Climate and Development Knowledge Network

As the third phase of CDKN comes to a close, we are excited to announce the launch of our webinar series exploring what it takes to move locally led adaptation (LLA) from principle, to practice, to scale. LLA is now firmly established as a central pillar of climate action. But the conversation is evolving. The question is no longer ‘Why does LLA matter?’ but ‘How can LLA be enabled, strengthened and scaled?’ Experience shows that successful LLA depends on more than local leadership.

CDKN is excited to announce that it is developing a new toolkit to help local organisations and community-based groups turn locally led adaptation (LLA)  ideas into clear, fundable and sustainable projects. Developed from lessons across CDKN programmes and tested with local stakeholders, the practical toolkit will support users to shape their ideas, communicate their value and navigate the steps towards accessing climate finance. What is missing in climate finance?

Partout au Cameroun, les jeunes utilisent l’expression artistique pour s’engager face aux défis environnementaux qui touchent leurs communautés. À travers le slam, le conte, le stand-up et l’artisanat traditionnel, le projet Urban Art 4 Climate a permis aux jeunes d’explorer les réalités du changement climatique tout en valorisant les savoirs locaux et les pratiques traditionnelles qui soutiennent activités génératrices de revenus locales.

Across Cameroon, young people are using artistic expression to engage with environmental challenges affecting their communities. Through slam poetry, storytelling, stand-up performance, and traditional crafts, the Urban Art 4 Climate project has created opportunities for young people to explore the realities of climate change while connecting with Indigenous knowledge and livelihood practices rooted in their local contexts.

"In a rapidly evolving climate landscape, the leadership of early-career researchers will be essential. Initiatives that create space for their visibility, contribution, and connection are not supplementary; they are strategic investments in Africa's climate future."  -  Silvia Hagan, Facilitator - CDKN AVAR Fellowship Africa is on the frontlines of the global climate crisis.

Share this: Story detail: Date: 21st July 2026 Countries: Africa, Mozambique Themes: Adaptation and resilience, Agriculture and food security Photo: Local fair in the Macoca community, where producers (mostly women) present different varieties of local seeds and their uses. Credit: Micaia Foundation. Across Africa, climate change is placing growing pressure on food systems.

Share this: Story detail: Date: 21st July 2026 Authors: Lisa McNamara, Patricia Bamanyaki Photo: Credit: Barbara Rosen Jacobson, Mercy Corps [A version of this story was original published by SSN here] Climate action is only effective when it reflects the realities of the people it is intended to serve. Yet climate change does not affect everyone equally.

This learning brief, authored by Fatema Rajabali, captures key insights from a locally led adaptation (LLA) learning exchange convened by CDKN in Kenya in 2025. Bringing together practitioners, researchers, youth organisations and community leaders from nine African countries, the workshop explored what locally led adaptation looks like in practice and what is needed to strengthen and scale it across Africa.

Context Environmental pressures—including land degradation, pollution, and climate change—have significantly constrained the capacity of natural watersheds in Latin America to provide clean water, leaving human populations increasingly vulnerable. To address these challenges, the CDKN Latin America (LATAM) regional programme, coordinated by Fundación Futuro Latinoamericano (FFLA), supports the Andean Water Funds Platform.

This policy brief, written by CDKN’s Hannah Sack and Nadia Sitas and published by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), explores how a human rights-based approach (HRBA) can strengthen ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) to climate change. EbA uses biodiversity and ecosystem services to help communities adapt, offering cost-effective, equitable and scalable solutions when designed and implemented appropriately.