Mobilising knowledge,
capacity and leadership in
the Global South to improve
the well-being of the most
climate-affected people
Lady with plants
CDKN
We work with the public, private and non-governmental sectors in support of locally-owned and -led climate-resilient action.
This English language site features projects in the 70+ countries where we’ve worked, and resources and blogs from those and more.
Feature
11th February 2026
Traditional knowledge driving local-scale business and biodiversity conservation in Central Benin The following blog by Ferdinand Ayimasse, Edmond Totin and Esdras Obossou of Survie de la Mère et de l’Enfant, one of CDKN's Knowledge-to-Action grantees explores how climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation are increasingly shaping Benin’s national environmental agenda.
Feature
2nd February 2026
Driving inclusive climate action: Insights from Namibia’s GESI workshop The following blog by Margaret Angula and Ester Nangolo explores the work done by the CDKN Namibia team to strengthen Namibia’s capacity to mainstream Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) while decentralising climate change adaptation from national to local government levels.
Resource
28th January 2026
Technology, tradition and co-existence: How one CDKN partner is working with local communities to monitor and manage their environment CDKN has been working with Nature and People as One (NaPO), a CDKN knowledge-to-action grantee, since 2024, to support their work on ecosystem restoration and governance by Indigenous pastoralist communities in Mt. Marsabit, a semi-arid region of northern Kenya. NaPO advances locally-led solutions that integrate indigenous knowledge, community stewardship, and sustainable ecosystem management. This photo story documents their Herder Conservation Network (HCN) initiative, which equips local pastoralist herders with the technical skills and technology to monitor and steward community lands outside formal protected areas.
Feature
27th January 2026
Reflecting as we go: More lessons from designing and delivering CDKN’s knowledge brokering workshops 2025 was a busy year for CDKN in strengthening our knowledge-brokering capacities. Lucia Scodanibbio reflects on the lessons from our first two workshops in 2024 to deliver five more in 2025, shifting our attention to young people. As the year drew to a close, we took stock of these experiences and found many rich lessons emerging.
Feature
19th January 2026
Building a circular economy: Transforming Ghana's e-waste crisis This blog by Khiddir Iddris, a fellow collaborating with CDKN, explores Ghana's urgent e-waste crisis, highlighting both the environmental dangers and the untapped economic potential within its informal recycling sector. The article is based on the author’s ongoing research conducted across Ghana's major e-waste processing sites. It presents a compelling case for building a sustainable, circular economy that empowers local workers and positions Ghana as a regional leader in climate-resilient waste management.
Resource
15th January 2026
Struggling to mainstream climate issues? Lessons learnt from CDKN’s knowledge brokering experience A learning resource that synthesises insights from CDKN’s knowledge brokering work across Asia and Africa since 2018. It identifies seven common challenges to mainstreaming climate change into policy and decision-making and illustrates practical, context-specific pathways for overcoming them. The resource draws on partner reflections, interviews, and learning exchanges to support practitioners working at the climate–development interface.
Feature
20th December 2025
Isn’t it time to rethink and transform the COP model? In this reflective blog, Karen Hildahl of FFLA–CDKN questions what a more inclusive, just and collaborative COP model could look like. From inspiring grassroots innovations and Indigenous leadership to frustrations of stalled negotiations and inaccessible spaces, we're invited us to imagine a system where local actors lead, diverse knowledge is valued, and global processes to address our multiple crises are built on reciprocity, equity, and care for human well-being and the planet.
Resource
18th December 2025
Video: NaPO Conservation CUP The NaPO Conservation Cup is a unique initiative by Nature And People As One (NaPO), a grassroots organisation based in Karare, Marsabit County in northern Kenya and a CDKN Knowledge‑to‑Action (K2A) grantee. This video, produced in collaboration between NaPO and Routes Adventures, showcases the 2025 Conservation Cup, highlighting how sport and community action are being used to support environmental restoration and stewardship.
Feature
17th December 2025
Cloudy with a chance of sunshine: Hope and hurdles for Africa after G20 and COP30 In this article, Priyanka Ukabhai and Phatsimo Rahman from the Operationalising a Just Transition in Africa (OJTA) research project, argue that both COP30 and G20 have contributed to the foundation and enabling conditions to move forwards towards operationalising a just transition in Africa.

Where we work

CDKN works across Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean. Find out more by navigating to our country pages.

How knowledge brokering turns ideas into high-impact projects

CDKN organised a four-day training of practical learning for young climate leaders in Ethiopia. The training unpacked the principles of knowledge brokering, refined youth-led project ideas for the Ethiopian context, and talked plainly about funding so that proposals land and impact grows.

 

Gender equity and social inclusion (GESI)

Empowering those most affected by climate change, including women, youth, and Indigenous peoples

Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA)

Strengthening equitable and locally-appropriate ecosystem-based adaptation

Finance for resilience

Promoting flexible, inclusive and locally-led financing systems that supports systemic change, rather than isolated projects

Knowledge brokering for climate action

Exploring and strengthening the role of knowledge brokers as facilitators of change