Similarities in critiques between participatory development and community-based adaptation (CBA) have already arisen, and it is essential that the more recently emerging concept of locally-led adaptation (LLA) learns from them in order to avoid the same pitfalls. Initial intentions for community-driven actions were supplanted by ‘community’ being viewed as a place for action, rather than a socio-political entry point. Many of the critiques of CBA mirrored those seen earlier in participatory development, that is, that priorities became externally rather than internally defined. The concept of LLA has emerged to try and recapture some of the initial intentions of CBA, with a focus on agency, and a re-conceptualisation of ‘local’. However, locally-led adaptation is currently being led mainly in the international policy arena, with a prominent role by international actors. Care needs to be taken to ensure that it learns from the critiques of participatory development and CBA and does not lose sight of its intentions over time.