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CBA18: International Conference on Community-based Adaptation to Climate Change

Already for the 18th time, the International Conference on Community-based Adaptation to Climate Change (CBA18) will take place from May 6-9 In Arusha, Tanzania. In this conference practitioners, civil society organisations, donors, and representatives from governments and multilateral agencies come together to learn from each other and explore opportunities for collaboration.

This year’s theme – “local solutions inspiring global action” – is centred around ‘decolonising climate action’ and promoting ‘locally-led innovation and adaptation’. Critical and constructive conversations around these topics are ever more urgent in the face of a global climate crisis. The below statistics underscore the importance to seriously invest in ‘community-based adaptation’:

  • Less than 1% of climate-related Overseas Development Aid (ODA) went to Indigenous peoples and local communities between 2011-2020;
  • Women’s rights organisations only received around 1% of total ODA dedicated to gender equality and women’s empowerment in 2020-2021. This is in stark contrast with the growing evidence and recognition of women’s critical role in protecting the environment, their communities, and taking leadership inclimate action
  • The majority of climate finance is provided in loans (57%), which increases the burden of debt on countries disproportionately affected by climate change, and reinforces regional inequalities and colonial legacies. (Climate-related development finance recipient 2021, OECD, April 2023)

With these statistics in mind, we aim to set the scene for the CBA18 Conference on the first day by co-hosting a side-event on decolonising climate finance . What does it means to ‘decolonise’ (climate) finance, and how can funding be made more accessible to support and strengthen locally-led initiatives?

In the interactive ‘fishbowl’ discussion, participants will share learnings from innovative finance mechanisms that address current obstacles for local organisations in accessing climate finance. FWith participants ranging from donors, government actors and private sector, to researchers and local implementers, we will then discuss how actors can best work together to localize climate change finance.

Co-hosts of this side-event are Both ENDS, Shack Dwellers International Kenya, and Save the Children. Speakers from the Both ENDS network that will share during the fishbowl discussion include representatives of: WATED from Tanzania, ENDA from Senegal, MCDI from Kenya, and Uttaran from Bangladesh.