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The document argues that while gender-responsive approaches are increasing, a truly intersectional approach is necessary to address the overlapping structures of inequality—such as racism, ageism, and disability discrimination—that exacerbate climate vulnerability. It outlines core and process principles to guide practitioners through the four stages of the adaptation cycle: risk assessment, planning, implementation, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL).

The document describes the use of a Serious Game (SG) to address challenges in participatory watershed management in Colombia's Campoalegre River basin. By providing an interactive platform, the SG helps bridge knowledge gaps caused by limited baseline data and monitoring, allowing local actors and decision-makers to better understand the basin and prioritize management actions. The application of the SG resulted in improved stakeholder understanding, increased participation, and the generation of actionable inputs for water management planning policies.

The report examines how six cities (Athens, Auckland, Barcelona, Glasgow, Lima, and Montreal) are evolving their climate adaptation tracking. It finds a general tendency to focus on outputs rather than outcomes, but highlights innovative approaches such as participatory planning in Lima, vulnerability mapping in Glasgow, and the creation of 'climate shelters' in Barcelona to better measure actual benefits to populations.

The document argues that smart city developments often prioritize technology and business interests, risking the exclusion of marginalized groups, the urban poor, and women. It proposes a participatory approach to urban planning that utilizes stakeholder mapping, gender-sensitive data collection, and social equity impact assessments to ensure that digital and infrastructural transformations do not exacerbate existing social inequalities or displace vulnerable populations.

The document introduces a new integrated approach for water resource planning in Bolivia that merges the national Plan Nacional de Cuenca (PNC) with Robust Decision Support (ADR). This methodology was applied to the Río Rocha basin to incorporate long-term uncertainties, such as climate change and demographic shifts, into the planning process. A key innovation is the use of the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) system within a Participatory Decision-Making Model (MTDP), allowing stakeholders to interactively evaluate the impacts of different management interventions through quantitative indicators. The authors argue that this integrated approach legitimizes planning instruments through effective participation and provides a replicable model for other strategic basins in Bolivia.

The survey of 1,269 residents in Helsinki and Tallinn reveals a high valuation of urban nature for pollution reduction, habitat provision, and relaxation, while economic value and community building are seen as less important. Residents in both cities expressed concerns over antisocial behavior and the risk of crime in isolated green areas, as well as the loss of 'wild' nature to infill building. Preferred new green elements include trees, green walls, and meadows. Regarding urban planning, approximately 50% of respondents felt their cities did not actively promote participation opportunities, showing a preference for 3D/VR tools and direct engagement like walks with planners over social interaction with other residents. Area-specific analysis highlights the use of Kalasatama and the Pollinator Highway primarily for exercise, daily errands, and commuting, with walking and cycling as the dominant modes of transport.

The document argues that peri-urban ecosystems in India are critical for the resilience of both urban and peri-urban populations but are frequently neglected due to ambiguous administrative boundaries and rapid urbanisation. It highlights the essential services these areas provide, such as flood control, food security, and microclimate regulation, while warning that unplanned infrastructure leads to environmental degradation. The brief recommends integrated, flexible planning at the district level, the revival of District and Metropolitan Planning Committees, and the adoption of participatory, community-led governance to balance development with ecological preservation.

The briefing describes the development and application of a customized vulnerability assessment and inundation mapping tool for New York's Great Lakes region. It emphasizes the importance of using 'weather trends' rather than 'climate change' terminology to engage local officials and highlights a case study in the village of Sodus Point where participatory workshops led to specific resiliency actions, such as new communication strategies and the investigation of the Coastal Erosion Hazard Act.

The Manggahan Low Rise Building Project in Pasig City, Philippines, serves as a model for locally led climate resilience. Following the devastation of Typhoon Ondoy in 2009, residents of informal settlements along the Manggahan Floodway formed the Alliance of Peoples Organizations Along Manggahan Floodway (APOAMF) to oppose government plans for forced relocation up to 60 miles away. Through the 2010 "People Plan," residents collaborated with architects and government officials to design a flood- and typhoon-resistant apartment complex on an embankment. The project aims for 15 buildings with 900 units, with 480 families already moved into rent-to-own apartments. The case highlights the importance of co-creating adaptation solutions with marginalized urban populations to build city-wide resilience and avoid climate-induced migration.

