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The SOLKAS project is a 72-month initiative designed to benefit 185,102 direct beneficiaries across six provinces in the Solomon Islands. It focuses on three main components: building community and school capacity for adaptation planning, implementing physical resilience measures (such as school retrofits and climate-resilient agriculture), and strengthening institutional governance through the deployment of a digital Climate Resilience Information Management System (CRIMS). The project specifically targets youth, women, and children to address systemic vulnerabilities and promote locally led adaptation (LLA).

The report examines climate adaptation in Senegal, finding that while locally led adaptation (LLA) is active and aligns with national goals, it is hindered by significant financing gaps and a lack of integration into central government policy and governance.

The RHL project targets 362,475 direct beneficiaries in the coastal districts of Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, and Cox’s Bazar. It focuses on three primary outcomes: reducing asset and life loss through the construction of 3,000 climate-resilient houses with raised plinths; enhancing livelihood resilience by promoting salinity-tolerant vegetable cultivation, goat/sheep rearing in slatted houses, and the establishment of a sustainable, hatchery-based crab supply chain; and improving local climate planning through the formation of 3,200 Climate Change Adaptation Groups (CCAGs). The project is implemented by the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) as both the Accredited Entity and Executing Entity, utilizing a blend of GCF grants and PKSF loans.

Fiji employs a multi-sectoral approach to climate adaptation, utilizing a National Adaptation Plan with 160 measures and a hybrid seawall strategy combining mangroves, boulders, and vetiver grass. The government coordinates these efforts through the Climate Change Division, utilizing GIS and the Adaptation Impact Analysis Tool to monitor village-level projects. For communities facing immediate risk of inundation, Fiji has established a Standard Operating Procedure for Planned Relocations and the Climate Relocation of Communities (CROC) Trust Fund to ensure voluntary, culturally-sensitive movement to higher ground, as seen in the relocation of the village of Cogea.

The project aims to protect essential health services in Indonesia against increasing climate variability and extreme weather events. It targets 80 healthcare facilities and 2 hospitals across 8 vulnerable districts in West Java and East Nusa Tenggara, intending to benefit 609,250 direct beneficiaries. The strategy involves integrating climate-risk data into health governance, upgrading facilities with green technologies (such as solar power and rainwater harvesting), and developing community-led health adaptation plans. The project is funded by a USD 25 million GCF grant and USD 2.04 million in co-financing, implemented by the Indonesian Ministry of Health and Save the Children.

The report examines how developing countries can use the results of their National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes to create Adaptation Communications (AdComs) under the Paris Agreement. It analyzes trends in AdCom submissions, provides case studies of countries at different NAP stages, and offers lessons on consultation and strategic alignment to boost the visibility of adaptation needs and progress.

The report provides guidance for developing countries to align their National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) with Adaptation Communications (AdComs) under the Paris Agreement. It analyzes trends among the 56 countries that have submitted AdComs, noting that most developing nations use either standalone documents or their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as vehicles. The document outlines how countries at different stages of the NAP process—early stage, finalizing, or implementing—can use AdComs to consolidate information, advocate for support, or share lessons learned. It also highlights trends in gender integration, adaptation costing, and the use of case studies to demonstrate resilience.

The report argues that the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) should avoid a rigid, top-down indicator framework, which often creates bureaucratic burdens and fails to reflect local realities. Instead, it proposes a 'mixed approach' that combines a few high-level global targets with bottom-up, country-driven indicators derived from existing national MEL systems. The authors emphasize that the MEL system must be iterative and pragmatically bold, focusing on enhancing adaptive capacity and reducing vulnerability without imposing new reporting burdens on developing countries. Key recommendations include leveraging existing frameworks like the SDGs and the Sendai Framework, strengthening participatory processes, and defining clear roles for UNFCCC bodies to analyze collective progress for the Global Stocktake.

The paper examines marine and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, focusing on how these interventions can provide sustainable livelihood opportunities. It identifies a successful incremental model used in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region, where periodic fishery closures (PFCs) serve as an entry point to broader conservation and restoration efforts. The study highlights the role of Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) and networks like MIHARI and Mwambao in scaling these benefits. While some projects rely on large external funding, the paper argues for community-centered designs that prioritize immediate food security to ensure long-term sustainability and uptake.

The analysis finds that while Ghanaian communities actively employ local knowledge for climate-smart agriculture and waste management, their efforts are hindered by limited access to financial resources, technical support, and national policy guidelines. It argues that Ghana's national adaptation goals, including those in its NDCs, can be better achieved by delegating authority and funding to local actors and integrating indigenous practices into national strategies.

The document evaluates Nigeria's climate adaptation landscape, contrasting high-level national policy frameworks with iterative, indigenous practices at the local level. While Nigeria has established ambitious frameworks like the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), implementation is hindered by a 'top-down approach' that excludes local stakeholders, alongside gaps in finance, technology, and capacity. Case studies in Ogun, Lagos, and Anambra states demonstrate that local communities are already implementing Nature-based Solutions (NbSs) and traditional adaptation methods—such as biogas production from cassava waste and the use of bitter leaf juice in aquaculture—that align with national goals despite a lack of formal policy awareness. The authors argue that integrating these locally-led initiatives into national frameworks is essential to prevent climate impacts from increasing GDP losses from 5% to 30% by 2050.

