Enhancing Adaptation to Climate Change in Developing Countries - Through Community Based Adaptation

Editors: Joanes Atela, Saleemul Huq, Cosmas Ochieng, Victor Orindi, Tom Owiyo

Our understanding of what community-based adaptation (CBA) is and what it is not has significantly increased over the last few years. This is thanks to growing research and stakeholder engagement such as through the annual CBA conferences organized by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) and a wide array of partners. Over my seven years’ experience overseeing climate change adaptation projects in Africa and Asia under two flagship programmes (CCAA, 2009 – 2012; CARIAA, 2013 to-date), I have come across numerous cases that demonstrate what works and what does not for CBA in both continents.

Based on this experience, I find that this book uniquely draws rich evidence from empirical cases in an effort to strengthen the CBA narrative. It features a wide array of stakeholders experiences from different sectors and profes­sions, hence presenting an inclusive perspective for CBA. It has four themes: a) Conceptual context of CBA; b) Institutional context of CBA; c) Implemen­tation context of CBA; and d) Financial context for CBA. The themes collec­tively challenge the common view that CBA is a narrow, local-focused agen­da with little potential to address the broader magnitude of climate change. Instead, the contributors present the argument that CBA provides a tool for governing the devolution of adaptation policies, technologies and resources to the local level and aligning these to local needs, priorities and knowledge.

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