Seven ways capacity-building efforts are helping the world recover better together #Recover_Better_Together is a collection of stories from climate actors that have strived to ensure safe and uninterrupted capacity-building efforts during the Covid-19 crisis, while devising new ways to contribute to a fair and green recovery.

Women’s empowerment: Key to sustainable development in Udaipur, India Bhupandra Salodia of ICLEI South Asia documents how organising women to reduce and manage waste and care for the natural environment, as well as augment children’s wellbeing, is creating more sustainable communities in Udaipur, India.

Solomon Islands: How the Barana Community is preparing for Covid-19 Until now, the Solomon Islands have not had any COVID-19 cases; but an emergency lockdown declared by the Governor General has affected communities - such as the small village of Barana. John Walenenea Jr reports.

Voices from the frontline of the Covid-19 crisis The Covid-19 pandemic is causing more than health impacts. It is also causing social and economic impacts – across diverse communities in developing countries of Asia and the Pacific, Africa and Latin America. However, these dynamics are neither well reported nor well understood. A project by CDKN and ICCCAD aims to change all that.

During crisis, Latin American leaders stand for a sustainable future A group of Latin American leaders including the ex-presidents of Chile and Mexico, Ricard Lagos, and Felipe Calderón, ex-ministers of environment and members from the private sector, civil society and academia convened to produce a declaration entitled ‘Principles for a Sustainable Future for Latin America in time of Global Pandemic and Crisis’.

Dhaka, Bangladesh: How one woman’s idea unleashed community spirit In Aftabnagar, a rapidly developing residential area in Dhaka, one woman started a food distribution initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic, which quickly transformed into a full-fledged community project working towards self sufficiency, food security and solidarity. Maheen Khan reports.

COVID-19 and climate change: Lessons from the East The rest of the world can learn from East Asian countries' effective responses to the COVID-19 pandemic - argues Simant Verma of ICLEI South Asia. It is also a moment to embrace COVID-19 recovery that is environmentally sustainable.

Rafiq Nagar, Mumbai: Residents confront Covid-19 on top of existing health threats In Rafiq Nagar, a low-income neighbourhood in Mumbai, India, COVID-19 is an addition to the existing public health issues that are already faced by its residents. Shamimbanu Salim Sheikh shares her neighbourhood’s predicament.

Updated Green Climate Fund proposal toolkit, now available The latest Green Climate Fund (GCF) Proposal Toolkit 2020 integrates the latest GCF policy changes and funding proposal template v2.0 in order to provide the most recent guidance to project proponents, accredited entities and national designated authorities.

Providing land access for climate-resilient infrastructure - India’s experience The scarcity of land for development, and resulting high cost of land, is a challenge for developing new, climate-resilient infrastructure in India. Several local government bodies have trialled innovative schemes to work around this, but their successes are - as yet - insufficiently known and replicated.

Fiji: Community voices highlight lessons and opportunities for resilience As COVID-19 intensified globally from February-May 2020, the government of Fiji enforced lockdown. Despite relatively few cases, communities such as the Nanuku settlements in Vatuwaqa, Suva felt the impact of the crisis. Jioje Fesaitu reports.

Black Lives Matter - the link between climate change and racial justice Adelle Thomas and Rueanna Haynes lay out the evidence for how racial inequality has led to people of colour’s suffering the worst effects of environmental pollution and climate change. The Black Lives Matter movement and climate change have everything to do with each other.