The document analyzes Senegal's climate adaptation landscape, noting a shift toward sectoral and territorial approaches. While the government has launched initiatives like the Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility (LoCAL) to integrate indigenous practices, significant gaps remain in financing, evidence-based knowledge, and the inclusion of community-led strategies. Case studies in Daga Birame, Dionewar, and Widdou Thingolly illustrate the capacity of local communities to implement adaptation measures in agriculture, coastal protection, and health, despite limited central government support.

The GCF Secretariat responds to the Independent Evaluation Unit's synthesis of direct access, agreeing with most recommendations to broaden access beyond accreditation and enhance support for direct access entities (DAEs). Key initiatives include the project-specific assessment approach (PSAA) pilot, the Simplified Approval Process (SAP), and the use of the Portfolio Performance Management System (PPMS) for implementation support. The Secretariat aims to integrate these improvements into the GCF Strategic Plan for 2024-2027 (USP-2) and a revised Readiness Strategy.

The Kurna community in Kano State, Nigeria, implemented the Afforestation Drive, a locally-led adaptation project using nature-based solutions to combat extreme heat and air pollution. Led by Dr. Dahiru Muhammad Hashim and the Panacea Foundation, the initiative planted over 2,000 adaptive trees in Kurna and expanded to plant 135,382 trees across Kano State. The project utilized an open-source digital data kit for monitoring and focused on indigenous species to improve air quality, reduce respiratory diseases, and create new livelihood opportunities through fruit trading. Despite success, the project faced barriers such as government bureaucracy and lack of funding, highlighting the need for a shift from top-down climate strategies to models that devolve decision-making and resources to frontline communities.

In Banishanta village, Khulna district, farmers have formed the Banishanta Weather Club to combat the impacts of cyclones, floods, and high salinity. Supported by the NGO Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS) and the Delta Research Initiative (DRI), the community uses digital tools, smartphone apps, and a Facebook messenger group called 'Banishanta Climate School' to access weather forecasts and agro-advisories. This locally led adaptation approach allows farmers to make informed decisions on sowing and irrigation, reducing the economic costs of climatic disasters and improving livelihoods for smallholder farmers and the Banojibi community.

The community of Kamarkhali, located along the Someshwari River in Bangladesh, faced accelerating riverbank erosion that destroyed homes and culturally significant sites. After unsuccessful attempts to build their own bamboo and sandbag embankments, the community formed the Kamarkhali Someshwari Riverbank Erosion Resistance Committee and engaged in non-violent civil resistance, including human chains and social media campaigns. These efforts eventually pressured the Bangladesh Water Development Board to construct a sandbag embankment between February and April 2021. While this protected the village during record-breaking floods in June 2022, residents argue that only a concrete or stone embankment will provide long-term security and that government-scaled sand mining in the river continues to exacerbate erosion.

The document details how the local NGO BEDS transitioned women in the Sundarbans from using mangrove seeds as cooking fuel to establishing community-led nurseries. This shift has provided economic empowerment for women, such as Nomita Mondol, and increased mangrove coverage in the region to combat climate risks like cyclones and salinity.

The report assesses Senegal's climate adaptation landscape, highlighting a disconnect between top-down national policies and effective, endogenous community-led actions. While case studies in agriculture, coastal zones, and health demonstrate that local initiatives are well-aligned with NDC goals, they suffer from a lack of direct funding and institutional recognition. The document argues for a paradigm shift toward Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) to enhance the sustainability and efficiency of the country's climate resilience efforts.

The report assesses Ghana's climate adaptation landscape, highlighting a gap between national policy frameworks and local implementation. While Ghana has established comprehensive strategies like the updated NDCs and the National Climate Change Policy, funding is heavily skewed toward mitigation (87.4%) over adaptation (3.4%). Through three case studies in the Savannah, Upper East, and coastal regions, the study demonstrates that locally led adaptation (LLA)—such as organic shea processing, climate-smart agriculture, and community-based disaster risk reduction—effectively reduces vulnerability and improves livelihoods. However, LLA is hindered by limited financial resources, weak institutional coordination, and a top-down decision-making approach. The report recommends devolving financial resources, integrating traditional knowledge into policy, and fostering participatory decision-making to enhance climate resilience.

The report argues that while Nigeria has comprehensive national adaptation frameworks, there is a significant gap between high-level policy and local implementation. It highlights that locally led adaptation (LLA) is already occurring through community-driven initiatives in biogas production, aquaculture, and erosion control, but these efforts are hindered by a lack of finance, technical capacity, and political will. The authors advocate for a shift from 'top-down' approaches to those that empower frontline communities to lead the design and monitoring of adaptation actions.