As the third phase of CDKN comes to a close, we are excited to announce the launch of our webinar series exploring what it takes to move locally led adaptation (LLA) from principle, to practice, to scale. LLA is now firmly established as a central pillar of climate action. But the conversation is evolving. The question is no longer ‘Why does LLA matter?’ but ‘How can LLA be enabled, strengthened and scaled?’

Experience shows that successful LLA depends on more than local leadership. It requires an enabling policy environment, diverse and inclusive knowledge systems, adaptive and devolved governance, accessible and accountable finance, inclusive and equitable partnerships and institutions, among others, that connect local priorities with subnational, national and global decision-making. Over the past 5 years, CDKN has helped strengthen these enabling conditions through knowledge brokering, partnership building and policy engagement across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

This webinar series brings these lessons together through a connected learning journey with an associated set of questions.

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THE WEBINAR LINEUP

Title: From knowledge to climate action: Insights from Muungano’s young leaders  
Date and time: 25 August 2026 | 2:00pm SAST 
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In this webinar, we ask: How are young people advancing LLA? In our experience across the Global South, young people are playing important roles in shaping climate action in their communities. This conversation, in partnership with SDI Kenya and Muungano wa Wanavijiji, will specifically explore how Nairobi’s youth leadership, local knowledge and community-based action contribute to LLA. 

Title: Food sovereignty and LLA: Bridging knowledge systems across regions  
Date and time: 28 August 2026 | 1:00pm SAST 
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In this webinar, we ask: What does LLA look like in practice? In partnership with CDKN Knowledge-to-Action grantee, Fundação Micaia, this webinar will explore what LLA looks like in practice and the connections between food sovereignty, local knowledge and climate adaptation. We’ll gain insights from practitioners in rural Mozambique to hear how communities shape responses to climate risks in ways that strengthen resilience, livelihoods and agency. 

Title: Turning knowledge into impact: Enabling local capacities for climate action across scales  
Date and time: 10 September 2026 | 2:00pm SAST 
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This is the first of two knowledge brokering-themed webinars, where we ask: What role does knowledge brokering play in enabling and scaling climate action across different levels? In this webinar, we draw on experiences from Ghana, Peru and Bangladesh to examine how peer learning, local knowledge, relationship-building, institutional support and a number of other factors can create the conditions for people and local institutions to shape and lead gender-inclusive climate responses. 

Title: Turning knowledge into impact: Embedding climate, gender and human rights in policy and planning across scales 
Date and time: 17 September 2026 | 2:00pm SAST 
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This is the second of two knowledge brokering-themed webinars, where we ask: What role does knowledge brokering play in enabling and scaling climate action across different levels? In this webinar, we draw on experiences from Namibia, Ethiopia and global policy processes to look at how knowledge brokering approaches are helping to integrate climate change adaptation and gender and social inclusion considerations into policy and planning across sub-national, national and global scales.  

Title: Launch of the Ideas to Impact toolkit: Mobilising finance for LLA 
Date and time: 14 October 2026 | [Time to be confirmed]  
[Registration link to come]  

In this webinar we ask: How can communities co-create inclusive, equitable and fundable LLA projects, and sustainably mobilise finance for long-term impact? This webinar will serve as the official launch of the much-anticipated ‘Ideas to Impact Toolkit’, which was designed to address a paucity of focused practical guidance that is tailored for local organisations’ experience of financially sustaining LLA and long-term impact.

Title: LLA in Africa: Publication Launch [Title to be confirmed]
Date and time: 15 October 2026 | [Time to be confirmed]
[Registration link to come] 

In this webinar we ask: What lessons from Africa can inform LLA globally? Drawing on the core insights that have emerged from a regional learning exchange with practitioners, researchers, youth organisations and community leaders from nine African countries, this webinar will launch the forthcoming report on ‘LLA in Africa’ report and explore what our African experiences can teach us about how LLA is enabled, strengthened and scaled.  

Title: Transformative Change & LLA [Title to be confirmed]
Date and time: [To be confirmed] 
[Registration link to come] 

In this webinar, hosted by alliance partners Fundación Futuro Latinoamericano (FFLA), we ask: How do we move from locally led climate action to transformational change? CDKN’s experience shows that LLA can lead to systemic change, but this depends on how it is implemented and supported. Building on FFLA’s experience in Latin America, this webinar will explore what is needed to support transformational adaptation, leading to deeper institutional, social and systemic change.  

Title: LLA, the Global Stocktake and the Global Goal on Adaptation [Title to be confirmed]
Date and time: [To be confirmed] 
[Registration link to come] 

In this webinar we ask: How do we measure progress and strengthen accountability for LLA? As the global adaptation architecture evolves, measuring progress in LLA is becoming increasingly important. This conversation will explore how LLA can be reflected in global monitoring, learning and accountability processes, including the Global Stocktake and the Global Goal on Adaptation. 

Title: LLA, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion [Title to be confirmed] 
Date and time: [To be confirmed] 
[Registration link to come] 

In this webinar, led by CDKN’s thematic lead on gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), we ask: How do we ensure that LLA is inclusive and equitable? Climate action must just be locally led, but equitable too. This webinar will draw on several case studies and best practices to explore how GESI should be embedded in climate-resilient and adaptation approaches. 

A FINAL CHAPTER IN THIS PHASE OF CDKN'S LEARNING JOURNEY

The webinar series forms part of the final programme of activities as this phase of CDKN concludes in 2027.

For the past 5 years, CDKN has worked as a knowledge broker, trusted intermediary and catalyst, connecting research, policy and practice and supporting partnerships that strengthen climate-resilient development across the Global South. As we look back, we are also looking ahead. These webinars are an opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved, as well as an opportunity to bring CDKN's experience into the conversations shaping the next phase of climate action. By bringing together our experiences with the perspectives of partners and wider adaptation actors, we aim to create a space not just for reflection, but also for forward-looking dialogue. 

We hope you are able to join us for this final chapter. Dates, times and registration links will be added and updated as each webinar is confirmed. If you have any queries, please reach out to CDKN’s Knowledge Translation & Outreach Lead, Cris Robertson, at cris@southsouthnorth.org.