As CDKN prepares to close in March 2027, COP31 offers an opportunity not only to reflect on what we've learned, but also to look to the future. The need for strong Southern leadership, locally led adaptation, and approaches that translate knowledge into action continues to grow. Throughout COP31, we'll share evidence and insights from the past five years of our work across Africa, Asia and Latin America, exploring what it takes to build relationships, strengthen institutions, connect diverse knowledge systems, and create the conditions for more equitable, locally led climate action.

Where to find us 

If you are interested in discussing opportunities to sustain and build on this work beyond 2027, we'd love to hear from you. CDKN Director, Shehnaaz Moosa, and CDKN Programme Lead, Lisa McNamara (lisa@southsouthnorth.org), will be participating at various venues and in several sessions throughout COP31, including: 

Resilience Hub opening: All Hands on Deck: Reimagining climate resilience through transformative change 

ALL IN Pavilion | 9 November | 13:00 - 14:00 

What’s needed for transformative resilience to become possible? Using the CDKN's All Hands on Deck interactive experience, participants will explore this question and co-create a Transformative Resilience Compass that captures shared priorities for transformative change and helps guide conversations throughout the Resilience Hub at COP31. 

From inclusion to influence: Transformative approaches to locally led climate adaptation 

Zambia Pavilion | 10 November | 14:30 - 15:30

This session, co-hosted by the Governments of Zambia and Scotland, will explore how climate adaptation can move beyond technical interventions to transform the systems, relationships, and social norms that shape climate vulnerability. CDKN will be playing a moderating role in this event, bringing perspectives on transformative LLA approaches from our work. 

Bridging scales of action: How to link LLA to GGA to unlock resilient futures? 

Side Event Room 9, Safranbolu  | 14 November | 16:45 - 18:15

This COP30 official side event will share insights across Asia, Africa and the Americas implementing partnerships rooted in the realities of those most affected by climate impacts. Co-hosted by Canada's International Development Research Centre, SouthSouthNorth, Fundación Futuro Latinoamericano, the Asian Institute of Technology and Fundación Avina, the organisations will offer +160 years experience mobilising radical collaborations that catalyse action across knowledges, cultures and scales in the global South. 

Beyond projects: Investing in sustainability and legacy of climate adaptation (EVENT TO BE CONFIRMED)  

Ethiopia Pavilion | Date TBC | Time TBC 

How can climate adaptation efforts continue delivering impact long after projects and funding cycles end? Drawing on lessons from CDKN and partners across Africa and South Asia, this session explores the capacities, institutions, partnerships and governance systems that enable lasting adaptation outcomes. Participants will reflect on practical strategies for building a legacy that endures beyond individual interventions.

Investing in locally led adaptation: Scaling Kenya’s devolved climate finance model beyond FLLoCA

Somalia Pavilion | 16 November | 11:00 - 12:00

Hosted by Kenya's Council of Governors, this session will explore how effective MERL tools can spur the implementation of impactful resilient and replicable investments, based on lessons from the Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (MERL) tool piloted in Makueni and Vihiga Counties, as well as locally led adaptation initiatives across the global South. CDKN will share its working supporting Kenya to track climate finance investments and impacts. 

From project record to global report: What a national MERL system offers the UNFCCC process (EVENT TO BE CONFIRMED) 

Ethiopia Pavilion | Date TBC | Time TBC 

As countries face growing pressure to demonstrate adaptation results, a critical challenge remains: connecting local project outcomes to national reporting and global climate processes. Drawing on Kenya's experience, this session will explore how a national MERL system can provide the missing link between project implementation, climate finance accountability, national adaptation planning and reporting against the Global Goal on Adaptation. 

From local adaptation to policy improvement: Lessons from VIKAP and beyond 

Benelux Pavilion | 18 November | 09:30 - 10.30

The session will explore how local adaptation experiences can inform national climate adaptation policies and international adaptation processes. CDKN will share practical lessons from locally led ecosystem-based adaptation initiatives that have influenced governance systems, planning processes and policy frameworks across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Join the conversation 

Throughout COP31, we will be sharing updates, reflections and insights via our website, social media channels (LinkedIn, BlueSky, Facebook), and partner channels including SSN, FFLA and ICLEI South Asia. 

If you have updates you would like to share, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at: cdkn@southsouthnorth.org