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The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) provides scientific research and technical support to reduce human vulnerability to natural hazards and climate change. Through its Initiative on Transforming Development and Disaster Risk, SEI works to ensure development does not create new risks but instead enhances resilience. The institute supports global frameworks like the Sendai Framework and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, while providing regional support to ASEAN in Southeast Asia and IGAD in Eastern Africa. SEI's capacity-building efforts include developing analytical tools (such as the BalticClimate Toolkit and RISC-KIT), hosting knowledge platforms like weADAPT.org, and sponsoring 'writeshops' for early-career scientists from developing countries.

The document outlines a research initiative to break down barriers between disaster risk reduction (DRR), adaptation, and development. It argues that development processes often create the very risks they seek to mitigate, and proposes a framework based on understanding risk trade-offs, promoting 'equitable resilience' to address social injustice, and implementing adaptive governance. The brief highlights the Sendai Framework as a key opportunity to integrate these transformative practices globally.

The document evaluates the 'adaptation readiness' of ASEAN countries, categorizing them based on their policy engagement and institutional frameworks. It identifies the Philippines and Vietnam as pioneers, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Myanmar as emerging champions, and Laos, Malaysia, and Thailand as 'wait-and-see' adaptors. The analysis highlights critical gaps in funding, sub-national engagement, and the failure to address structural inequalities and the specific needs of smallholders. It recommends a regional agenda for smallholder adaptation, increased direct engagement with rural populations, and the establishment of regional knowledge-sharing and monitoring systems.

The SEI Initiative on Climate Services focuses on creating a Participatory Framework for Climate Services (PFCS) to better connect climate science with the practical needs of users, ranging from national governments to smallholder farmers. The initiative is structured around four work packages: understanding user needs, exploring collaborative co-generation processes, improving communication methodologies, and developing a community learning space via the weADAPT platform. It draws on interdisciplinary research and case studies from both industrialized and developing countries to ensure climate information is timely, relevant, and accessible.

The briefing argues that cultural differences between international disaster risk reduction (DRR) actors and local communities can increase social vulnerability. It highlights a clash between the 'expert'-driven, scientific culture of aid organizations and the culturally embedded, place-specific risk perceptions of local populations. To resolve this, the authors advocate for 'place-based research' that explores emotional attachments and social memories linked to specific biophysical locations, allowing for the co-creation of risk reduction strategies aligned with local sociocultural priorities.

The Global Resilience Partnership aims to shift the global approach to development and humanitarian assistance by focusing on root causes and long-term impacts to prevent disasters from trapping vulnerable populations in poverty. The organization emphasizes the necessity of 'smart partnerships' between governments, civil society, and the private sector to build resilience against interrelated challenges including climate change and food insecurity.

The document examines climate information services in BRACED countries, noting that while access is increasing, end-users struggle with data quality, inappropriate spatial scales, and poor communication. It details regional weather drivers like the ITCZ in Africa and the monsoon in Asia, and argues for a service-oriented approach that integrates localized, two-way communication into resilience programming to improve decision-making at the community level.

The document assesses SEI's global urban research portfolio to identify strengths and gaps that can be leveraged for a new programme in sub-Saharan Africa. It finds that while SEI has diverse expertise across 64 projects, there is a lack of cross-centre collaboration and significant research gaps in Central and West Africa, as well as in specific areas like urban solid waste management and green infrastructure in the Global South. The report recommends replicating successful global projects in Africa and expanding research into under-studied regions and strategic themes such as urban governance and inclusive cities.

The CDKN-ICLEI First Learning Workshop in Quito, Ecuador, brought together 51 participants from 16 projects to identify enablers and barriers to sub-national climate compatible development (CCD). The workshop focused on moving from planning to implementation, resulting in a revised set of assumptions about effective CCD and the identification of critical knowledge gaps in planning, scaling, and conceptualisation. These outcomes informed seven core learning questions that project partners will address through the creation of 'Inside Stories'—reflective, evidence-based analyses of their learning processes. Regional discussions highlighted that in Asia, CCD is often framed as 'climate-smart' or 'climate-friendly' and requires strong links to poverty alleviation and gender issues, while in Latin America and the Caribbean, local framing and political will are seen as key drivers for sustainability.

The policy brief examines the emergence of the Blue Economy as a central priority for African policymakers, specifically through the AU's 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM Strategy). It identifies a significant challenge of fragmentation, where maritime ambitions span a complex array of sector-specific institutions and programmes. The author suggests that the 2050 AIM Strategy should link with the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), which has recently undergone institutional renewal and adopted the Blue Economy as its top priority. The brief emphasizes that for these initiatives to succeed, they must avoid duplicating sector-specific efforts and instead focus on high-level integrated planning, improved communication platforms, and bolstered institutional capacity.

