The Importance of Local and Institutional Issues

1. The Importance of Local and Institutional Issues by Ian Christoplos The Human Dimension of Climate Adaptation

2. Focus on human dimensions Concern about global focus on macro level Synthesis paper to provide a framework for analysis Focus on local capacities Cognisant of the structural factors that frame adaptive capacities and strategies

3. Adaptive Capacity Individuals, households & businesses rely on Markets Ecosystems Social protection Support depends on functional interfaces More attention needed at meso level

4. Capacity development What is known rather than what ‘must be done’ Overcoming powerlessness rather than ‘more training’ Information central, but requires integration with structures for market information, governance, etc. Decentralisation is changing the rules of the game

5. Doing things that people want Demand must reflect local perceptions of a range of risks Measures based on how people manage risks Monitoring and evaluation need to reflect what people, businesses and local government want (ownership) Invest in facilitating demand from those affected by climate change Engage elected local and national politicians

6. Doing more of the same Don’t reinvent the wheel, but get a bigger one Harmonize CCA with ongoing DRR Invest in local government capacities in key areas Link UNFCCC and food crisis initiatives with a risk focus Support risk aware market integration Long-term commitments to developing NRM capacities Reflect the tenets of the Paris Declaration

7. Doing things differently DRR must become part of local governance support “Do no harm” to autonomous adaptation Flexibility and learning regarding how local actors adapt More risk aware agricultural services Align social protection with risk transfer mechanisms Rethink M&E and EIA to better emphasize risks, uncertainty and surprises

8. For more • www.ccdcommission.org • info@ccdcommission.org