Africa, a continent disproportionately bearing the burden of a global climate crisis it has contributed little to, faces a decisive moment in its climate response. Over half of Africa’s labor force, heavily dependent on the climate-sensitive agriculture sector, is grappling with intensifying challenges as rising temperatures and erratic weather patterns disrupt livelihoods. This underscores the undeniable urgency of developing effective, locally led adaptation strategies.
However, a fundamental question remains: How can we accurately assess the impact of these efforts, ensuring that resources reach the most vulnerable and that adaptation initiatives drive meaningful, lasting change?
Currently, adaptation efforts largely follow a top-down approach, driven by global and national policies that, despite their good intentions, often fail to account for the nuanced realities of local communities. The absence of localized adaptation metrics creates a critical gap in tracking the true impact of locally led adaptation interventions, aligning them with broader national and global adaptation goals, and ensuring that lessons learned inform future policies and investments.
About the author
Florence Onyango
Florence Onyango is a science editor, research fellow, and communications and impact manager at the Africa Research and Impact Network. A climate adaptation specialist, she works at the intersection of climate change, transdisciplinary research, policy, and sustainability, advancing evidence and policy engagement through strategic communication, media advocacy, and knowledge translation.
