CBA7: live updates from the 7th International Conference on community-based adaptation

In the developing countries, due to their heavy bureaucracy and unstable political situation, addressing local climate change priorities are dropped off. This is further exacerbated by remoteness of the vulnerable areas where government organizations rarely make their visit and prefer to implement. In this context, in my eye, implementation of national adaptation programs need to be driven through bottom up and inclusive planning process through meaningful participation of local communities, especially vulnerable and women. Once we prepare local plans through bottom up planning process, again its implementation becomes challenging due to finance flow from national to local level. Sometimes, poor communication and mistrusting relationship between NGOs and GOs also puts the plan in misery. So, a clear coordination mechanism [among GOs and NGOs] at local level to implement community adaptation priorities and a transparent fund flow from national government to local government should be fast and continual.

Community Based Adaptation plan should be developed by the local government with the help of of community people and government department expertise. Central government should provide fund to local government as per their risk and vulnerabilities. Accountability of the fund should be maintain through community based body. This can be the way of community based adaptation mainstreaming.