To present a breadth of innovative Adaptation initiatives at different scales, "Locally led innovation: amplifying voices from the ground,” hosted by the Adaptation Futures Conference in Canada, will bring voices from the Global South to share their experiences of climate justice and resilience. During this session, which will take place on 4th October, Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) grantees will discuss how technological innovations contribute to building resilience in the most disadvantaged communities.
The Adaptation Futures Conference series is the premier international conference devoted to climate change adaptation. It brings together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, industry representatives, and communicators to present their work in transformation, learn what others are doing, and build networks. This year, it will take place in Montreal in a hybrid format between 3-5th of October.
Managed by UNDP, the Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA is fostering innovation of adaptation practices at the local level in vulnerable countries. UNEP-CTCN and UNDP are administrating these grants and, with approximately three years of implementation, present an opportunity to share key lessons and best practices for scaling up local innovation.
A grantee from Brazil, the NGO Centro Ecologico aims to stimulate regenerative agriculture by helping farmers plant acai in agroforestry by combining acai production with forest management and income generation. The solution focuses on working with rural and indigenous communities and smallholders to prevent the clearing of old-growth forests and manage them sustainably.
A grantee from Colombia, the NGO Cleantech Hub aims to inspire, mobilize, connect, and catalyze green entrepreneurship through turnkey programs in cleantech ideation, incubation, acceleration, and innovation. During a year project with AFCIA funding, 160 startup businesses have been trained in all the essentials for green entrepreneurship and business planning through a series of boot camps and have been inserted into a thriving ecosystem with mentors, investors, and key partners.
Besides Brazil and Colombia, this session will, therefore, highlight examples of adaptation practices in Saint Kitts and Nevis and Burundi (managed by UNEP-CTCN), as well as experiences from two National Implementing Entities (Micronesia and Buthan), which have the potential to demonstrate the innovative Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) initiatives at different scales.