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SDI at CBA15

15 - 18 June 2021

Join SDI next week at the 15th International Conference on Community-based Adaptation to Climate Change (CBA15).

CBA15 brings together practitioners, grassroots representatives, local and national government planners, policymakers and donors working at all levels and scales to discuss how we can drive ambition for a climate-resilient future.

It is a space to explore the importance and urgency of locally led adaptation and address this pivotal moment in climate action.

In our continued efforts to ensure that the voices of the urban poor are at the forefront of these discussions, SDI has been actively involved in the hosting and coordinating of a series of sessions during next week’s event. We invite you to join us by registering for CBA15 today. The above events are outlined in more detail below. We hope to see you there!

Innovation for adaptation by urban communities: the transformative power of citizen led data

15 June at 09:00 CET

Hosted by SDI, Huairou Commission and Practical Action, this session will explore how community-led data collection can increase the bargaining and negotiation power of communities (e.g. improving the design of urban water and sanitation) and build social cohesion. The session will promote discussion using examples from PA, HC and SDI on how data is collected and used by communities – the processes, transparency, ownership and use. Specifically: What is potentially transformative about citizen led data collection? What impact is this work already having? What institutional mechanisms are necessary to improve impact?

What Women Want: How Grassroots and Urban Poor Women are Impacting Change in Climate Adaptation Policy and Practice

16 June at 09:00 CET

This session will highlight how grassroots needs are being articulated, and open discussions around financing solutions for the urban poor.

SDI and Huairou Commission will showcase how grassroots and urban poor women are effectively innovating, engaging and advocating for changes in policy and practice that speak to their priorities and needs. The session will highlight the methods they are using, and how this work pushes forward adaptation efforts that are truly community based in order to effect change from the local to global levels.

Climate 101: Climate information for community-based practitioners

17 June at 13:00 CET

Working in climate adaptation means applying complicated science to everyday livelihood activities. It can be intimidating. This course will help you answer the following questions: Why is it critical for adaptation to combine managing current climate variability with adapting to long-term climate change? What type of climate information is out there, and how can it help me make more informed decisions? How much should I trust climate information and forecasts ?

This session, aimed at practitioners without prior climate training. It focuses on key concepts that adaptation practitioners need to understand and some common misconceptions that need to be dispelled in order to communicate more effectively with scientists and data providers to use climate data and information effectively. It will introduce the terminology needed to understand basic climate science, explore various types of climate data and information, uncertainties associated with climate forecasts, and identify how relevant past, present and future climate information can inform decision-making processes to promote adaptation.

Locally Led Action Principles - How can we see them driving real impact?

16 June at 13:00 CET

The “Principles for Locally Led Adaptation” are a set of 8 principles that guide the adaptation community as it develops funding, programmes and new practices toward adaptation that is increasingly owned and led by local partners. This second session on the 8 Principles for Locally Led Adaptation will explore principles 5-8.

The principles explored in this session include:

5) Building a robust understanding of climate risk and uncertainty

6) Flexible programming and learning

7) Ensuring transparency and accountability

8) Collaborative action and investment

This is the second of two sessions exploring what the Principles 4-8 for Locally Led Adaptation are and look like in practice. principles in depth. This will include exploring:

1. What does delivery of this principle look like in practice at local level?

2. What challenges prevent endorsers from delivering in practice?

The session will begin with an introduction to each of Principle’s 4-8, to help improve the CBA Communities’ understanding of them. Each Principle will be introduces via plenary interview from a formal endorser. They will also help the CBA community to understand what this Principle means for their organisation, including what it means to do things differently.

Following the introduction of each Principle, break-out groups will discuss two questions:

1. What does delivery of this principle look like in practice at local level?

2. What challenges prevent endorsers from delivering in practice?

These discussions will help contribute to a 10 year effort to see the principles widely implemented and creating a space for meaningful, locally owned impact in climate vulnerable communities.