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Albania implemented a pilot exercise to mainstream climate change adaptation into its 2018-2020 Medium-Term Budget Process, involving seven budget programs across four ministries. The process focused on identifying adaptation measures at various levels of government programming and improving the tracking of expenditures through the national financial system. The government intends to use this data for reporting to the UNFCCC and the European Union, with a long-term goal of potentially establishing a multi-sectoral government program on climate change if the mainstreaming process is deemed successful by international assessments.

The workshop, attended by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MEFCC) staff, focused on creating an action plan to communicate Ethiopia's NAP process. Participants developed messages for international entities like the UNFCCC and multilateral donors, emphasizing the need for technical and financial support. The group identified priority channels including the MEFCC website, policy briefs, and social media for international reach, while noting that radio, television, and clan leaders are essential for reaching national audiences due to limited internet usage and linguistic diversity.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) reported a strengthened financial position as of April 30, 2017, with cash balances 179.8% higher than the previous year. While total revenues reached US$1,424,975, the institute faces ongoing challenges with unpaid contributions from some member countries, totaling US$1.31 million. Budget performance through February 2017 showed expenses 13.1% lower than the budget, though salaries were higher than expected. Administratively, the IAI implemented new accounting software and continues to work toward the full implementation of Tripartite Agreements in Argentina and Brazil.

Scott Vaughan argues that ending hunger and extreme poverty is essential for achieving the SDGs, requiring an additional USD 11 billion in annual public spending until 2030. He emphasizes the need for improved irrigation efficiency, climate-resilient agriculture, and the reform of trade and investment policies to protect global food security from climate risks and protectionism.

The document introduces the CARIWIG portal, which provides downscaled regional climate projections, historical data, and simulation tools for tropical storms and drought to help Caribbean decision-makers integrate climate risk into planning. It emphasizes that while these tools provide high-resolution data relevant to national levels, the process of downscaling increases uncertainty, necessitating a shift toward 'robust' adaptation strategies and 'no regret' options.

The document is a collection of articles and interviews exploring how communication technologies influence social justice and governance. Key discussions include the failure of social media platforms to foster rational public debate due to their design, the ethical tensions in INGO public communications that often perpetuate colonial stereotypes, and the struggle for a transparent, democratic communication model in Cuba. It also analyzes the 'democratization of information' through Google Books, the impact of new media on political participation in Jamaica, and the personal history of advocacy journalism regarding Palestinian rights.

The document highlights that climate change is already causing severe damage in the Caribbean through hurricanes, flooding, and droughts, which is reversing gains in poverty alleviation and economic growth. It emphasizes the need for adaptation investments in agriculture to address rainfall changes and extreme events, and in tourism to combat sea-level rise and coral bleaching. The brief notes that while CDKN research has provided necessary localized climate projections, high up-front costs remain a significant barrier to implementing adaptation measures.

The document highlights Jamaica's high vulnerability to climate change, particularly regarding its coastal tourism and fisheries, and describes the GIVRAPD project's efforts to enhance local adaptive capacity through participatory planning and institutional collaboration.

This working paper examines whether multilevel governance can facilitate coastal climate change adaptation in Jamaica, focusing on the role of diverse actors and institutions across different scales, levels of organization, and sectors.

The document examines the vulnerability and adaptive capacity of Soufriere, St Lucia, as part of the Global Islands’ Vulnerability Research Adaptation Policy Development (GIVRAPD) project. It utilizes the Local Adaptive Capacity (LAC) framework, which evaluates five elements: asset base, institutions and entitlements, knowledge and information, innovation, and flexible forward-looking decision-making and governance. The paper aims to align the LAC framework with an evolutionary perspective on adaptive capacity and test the tool's applicability across different geographical contexts.

The document introduces a case study on the adaptive capacity of Whitehouse, Jamaica, as part of the Global Islands’ Vulnerability Research Adaptation Policy Development (GIVRAPD) project. It utilizes the Local Adaptive Capacity (LAC) framework, which evaluates five elements: asset base, institutions and entitlements, knowledge and information, innovation, and flexible forward-looking decision-making and governance. The paper aims to align the LAC framework with an evolutionary perspective on adaptive capacity and test the tool's applicability across different geographical contexts.

The document highlights a disconnect between national-level climate adaptation planning in SIDS and local-level implementation. While many SIDS have developed National Communications and National Adaptation Programs of Actions (NAPA) to secure donor funding, these often reflect national priorities with minimal local input. The brief suggests that overcoming 'adaptation deficits' requires empowering local leadership, utilizing participatory planning, and improving inter-ministerial collaboration to ensure global change dynamics fit local institutional contexts.

The research investigates the potential for micro-insurance to serve as a climate adaptation tool for vulnerable coastal communities in Small Island Developing States. The study concludes that despite differences between the examined islands, micro-insurance products can be developed to suit their specific characteristics and enhance community resilience against climate change.

The Caribbean faced $33bn in natural disaster damages between 2000 and 2009, representing 61% of its 2014 regional GDP. Climate change threatens key sectors: 94% of tourist accommodation in Belize is vulnerable to sea level rise and flooding, while 90% of agricultural land is rain-fed. Projections indicate divergent crop impacts, with Jamaica's sweet potato yields potentially increasing by 33% by mid-century, while Belize's corn yields may decrease by 25% by 2030. Financial losses are widespread, with 25% of surveyed households using education savings for reconstruction.

The document highlights the severe economic impacts of climate change on the Caribbean, specifically within agriculture and tourism. It leverages CDKN-funded research to propose adaptation strategies, such as crop diversification and multi-stakeholder tourism management, while emphasizing the need for financial support to overcome high up-front costs for small-scale actors.

The document argues that while community-level action is important, national governments are essential for providing strategic oversight, accessing finance, and creating the enabling environment for large-scale climate adaptation in the Caribbean. It highlights the need to integrate climate considerations into sectoral policies and plans, as evidenced by a case study in Belize where a lack of sectoral integration hindered tourism resilience. The brief promotes the use of the CCORAL tool for policy screening and the ARIA toolkit for assessing institutional adaptive capacity, noting that assessments in Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Lucia revealed gaps in vulnerability assessments and cross-sectoral coordination. Furthermore, it emphasizes the role of government as a 'bridge' to translate national priorities into local action through networked governance and public-private partnerships, citing the Sandals Whitehouse Special Fishery Conservation Area in Jamaica as a successful example of co-management.

The document outlines a research project comparing community adaptation and microinsurance demand in four Small Island Developing States (SIDS). It specifically focuses on comparing 2011 data from the Caribbean with new survey data from Mauritius and the Seychelles to analyze socio-economic profiles, financial behavior, and coping mechanisms in response to extreme weather.

The document examines how changing temperature and rainfall patterns will affect crop suitability in Jamaica by 2050, highlighting significant risks for tomato production and drought sensitivity for cocoa, while suggesting root crops as diversification alternatives.

The document outlines the challenges and best practices for implementing the 2030 Agenda in Latin America, emphasizing the need for cross-sectoral institutional structures, subnational engagement, and improved data disaggregation. It highlights the vulnerability of SDG implementation to political cycles and the difficulty of aligning the 2030 Agenda with the Paris Agreement. Key recommendations include incorporating medium-term goals to bridge government cycles and mobilizing private sector resources to fill funding gaps caused by regional recessions.

The document outlines the challenges and best practices for implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Latin America, focusing on institutional harmonization, inter-sectoral cooperation, local ownership, and financing. It highlights the risk of political instability affecting long-term goals and the need for better data disaggregation and multi-stakeholder dialogue to move beyond central government control.