Enhancing capacity building initiatives at sub-national level for supporting climate change adaptation

ABSTRACT Emphasis on capacity building of relevant stakeholders for adaptation at national levels has significantly increased driven by the growing threats and impacts of climate change. The urgency and scale at which adaptation interventions are required, particularly in vulnerable countries, however, necessitates design and implementation of extensive capacity building programmes at sub-national level as well. Although, many initiatives have been taking place to develop capacities as part of national as well as sub-national level projects and programmes, it is time to reflect and revisit the ways these programmes are designed. Countries are now in the process of preparing and aligning their national programmes on climate action with the goals defined under their respective Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted under the Paris Agreement. Building of capacities at sub-national levels will be crucial to enable innovation in policies and technologies essential to achieve these NDC goals. This viewpoint presents key recommendations emerging from a first-of-its-kind capacity building programme on adaptation implemented for the entire Indian Himalayan Region. It emphasizes on strategies and approaches including the Experiential Learning Cycle approach to augment the effectiveness and efficiency of such programmes at sub-national level for supporting development of climate resilient communities in the long term.