Senegal has implemented a sectoral approach to its National Adaptation Plan (NAP), utilizing a hierarchy of committees to link local and national planning. The fisheries and aquaculture sector served as the pilot for this process, integrating six existing local adaptation plans into a national strategy. Key to this success was the involvement of Local Artisanal Fishing Councils (CLPA) and the coordination between the National Committee on Climate Change (COMNACC) and 14 Regional Committees on Climate Change (COMRECCs).

The document details how the Metropolitan District of Quito (DMQ) collaborated with the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) to develop a climate vulnerability study and a five-year Action Plan. It highlights that the successful integration of climate data into policy was driven by a participatory approach involving local technical experts and the alignment of the study's methodology with the municipality's specific needs. The process emphasized intersectoral coordination and the inclusion of diverse perspectives, including gender-specific understandings of vulnerability, to implement practical adaptation solutions.

The brief examines how gender-sensitive programming in urban Kisumu, Kenya, can improve climate compatible development outcomes by addressing the distinct vulnerabilities of men and women. While the PPP project demonstrated that inclusive decision-making allows for better addressing of practical needs and enables women to take leadership roles, significant barriers remain, including entrenched cultural attitudes and insufficient institutional capacity. The document recommends gender audits, the appointment of gender focal persons in county departments, and a focus on structural barriers to ensure more equitable and effective climate interventions.

The 4PCCD project in Maputo's Chamanculo C neighbourhood demonstrated that participatory planning allows local residents to integrate climate change concerns into immediate development priorities, such as sanitation, which simultaneously reduces their vulnerability to climate-related impacts.

The document examines climate vulnerability in the Soufriere region of Saint Lucia, identifying significant gaps in financial, human, and social capital that hinder adaptation. It highlights barriers such as top-down government planning and a lack of incentives in the tourism sector, while suggesting micro-insurance as a tool to replace high-stress coping mechanisms among the poor.

The project 'Public, Private, People Partnerships for Climate Compatible Development' (4PCCD) focused on the Chamanculo C neighbourhood in Maputo to test participatory planning methods. By establishing a community-led Climate Planning Committee (CPC), the project enabled residents to integrate climate concerns with local development priorities, such as drainage and waste management. The findings suggest that local citizens are eager to engage in climate action and that participatory methods can bridge the gap between technical climate information and the lived experience of vulnerable urban populations.

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 argues that climate compatible development is won or lost at the subnational level, where local actors face intense pressure from climate extremes but possess unique advantages in local knowledge and cross-sectoral coordination. It identifies key barriers, such as scientific uncertainty at local scales and a gap between public expectations and available resources. To overcome these, the paper recommends strategies including the cultivation of local political 'champions', the creation of 'knowledge partnerships' to translate climate science for communities, and the use of participatory planning to mobilise in-kind resources. It emphasizes that for these local successes to contribute to global transformational change, they must be 'scaled out' to other localities and 'scaled up' into national policy frameworks.

The report examines the complexities of service provision in peri-urban areas—the transition zones between rural and urban environments—which often suffer from unclear institutional mandates and rapid, unplanned growth. It argues for a shift from linear to circular nutrient management to enhance food security, a systems-based approach to the water-energy nexus, and the use of inclusive, community-led planning to ensure sustainable and equitable service delivery.

The report details a three-phase process (preparatory, evaluation, and implementation) for establishing a sustainable development measurement system in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. It emphasizes the need for indigenous capacity, the use of specific physical indicators over macro-indices, and a participatory approach to selecting key issues. The proposed institutional arrangement involves a quasi-independent team hosted by the office of the chief economist and formally established by provincial Round Tables.

The document argues that meaningful participation from diverse, affected groups is essential for a just transition to ensure procedural justice, improve policy efficiency, and increase ownership of climate policies. It identifies barriers to engagement, such as time constraints, costs, and low trust, and suggests a people-centered design approach to overcome them. The text highlights the necessity of coordination bodies to manage state and non-state actors across different political levels. Examples include Costa Rica's Just Transition Governance Scheme and South Africa's Presidential Climate Commission, both of which serve as platforms for multi-stakeholder collaboration and policy co-creation.