CARE Brasil’s experience in local development: reducing vulnerabilities and improving capacities for adaptation in the coast of Bahia

This report documents the results and impact of CARE Brasil's work in the coast of Bahia. It addresses the ability of vulnerable communities living in the countryside and in the coast to adapt to social, political and economic changes, as well as climatic changes, which depends on the fight on poverty and improvement of human development indicators.

It asserts that it is vital that these families are guaranteed access to social rights, access to Justice, information, financial services and markets in order to reduce the risks of negative impacts due to climate change. All initiatives carried out by local communities presented in the report aim to strengthen local development in its five dimensions: (i) social inclusion, including food security and access to healthcare; (ii) dynamic economic flows; (iii) innovative public administration; (iv) rational use of natural resources, including water management; and (v) social mobilization. It also summarises the contribution of the experience's results to the Millennium Development Goals and highlights some good practices that can be replicated by the communities themselves, or extended and diffused by public policies.