Over 50 participants joined the ADPC and Friendship session on locally-led solutions to address community adaptation and resilience.

Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) and Friendship co-organized a technical workshop session titled 'From Innovation to Impact: Emerging Technology and Locally-led Solutions to Address Community Adaptation and Resilience.' 

The session explored what technology, innovations, and locally-led solutions mean for different communities. It was held on the sidelines of the 17th International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation to Climate Change (CBA17), organized by International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). 

Associate Professor Dr. Tavida Kamolvej, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, sharing her opening remarks.

Associate Professor Dr. Tavida Kamolvej, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, Thailand, shed light on the various innovative practices implemented in the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to ensure residents' safety and well-being. 

"Innovation isn't just solar panels, it's not just building design – it's how you use it to benefit the people," she said. Notable examples of local innovations include mapping green areas in Bangkok, identifying fire hazards, and encouraging telemedicine services.

Mr. Kazi Amdadul Hoque, Senior Director of Strategic Planning and Head of Climate Action at Friendship, sharing his perspective with the participants.

Mr. Kazi Amdadul Hoque, Senior Director of Strategic Planning and Head of Climate Action at Friendship, shared insightful perspectives from rural Bangladesh. 

He highlighted how communities in Bangladesh are proactively assessing their own risks and seeking innovative solutions. Friendship has been instrumental in pioneering sustainable house-building techniques, mangrove reforestation initiatives, and schools that can be dismantled when floods approach. These endeavors showcase the power of locally-led adaptation efforts in vulnerable regions.

Mr. Vishwa Ranjan, Programme Officer for Water and Wetlands in South Asia at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), emphasized the significance of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in addressing climate-related challenges. 

His contributions underscored the importance of integrating nature into adaptation strategies and leveraging its inherent resilience.

Participants were divided into three groups to discuss workshop takeaways and provide their insights.

Group discussions were also held for participants to provide their insights. Their main recommendations include that innovation must be continuously updated to address emerging challenges communities face in disaster and climate change adaptation, intermediaries such as international organizations, CSOs, and NGOs, play a crucial role as knowledge brokers in the innovation process and that innovations should be cost-effective and easily understandable for the target communities. 

The expert insights shared during the session sparked dynamic discussions among the participants, including practitioners, grassroots representatives, local and national government planners, policymakers, and donors. The role of innovation in fostering community-based adaptation to climate change and enhancing disaster resilience emerged as a central theme, prompting attendees to reflect on the possibilities and challenges associated with these approaches.

The 17th International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation to Climate Change (CBA17) occurred on 22-25 May 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand. The CBA conference series aims to bring together a community of practitioners to share how to put the principles for locally-led adaptation (LLA) into practice, recognizing the complexities, innovations, and challenges that must be overcome.