Community-Based Adaptation

Community-Based Adap­ta­tion (CBA) refers to locally-driven adap­ta­tion responses that empower vul­ner­a­ble com­mu­ni­ties with the knowl­edge, skills and resources to plan for, and cope with the impacts of cli­mate change.

Author: CIAT. Licensed under Cre­ative Com­mons 2.0

CBA is designed and imple­mented through inclu­sive and par­tic­i­pa­tory processes that reflect local con­di­tions. Strate­gies are based on locally-defined pri­or­i­ties, needs and capac­i­ties; build upon exist­ing com­mu­nity knowl­edge and risk man­age­ment strate­gies; and address the under­ly­ing causes of cli­mate vul­ner­a­bil­ity that can under­mine the cop­ing capac­i­ties of com­mu­ni­ties and mar­gin­alised social groups.

Activ­i­ties gen­er­ally involve a com­bi­na­tion of liveli­hoods resilience, disas­ter risk reduc­tion, capac­ity strength­en­ing, advo­cacy and social mobilisation.

Community-Based Adap­ta­tion is crit­i­cal to build­ing the cli­mate resilience of vul­ner­a­ble pop­u­la­tions. Using this approach we can ensure adap­ta­tion and mit­i­ga­tion out­comes on local lev­els where they ben­e­fit those most directly affected by cli­mate change. By link­ing CBA activ­i­ties to wider devel­op­ment processes, we also enhance achieve­ment of broader sustainable-developmental and social jus­tice goals.