Building climate resilience in Asia and the Pacific region

This study examines six projects under the International Fund for Agricultural Development's (IFAD) Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Program (ASAP), in three principal ecosystems of the Asia and Pacific region: a mountainous region, wetlands and a river delta. It derived four main recommendations for improving the design and effectiveness of adaptation projects both in the region and elsewhere. These projects in the region offer a host of valuable lessons that can be applied in the design and implementation of other climate change adaptation projects targeting smallholder farmers and rural communities around the world.

The study derived four main recommendations for improving the design and effectiveness of adaptation projects both in the region and elsewhere. Firstly, acting fast and using technology to speed the assessment of climate change risks and impacts, and draw upon the experience, knowledge and creativity of local people. Secondly, use public-private partnerships to add value to and speed uptake of solutions invented by local people. Thirdly, successful adaptations will be spontaneously adopted in rural communities – provided constraints are removed and finance is available. Fourthly, information and communication technology platforms introduced to support climate-resilient initiatives also protect against other adverse events, including pandemic disruption.