Mobilising knowledge,
capacity and leadership in
the Global South to improve
the wellbeing of the most
climate-affected people
Lady with plants
CDKN
We work with the public, private and non-governmental sectors in support of locally-owned and -led climate-resilient action.
This English language site features projects in the 70+ countries where we’ve worked, and resources and blogs from those and more.
Feature
6th August 2026
Amplifying the voices of African early-career researchers for global and regional climate leadership In this blog, Prince Ansah, Zelda Gadegbeku and Valerie Nutakor highlight the importance of strengthening African leadership in climate research through the CDKN Africa Early-Career Researchers (ECR) Fellowship. Despite being disproportionately affected by climate change, African researchers remain underrepresented in global climate science and policy spaces. The fellowship responds to this challenge by equipping emerging researchers with skills, networks and platforms to amplify their voices, influence policy, and generate locally grounded climate solutions. Through capacity strengthening, knowledge co-creation, science-policy engagement and peer learning, the programme demonstrates how investing in African ECRs can help build a new generation of climate leaders capable of shaping Africa's climate future on their own terms.
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27th July 2026
Singing as climate action: Amplifying women’s voices in Ghana’s Upper West Region In Ghana's Upper West Region, women play a critical role in managing climate risks through their responsibilities in farming, seed preservation, water management and household food security. The following inside story, written by Shelta Gatsey and Patricia Bamanyaki, explores how women's climate knowledge can be amplified through culturally familiar communication channels.
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23rd July 2026
Africa Early Career Fellowship Podcast Series: Amplifying African climate researchers voices The Africa Early Career Fellowship Podcast Series is a flagship initiative of CDKN’s Amplifying Voices of African Researchers (AVAR) project, designed to elevate African-led climate research and strengthen links between science, policy and practice.
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21st July 2026
From inclusion to influence: What SB64 taught us about strengthening GESI advocacy As part of SB64 in Bonn, CDKN supported a UNFCCC workshop for National Gender and Climate Change Focal Points to strengthen advocacy for gender equality and social inclusion (GESI). This blog, written by CDKN Programme Lead Lisa McNamara and CDKN GESI Lead Patricia Bamanyaki, reflects on this experience and the broader lessons for climate action to answer the question: How do we advocate for GESI when decision-makers are unconvinced?
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21st July 2026
Seeds of resilience: How community seed systems are advancing LLA in Africa Across Africa, climate change is placing growing pressure on food systems. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall and more frequent extreme weather events are making it harder for small-scale farmers to produce food, while biodiversity loss, environmental degradation and dependence on commercial agricultural inputs are increasing vulnerability. This blog by Essia Guezzi looks at how Micaia Foundation, one of CDKN's Knowledge to Action (K2A) grantees, is working with communities in Mozambique's Manica Province to strengthen community-managed seed banks. 
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7th July 2026
Lessons from a learning workshop on locally led adaptation in Africa This brief, authored by Fatema Rajabali, forms part of a year-long CDKN learning process on locally led adaptation with partners across Africa. It captures the core insights that emerged from the regional learning exchange and lays the foundation for a forthcoming synthesis report.
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17th June 2026
Centring human rights in ecosystem-based adaptation This policy brief, written by CDKN’s Hannah Sack and Nadia Sitas and published by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), explores how a human rights-based approach (HRBA) can strengthen ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) to climate change.
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15th June 2026
Systematization of the experience of the project implemented by the Regional Water Fund - FORASAN Piura This document describes the implementation experience of the project “Restoration of ecosystems with Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) measures, with a focus on gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) in the Samanga Peasant Community”, in the province of Ayabaca, Piura region.
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11th June 2026
Gaps and needs pager: Rights-based finance for climate and biodiversity This document, originally uploaded by UNFCC, summarises the outcomes of a Paris Committee on Capacity-building Network (PCCB) webinar, hosted in collaboration with SwedBio and Global Youth Biodiversity Network, entitled 'Rights-based Finance for Climate and Biodiversity: Enabling Just Transition and Transformative Change'.

Where we work

CDKN works across Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean. Find out more by navigating to our country pages.

How knowledge brokering turns ideas into high-impact projects

CDKN organised a four-day training of practical learning for young climate leaders in Ethiopia. The training unpacked the principles of knowledge brokering, refined youth-led project ideas for the Ethiopian context, and talked plainly about funding so that proposals land and impact grows.

 

Gender equity and social inclusion (GESI)

Empowering those most affected by climate change, including women, youth, and Indigenous peoples

Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA)

Strengthening equitable and locally-appropriate ecosystem-based adaptation

Finance for resilience

Promoting flexible, inclusive and locally-led financing systems that supports systemic change, rather than isolated projects

Knowledge brokering for climate action

Exploring and strengthening the role of knowledge brokers as facilitators of change