Pakistan is highly vulnerable to climate change, particularly through erratic monsoons and glacier melt affecting the Indus River system, despite being a low emitter of greenhouse gases. Recent events include devastating floods in 2010 that displaced 20 million people and more recent flash floods in northern regions like Chitral. In response, Pakistan has established the Ministry of Climate Change and adopted a National Climate Change Policy in 2012. CDKN is collaborating with various sectors to promote proactive disaster planning, low-carbon development in manufacturing hubs like Sialkot, and micro-insurance for flood-affected populations.

A joint statement from free-market and taxpayer organizations advocating for the PREPARE Act of 2015 to streamline federal agency coordination and risk management during extreme weather events.

The document examines the 'adaptation deficit' and 'scale mismatch' in SIDS, where national adaptation plans often fail to incorporate local community needs. Using the GIVRAPD project's research in Jamaica, Mauritius, the Seychelles, and St Lucia, it argues that many implementation barriers are surmountable through stakeholder workshops and collaborative governance. A case study of the Soufriere Marine Management Area in St. Lucia illustrates how evolving from a top-down institution to a multi-stakeholder association can improve adaptive capacity.

The document examines the role of culture—defined as religious and traditional beliefs, values, social structures, and livelihood choices—within disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation. It identifies two primary arguments in existing literature: that risk is socially and culturally constructed, and that culture is the root of all behaviors. The text argues that while culture is a crucial determinant of risk, more evidence is needed to justify its integration into risk reduction paradigms, specifically regarding how culture influences the perception of hazards, the assignment of responsibility, and the prioritization of risks against daily needs.

The report addresses the critical shortage of local climate data in fragile states, where conflict and weak governance often destroy meteorological infrastructure. It categorizes climate information into historical, current, and prospective data, and provides a directory of satellite-based alternatives and international forecasting centers. The document argues that integrating these data into different humanitarian planning horizons—from immediate relief to long-term strategic planning—is essential for sustainable peacebuilding. It concludes by outlining priorities for rebuilding national meteorological services, using examples from Haiti and Sierra Leone.

The report examines community resilience in two Alpine regions. In South Tyrol, it analyzes the impact of a December 2012 landslide in Badia, finding that while risk awareness is high, it does not always lead to individual preparedness. The study highlights the critical role of local social networks and the high trust placed in local authorities like the fire brigade and municipality. In Grisons, the report focuses on the methodology for creating quantitative resilience indicators, such as residence time and past disaster awareness, to help decision-makers prioritize preventive actions.

The report argues that social learning—learning embedded within social networks—is essential for developing the adaptive capacity required for community resilience. It distinguishes between single, double, and triple-loop learning, noting that deeper reflection is necessary for transformative change. Using case studies from the UK (floods and heatwaves) and Turkey (earthquakes), the document explores triggers for learning, such as the 'window of opportunity' following a disaster, and the role of 'mavens' or opinion leaders in diffusing knowledge. It highlights barriers including path dependence, power imbalances, and the risk of 'well-informed' individuals feeling a false sense of security. The report concludes that resilience should be viewed as a continuous process of 'bouncing forward' rather than a static end state.

This case study examines climate resilience efforts in Valenzuela City, Metro Manila, focusing on its vulnerability to flooding and its participation in the Partners for Resilience (PfR) programme to integrate climate change adaptation and ecosystem management into disaster risk reduction.

The report estimates that making Uganda's infrastructure climate-resilient will cost between US$52-66 million annually by 2020, rising to US$638-1,157 million by 2050. Residential buildings are the most affected sector, accounting for approximately half of all adaptation costs. The study also projects that annual damages from extreme events, if frequency doubles every 25 years, could reach US$738-3,294 million by 2050. Key adaptation priorities include climate-proofing public buildings and developing resilient transport standards.

The document examines how Valenzuela City, a low-lying industrial suburb of Metro Manila, has utilised the Partners for Resilience (PfR) framework to address chronic flooding and livelihood loss. It highlights the transition from short-term disaster response to a holistic approach that incorporates climate science, environmental restoration, and community-led early warning systems. Key successes include the integration of climate-informed contingency planning and the 'GREENING' project for urban land use. However, the study notes that institutional resilience is challenged by local political cycles and leadership changes.