Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Who should decide how Africa adapts to climate change? According to members and partners of the Africa Resilience Collaborative (ARC), the answer is clear: the communities most affected by climate impacts must have a stronger voice in shaping solutions.

Following discussions held after CCDA-XIV in Addis Ababa, ARC has released a new communiqué highlighting the urgent need to move locally led adaptation from principle to practice. The document argues that Africa’s adaptation challenge is not only a matter of financing, but also one of power, governance, accountability, and access to decision-making.

While communities across the continent are already leading resilience-building efforts, they often remain the furthest from the resources and institutions designed to support them. ARC is therefore calling for climate finance systems that are more accessible, responsive, and accountable to local realities.

Among the key priorities identified are embedding resilience within development systems, turning national adaptation plans into effective local delivery pathways, improving access to finance for frontline actors, and strengthening African intermediary institutions that can channel resources more effectively to communities.

As preparations begin for COP31 and COP32, ARC emphasizes that locally led adaptation is not simply about geography. It is about ensuring that communities have greater authority, agency, and influence over the decisions and resources that shape their resilience.

TrustAfrica extends its appreciation to the partners, practitioners, funders, and institutions whose contributions enriched these discussions and helped advance a shared vision for a more resilient and climate-just Africa.