Over 80% of Kenya’s land is classified as arid and semi-arid (ASAL), where communities face the harsh realities of climate change—drought, flooding, resource conflicts, and the loss of traditional livelihoods. Amidst these challenges, the Indigenous Women and Girls Initiative (IWGI), a women-led community-based organization is working with indigenous groups to build resilience through agroecology and permaculture practices. Their approach emphasizes community ownership, gender equity, and traditional knowledge integration. 

In the heart of South Africa’s Kalahari Desert, the Pella Food Garden Cooperative—a women-led vegetable production project—struggled to sustain its drought-ravaged land. To combat this crisis, INMED South Africa introduced aquaponics—a cost-effective, sustainable farming method that merges fish farming (aquaculture) with soilless crop production (hydroponics) in a closed, climate-resilient system. These systems use 90% less water than conventional agriculture, rely on rainwater harvesting, and minimize energy use.

Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and water scarcity are worsening poverty in The Gambia – particularly in rural areas like Mansakonko, where migration was the primary response. Now, a devolved climate finance mechanism is driving locally led change to reverse the flow.

In Bangladesh’s urban hubs, Urban Community Volunteers trained in firefighting, search and rescue, emergency evacuation, and first aid are strengthening emergency response capacity at the community level. They are also taking on key roles in awareness campaigns and local governance, working alongside Ward Councilors, city corporations, and district administrations.

In the face of intensifying cyclones and floods, farmers in Northeast India are turning to a centuries-old tradition—float farming—to secure their livelihoods and adapt to climate change. With rising sea levels and unpredictable weather patterns threatening agrarian communities, a pioneering initiative by the South Asian Forum for Environment (SAFE) is transforming traditional float farming techniques into a climate-resilient solution. 

Once a thriving source of water, livelihoods, and biodiversity, Bolivia’s Lake Uru Uru is fighting for survival against climate-induced drought, industrial pollution, and environmental degradation, driving many to urban centers. An indigenous women-led initiative is proving that local adaptation efforts can turn the tide. 

In the heart of Sanda Magbolontor chiefdom in Sierra Leone, communities are taking decisive action against environmental degradation to strengthen resilience against climate impacts. Years of charcoal burning, timber trade, and unsafe mining have stripped the land of its forests, resulting in poor crop yields and acute water scarcity, pushing vulnerable families — particularly widows with children —deeper into poverty. In response, communities have launched the “Cut One, Plant Two” initiative.

The LIFE-AR initiative is empowering communities in Uganda to lead climate adaptation through a devolved climate finance mechanism. From capacity-building to gender equity, the initiative is strengthening local institutions to leave a lasting impact and ensure long-term resilience.

Amid worsening climate challenges, Munira Begum and her community in Digonto Colony, Bangladesh, are taking action to secure their life and livelihoods. With support from GCA they are developing People’s Adaptation Plans - community-driven action plans to tackle water scarcity, flooding, and other climate threats. By engaging residents, governments, and funders, these plans aim to provide a roadmap for building long term climate resilience for low-income communities in Mongla.

As the climate crisis intensifies, rural communities in Burkina Faso are grappling with severe challenges—escalating food insecurity, ecosystem degradation, and poverty. Yet, hope is sprouting through a community-centred initiative spearheaded by Tree Aid. This project is helping rural populations adapt to climate change while improving food security through sustainable land use practices.

In the Pacific island nation of Kiribati, climate change has escalated into a severe and urgent crisis. Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and declining freshwater sources are placing immense pressure on local communities. Find out about this grassroots sustainable solution to water scarcity.

Sri Lanka faces increasing challenges from climate change, including rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall patterns, and more frequent natural disasters. In response to these escalating threats, EthicalX, a program initiated by SLYCAN Trust, is stepping up with an innovative solution that combines climate action with sustainable entrepreneurship.

The Mount Kenya region, home to lush forests and a vibrant ecosystem, is increasingly threatened by the twin pressures of climate change and deforestation. In response, Horizon Business Ventures Limited, an essential oil producer, has taken a groundbreaking approach to tackle these issues head-on.

In the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), rural communities face severe challenges due to the ongoing impacts of climate change. With livelihoods heavily dependent on agriculture, small-scale farmers are struggling to adapt to erratic weather patterns, deforestation, and degraded soils. These challenges directly threaten their food security and survival. However, amid these difficulties, local communities are stepping up with initiatives designed to bolster their food security resilience and adapt to the changing climate.

In rural India, communities face increasing climate-related challenges, particularly in the areas of water scarcity, erratic rainfall, and agricultural vulnerability. The PraveenLata Sansthan Foundation has developed a community-driven approach that empowers local farmers to use organic farming, water conservation, and renewable energy adoption.

In Alue Naga, a coastal village in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, communities face the growing threats of climate change, including rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and declining food security. The region’s environmental degradation and unpredictable climate patterns have made traditional livelihoods like fishing and farming increasingly challenging, pushing local communities to seek innovative solutions.

Natural disasters such as cyclones and wildfires are becoming more common and more severe due to human-induced climate change. Communities of beekeepers in Greece, where bees are critical for food security, are learning how to adapt to these natural disasters by making bee populations more resilient and faster recovering.

San Miguel Island in the Bicol Region of the Philippines faces escalating climate challenges, from unpredictable rainfall to extreme heat. These changes have severely impacted the island’s water supply, particularly at San Miguel National High School. Find out about their sustainable water solution.

In the rain-drenched hills of Meghalaya, India, a surprising climate threat looms: water scarcity. Despite being one of the wettest places on Earth, this northeastern state faces severe water stress during the dry season. The culprit? Degrading natural springs that provide water to 80% of the population. Deforestation, unsustainable land use, and climate change are accelerating the drying up of these critical water sources. Without action, the region’s springs—and the communities that rely on them—face an uncertain future.

In Tajikistan, climate change is intensifying the challenges faced by rural communities reliant on agriculture. Droughts, extreme weather events, and water shortages are directly impacting farming and threatening livelihoods, particularly in areas like the Kafirnigan River Valley, home to over 20,000 people. The Youth Ecological Center, established in 1979, has been addressing these challenges.

The rural community of Beatrice, Zimbabwe, is no stranger to the devastating effects of climate change. Recurring droughts have significantly depleted groundwater levels, weakened local food security, and threatened biodiversity. In response to these challenges, a consortium of three organizations has initiated an ambitious project aimed at tackling both water scarcity and food insecurity through a women-led food forest and empowerment center.

In the islands of Vanuatu, climate change poses a severe and persistent threat, with frequent cyclones wreaking havoc on vulnerable communities. The country has endured eight major storms in the last eight years. With 64% of the population living within one kilometer of the coast, communities are highly exposed to storm surges, coastal erosion, and agricultural devastation. Given that 75-80% of Ni-Vanuatu depend on local agriculture for food, the impact of these climate-related disasters is devastating, making climate resilience an urgent priority.

In the heart of Buenos Aires, the residents of Barrio 20, an informal settlement located just 12 km from the city center, face a growing climate threat—intensifying heat waves. The community has embraced a transformative approach to protect their homes and streets from the extreme heat.

In Indonesia’s Kulon Progo region, smallholder farmers are grappling with the devastating impacts of climate change. Extreme weather events, such as prolonged droughts and floods, have wreaked havoc on coconut sugar production, a key livelihood for many. With associated declining yields, climate change threatens not just crops, but the community’s food security and economic stability.

In Niger, one of the world’s most arid and climate-vulnerable nations, the effects of climate change are stark and unforgiving. But change is taking root, thanks to an innovative solution born from local leadership and grounded in cutting-edge technology.