Purpose: The purpose of this working paper is to present an innovative and participatory methodology to identify and overcome climate adaptation barriers and an example of its application in Mauritius.

Design/methodology/approach: The approach builds upon stakeholder mapping (i.e. Net-Map) and uses barrier and practical actions cards to support stakeholders through the process of identifying together potential adaptation barriers and potential actions that can be implemented to overcome them. The approach was used in workshops in four Small Island Developing States (SIDS): Jamaica, Mauritius, Seychelles and St Lucia. In each island, the workshops involved national and local level actors from three sectors: agriculture, fisheries and tourism. In Mauritius, although a representative from the tourism sector was involved in the workshop, only two activity groups were formed for the workshop: one for the agriculture sector and one for the fisheries sector.

Findings: In Mauritius, the methodology highlighted the predominance of the national government and national organisations in planning and implementing climate adaptation actions and the still limited inclusion of local actors in adaptation. It also allowed the identification of two adaptation barriers. One can already be overcome with the implementation of the practical actions devised by the activity group and within the capacity and institutional context of Mauritius. The other barrier identified is more deeply rooted and will need to be addressed subsequently.

Originality/value: The participatory identification of adaptation barrier and how to overcome them could be a successful planning process that reconciles national adaptation policies with the implementation of local adaptation actions. It involves different stakeholders devising solutions that not only are in the line with national adaptation policies but also are a step towards reducing vulnerability against climate extremes at local level. Prioritising the identified barriers that are surmountable and that can already be addressed within the islands’ capacities would be the beginning of building climate resilience at national and local level.

Picture: Sofitel So Mauritius