Climate change adaptation

Since 2020, we have helped communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis have a say in how adaptation efforts are designed, implemented, monitored, and evaluated.

A damaged paddy field after the cyclone Sitrang hit Munshigonj in Bangladesh. Photo: Abir Abdullah/GTS

As climate change continues to wreak havoc on the environment, food security, and livelihoods, we know that listening to those most affected is critical to ensuring that adaptation programmes are successful. Communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis are not only the best placed to identify their needs and priorities but they are usually the most active and innovative in developing adaptation solutions. However, they often do not have the resources nor the agency to decide how, when, and where to adapt. Enabling communities to have agency over the adaptation decisions that affect them is critical for effective, equitable, and transparent adaptation.

A woman walks on a repaired embankment which has been damaged from coastal erosion due to rising sea levels in Munshigonj, Bangladesh.

Photo: Abir Abdullah/GTS

What we are doing

In 2022, we decided to scale up our project work on climate adaptation, to ensure that community voices are systematically used to steer adaptation policies and programmes. Using both quantitative and qualitative research methods, we speak to communities to understand:

Risk perceptions and capacity to deal with risk over time.
The quality, relevance, effectiveness, and sustainability of adaptation programmes.
How participatory, inclusive, fair, and transparent adaptation programmes are.
Levels of trust in and respect of adaptation actors and other relevant decision-makers.
What communities think needs to be done to enable locally led adaptation and improve adaptation outcomes.

We then work together with adaptation actors and policymakers to enhance community participation, programme quality, and adaptation outcomes.

Our pilot project was conducted throughout 2022 in partnership with the International Center for Climate Change and Development(ICCCAD) and the International Institute for Environment and Development(IIED). We asked over 2,300 people in Bangladesh their thoughts on the state of adaptation in their communities and what they think still needs to be done to increase resilience.