Nairobi, Kenya, 4-5 December 2024 – The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), in partnership with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Adaptation Fund, convened a high-level workshop in Nairobi to explore innovative ways to empower climate-vulnerable communities through the Enhanced Direct Access (EDA) funding modality. Bringing together experts, policymakers, and practitioners from across Africa, the workshop highlighted the transformative potential of EDA in driving locally led adaptation efforts and addressing the urgent needs of communities on the frontlines of climate change.
Pioneering a New Era of Adaptation Finance
Launched in 2015 with a US$200 million pilot program, the EDA modality was designed to decentralize climate finance, putting decision-making power directly into the hands of local stakeholders. Nearly a decade later, the Nairobi workshop provided a crucial platform to assess progress, identify challenges, and reimagine how this innovative funding model can accelerate climate action in Africa.
“EDA is not just about devolving funding; it’s about empowering communities to own their adaptation journey,” said Professor Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation. “This workshop has illuminated the path forward for embedding local expertise and priorities into regional and national climate strategies.”
Kenya's Climate Envoy Ali Mohamed said: "When local communities control adaptation funds, they deliver faster, more targeted solutions with built-in accountability and lower overhead costs. Today's workshop mapped how to make this the standard. Decentralizing climate finance for LLA works."
Tackling Complex Challenges, Unlocking Solutions
Participants delved into critical themes, including:
The case for devolving decision-making authority to vulnerable communities and local governments;
Integrating Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) practices into national policies, ensuring alignment with broader climate goals;
Lessons learned from successful EDA projects that can serve as blueprints for scaling up climate adaptation efforts across the continent.
A key insight from the discussions was the need to navigate the intersection of local and national priorities. For example, addressing loss and damage at the local level often reveals interdependencies with neighboring districts, raising questions about whether adaptation programs should focus on strictly local challenges or aim for broader systemic impact.
Mandy Barnett, from the South Africa National Biodiversity Institute, emphasized the importance of flexibility in adaptation strategies: "There is no one-size-fits-all. We need to learn from countries that are enabling solutions and adapt those lessons to our unique contexts."
"While every country’s experience is different, cross-learning is invaluable. It allows us to refine our strategies by drawing on the successes and challenges of others," Josephine Laurson, Program Analyst at the United Nations Capital Development Fund, added.
Accelerating Locally Led Action Through Collaboration
The workshop underscored the value of collaborative platforms in bridging knowledge gaps and accelerating climate finance. By fostering dialogue among diverse stakeholders, the event identified actionable strategies to refine the EDA modality, ensuring it effectively empowers local communities while contributing to national and regional adaptation goals.
Key takeaways include:
Simplifying GCF guidelines and procedures to remove barriers to project development.
Promoting knowledge-sharing mechanisms to enable countries to learn from each other's successes and challenges.
Developing programmatic approaches that balance local ownership with systemic impacts.
Driving Africa’s Adaptation Agenda Forward
As Africa faces mounting climate risks, the insights from this workshop will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of adaptation finance. The EDA modality, with its focus on empowering local communities, represents a critical tool for building resilience and driving sustainable development across the continent.