Reflecting as we go: Lessons from CDKN’s open call for locally-led adaptation initiatives in Africa CDKN is providing Knowledge-to-Action (K2A) grants in Africa, Asia and Latin America. In Africa, an open call for locally-led adaptation (LLA) initiatives and a comprehensive selection process led to five K2A projects being chosen who received US$150,000 each in Benin, Cameroon, Kenya, Mozambique and South Sudan. We intentionally adopted a learning approach and here we share our insights from the selection process.

How do we surface and address power dynamics for more inclusive and equitable co-creation processes? The CDKN and CLARE teams share some collective knowledge on holding co-creation processes with diverse participants, particularly when it comes to surfacing and addressing power dynamics.

Reflecting as we go – Lessons from designing and delivering CDKN’s knowledge brokering workshops CDKN Learning Lead, Lucia Scodanibbio, reflects on what she’s discovered so far from developing and facilitating the first knowledge brokering workshops of the third phase of CDKN.

The (ongoing) journey to the ‘All hands on deck’ card experience CDKN’s Learning Lead, Lucia Scodanibbio, describes the evolution of the knowledge brokering reflection cards that have been developed to facilitate more dynamic, playful meetings that yet focus on serious issues.

CDKN at CBA18 The 18th International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation to Climate Change (CBA18) takes place from 6 - 9 May 2024 in Arusha, Tanzania. The CBA conference series aims to bring together a community of practitioners who are collectively seeking to reimagine solutions that enable transformative outcomes, through the agency of communities driving climate action. CDKN will be co-hosting three sessions at the conference.

From knowledge to climate-resilient action - five African organisations selected for CDKN grants As part of its commitment to turning climate knowledge into climate-resilient action, CDKN is providing Knowledge-to-Action (K2A) grants in Africa. After putting out an open call for locally-led adaptation initiatives last year, five K2A projects were chosen from an extremely competitive pool of over 1000 applicants. The selected K2A projects are in Benin, Cameroon, Kenya, Mozambique and South Sudan.

CDKN at the Gobeshona Global Conference 2024 The fourth annual Gobeshona Global Conference, organised by the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) took place virtually from 1-8 March. The conference focused on learning and collaboration around the eight principles for locally-led adaptation and resilience. CDKN participated in two virtual sessions.

Empowering climate action: Insights from the CDKN programme in Ghana The third phase of the CDKN programme was launched in Ghana in October, marking a significant step in implementing innovative climate action in line with existing climate-related national policies, strategies and plans. Some of these include the National Adaptation Plan, the Updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the National Youth Climate Action Plan (NYCAP).

How can grants effectively support locally-led adaptation: Three key insights from Africa Climate Week Guy Rudolph and Esperanza Karaho from CDKN share their insights from a breakfast discussion held on the sidelines of Africa Climate Week in Nairobi. The gathering involved both grant-makers and grant recipients and focused on answering the question: ‘How can we design our funding programmes to best support locally-led adaptation?’

Ecosystem-based approaches for just climate action in African cities: Seven takeaways from Africa Climate Week CDKN, ICLEI Africa, PlanAdapt and World Resources Institute colleagues reflect on a recent session held at Africa Climate Week that focused on the importance of equitable ecosystem-based approaches as a means to address climate challenges. Several nature-based solution pathways for action are highlighted that have the greatest potential for driving change in African cities.

Key insights: Convening national and sub-national actors in Namibia to scale adaptation action CDKN’s Amanda April, Fatema Rajabali and Margaret Angula reflect on the Namibia country programme inception meeting, where key stakeholders laid the groundwork for collaboration to build resilience, enhance adaptation and promote sustainable practices. The authors share eight insights that emerged from the collaborative meeting.

Practising what we preach: CDKN’s own co-creation adventure CDKN Learning lead, Lucia Scodanibbio, reflects on a recent three day co-creation process the CDKN team undertook to develop a capacity strengthening programme to assist knowledge brokers to be more effective facilitators of climate action. While acknowledging the challenges associated with co-creation spaces, Lucia emphasises the sustainable, inclusive and effective solutions that can emerge from them.