Worldwide—GCA Local Adaptation Champions Awards

Launched by The Global Center on Adaptation in 2022, the Local Adaptation Champions Awards spotlight and reward inspiring, innovative, and scalable locally led efforts that address the impacts of climate change and build effective climate resilience among the most vulnerable communities, sections of society, and individuals who are at the frontlines of the greatest existential threat faced by humankind.

DAI is supporting the delivery of the Local Adaptation Champions Awards 2022 through a range of activities including conceptualizing the Awards process; developing the Awards criteria and material required for the submission of entries; developing a global outreach and publicity plan; building an applications portal; managing the receipt of applications; managing the shortlisting process; and organizing a high-level Awards ceremony at COP27, Egypt.

Who Can Enter?

• The Awards are open to any individual, organization, or group of partners worldwide, who have implemented or are in the process of implementing climate change adaptation and resilience solutions that follow one of the eight principles for locally led adaptation.
• Apply now, with this link.

Awards Categories

• Inclusive leadership—Initiatives inclusive by design and truly owned by the communities in which they have been implemented.
• Financial governance—initiatives whose scope was to design innovative financial mechanisms that allow local communities to access and manage adaptation funds in ways that best fit local needs, priorities, and evolving contexts.
• Knowledge and capacity—Initiatives designed to strengthen local knowledge and skills related to climate change adaptation, climate finance, or locally led adaptation principles in ways that enable local actors to autonomously continue building their knowledge and share their skills over time.
• Local innovation—Local solutions or technologies—physical or digital—that minimize the immediate and long-term impacts of climate change on people in the community, in particular those most vulnerable.

Prizes and Awards Ceremony

Twenty nominees will benefit from media coverage around their nomination for the Awards. Four winners (one per category) will receive a cash prize of €15,000 from a high-level jury in November, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, during COP27.