Peoples and women, and simplifying access to finance through Direct Access and Enhanced Direct Access programs. It further suggests updating the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) in 2028 to improve accountability for both providers and recipients of adaptation finance.

The document distills evidence from the IPCC WGII report to highlight how systemic inequalities increase climate vulnerability and argues that inclusive, justice-based adaptation planning leads to more effective and sustainable outcomes.

The document synthesizes research from the IPCC's Working Group II to highlight how gender, equity, and justice are critical to effective climate adaptation. It identifies highly vulnerable groups—including women, children, indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities—and argues that ignoring these social dimensions leads to 'maladaptation.' The briefing advocates for inclusive participation, the integration of indigenous and local knowledge, and a rights-based approach to ensure that adaptation efforts are equitable and sustainable.

The Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) reports significant progress between 2020 and 2023 in scaling resilience innovations, democratizing knowledge, and influencing global policy. Key achievements include the incubation of the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA), the growth of the Resilience Evidence Coalition to over 1,700 members, and the establishment of the Resilience Hub at COP26, COP27, and COP28. GRP focused on amplifying Global South voices through initiatives like the South to South Resilience Academies and the Locally Led Adaptation principles. The report highlights the mobilization of private sector finance through the PREPARE Call to Action and the implementation of innovation challenges such as RAIN in East Africa. These efforts are designed to transition GRP toward its 2024-2029 strategy, focusing on transforming food and financial systems and embedding resilience in the private sector.

The report examines the alignment between national climate policies and local adaptation practices in Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal. It argues that while these nations have developed NDCs and adaptation plans, the effectiveness of these measures is hindered by a lack of recognition for locally-led adaptation (LLA), significant funding gaps, and weak institutional capacities. The document emphasizes that integrating indigenous knowledge and empowering local actors—particularly women—is essential for building sustainable climate resilience in West Africa.

The guide outlines how to incorporate climate adaptation into the four steps of the Dominican Republic's EIA process: request and registration, preliminary analysis, scope definition, and study review. It emphasizes reducing climate risk by addressing exposure, vulnerability, and resilience for both the project and its surrounding bio-physical and socio-economic environments. Key tools include a detailed model for descriptive memories, sector-specific adaptation examples, and a comprehensive checklist for verifying adaptation themes within Environmental Impact Studies (EsIA). The document advocates for Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and Community-based Adaptation (CbA) while warning against 'maladaptation'—measures that inadvertently increase climate risk or greenhouse gas emissions.

The ATOM project seeks USD 12.5 million from the Green Climate Fund to enhance the Cook Islands' health system resilience against climate-sensitive health risks (CSHRs). The initiative focuses on three components: strengthening institutional capacity to integrate climate data into health operations, retrofitting health facilities in the Pa Enua for cyclone and water security, and implementing community outreach and food security programs. The project targets 15,040 direct beneficiaries and aims to reduce the climate-induced health burden, which is estimated to cost the country USD 3.7 million annually.

The Sierra Leone Coastal Resilience Project (SLCRP) is a 60-month initiative requesting USD 25 million from the Green Climate Fund to enhance the adaptive capacity of 260,000 direct beneficiaries in five coastal districts: Kambia, Port Loko, Moyamba, Bonthe, and Pujehun. The project focuses on three main components: establishing participatory governance and climate-responsive planning (including Community Adaptation Plans), promoting climate-resilient farming and fishing practices to secure food and water security, and implementing ecosystem-based adaptation to protect and restore 1,500 hectares of mangrove forests. The project emphasizes gender equality and social inclusion, targeting women and youth for leadership in climate-resilient entrepreneurship and resource management. Implementation is led by Save the Children Australia (Accredited Entity), with Save the Children Sierra Leone and the Environmental Protection Agency of Sierra Leone as executing entities.

The leader of the Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) is stepping down at the end of May 2024 to become CEO of PlanetaryX. The announcement highlights GRP's role in positioning resilience as a core part of climate action through initiatives like the Race to Resilience Campaign and the Resilience Hub at COP, as well as its partnership with the Stockholm Resilience Centre. Immediate priorities before the transition include launching the 2024-2029 Strategy and unveiling a revised Partnership model.

The Sierra Leone Coastal Resilience Project's GESI Action Plan establishes a framework to integrate marginalized groups into coastal adaptation. It focuses on three main components: strengthening community governance and WASH infrastructure, enhancing climate-resilient food systems and livelihoods, and implementing ecosystem-based adaptation through mangrove restoration. The plan sets specific quantitative targets for the participation of women, youth (under 35), and people with disabilities across all project activities, supported by a dedicated GESI specialist and budget allocations for inclusive training and infrastructure.

The document examines the integration of locally-led adaptation (LLA) into Senegal's climate strategy, specifically focusing on the alignment between community-driven initiatives and the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Through case studies in agriculture, coastal zones, and health, the research demonstrates that while local actions are often consistent with national priorities, they are hindered by a lack of government recognition, limited technical capacity, and poor access to climate finance. The paper argues for a shift from top-down approaches to a model that empowers local communities to ensure sustainable and effective climate resilience.

The document examines the disconnect between Nigeria's top-down climate adaptation frameworks and the bottom-up initiatives already being implemented by local communities. It highlights that while national policies like the NDC and NAPF are comprehensive, they often exclude frontline stakeholders and lack clear implementation plans. Through case studies in Ogun and Anambra states and Lagos, the brief demonstrates how local actors use indigenous knowledge and nature-based solutions to combat deforestation, fisheries collapse, and gully erosion. It concludes that scaling up LLA can enhance national resilience if the government addresses critical gaps in finance, capacity building, and technology access.

The document examines the gap between Ghana's national climate policies and the implementation of adaptation actions at the community level. It argues that transitioning from top-down dynamics to locally-led adaptation (LLA)—which empowers local actors to define and lead their own resilience strategies—can improve the effectiveness and sustainability of climate actions. Through three case studies in the Savannah, Upper East, and coastal regions, the brief demonstrates how LLA initiatives, such as organic shea processing, climate-smart agriculture, and nature-based coastal defenses, align with Ghana's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) while addressing local vulnerabilities. It highlights significant funding gaps, noting that Ghana's NDCs estimate adaptation costs between US $9.3 billion and US $15.5 billion by 2030, with the government able to provide only a quarter of this amount. The brief recommends that the Ghanaian government and international partners prioritize LLA to unlock climate finance and leverage local knowledge for more sustainable development.