Climate and Development Knowledge Network

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.

This year, CDKN will be represented at the 64th sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SB64) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), taking place at the World Conference Center Bonn (WCCB) in Bonn, Germany, from 8 to 18 June 2026.

Across Ethiopia, climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of droughts, land degradation and water stress, threatening the livelihoods of rural communities that rely heavily on agriculture and natural resources. Building resilience to these impacts requires approaches that strengthen local capacity, support sustainable livelihoods and enable communities to lead adaptation efforts that reflect their priorities and realities.

Share this: Story detail: Date: 20th May 2026 Authors: Nadia Sitas, Hannah Sack, Cris Robertson Countries: Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia Photo: Credit: Nature and People as One (NaPO). On this International Day for Biological Diversity, the global community reflects an urgent reality: biodiversity loss and climate change are deeply interconnected crises that require equally interconnected solutions.

As the 21st Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF21) convenes, global attention turns to the critical role forests play in delivering on interconnected goals for climate, biodiversity and sustainable development. Forests cover more than 30% of the Earth’s land surface, support the livelihoods of over a billion people, and are home to around 80% of terrestrial biodiversity, yet they continue to face significant and ongoing degradation.

In April 2026, CDKN co‑hosted with the Norwegian Federation of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (FFO) a webinar on strengthening disability inclusion within GESI‑responsive climate action in Africa. With an array of speakers sharing insights from science, policy, and practice, the webinar emphasised the importance of integrating disability meaningfully into climate action frameworks across the continent.

In April 2026, CDKN co‑hosted with the Norwegian Federation of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (FFO) a webinar on strengthening disability inclusion within gender equity and social inclusion (GESI)‑responsive climate action in Africa. With an array of speakers sharing insights from science, policy, and practice, the webinar emphasised the importance of integrating disability meaningfully into climate policy and action frameworks across the continent.

Share this: Story detail: Date: 20th April 2026 Authors: Md. Jubaer Rashid, Chaity Dev Organisation: ICLEI Photo: Image Credit: ICLEI South Asia. As part of the CDKN Knowledge Accelerator for Climate Compatible Development Programme, a team from our alliance partners, ICLEI South Asia, visited Ward 9 of Lalmonirhat Municipality in Bangladesh.