Unpacking transformation: A framework and insights from adaptation mainstreaming

As the impacts of climate change become increasingly severe, there is mounting evidence that successful adaptation requires transformational changes to social, human, physical, financial, and political systems. 

Despite this, there is no consensus on what constitutes ‘transformational change’, nor how it can best be achieved. A new paper released by the Action on Climate Today (ACT) programme, addresses this by providing evidence of transformational change from its work in South Asia.

The paper, “Unpacking transformation: A framework and insights from adaptation mainstreaming,” draws on five case studies from South Asia and demonstrates the ways in which technical assistance programmes on adaptation can support and facilitate transformational change. 

Designed for development and climate practitioners, the paper also provides a conceptual framework for assessing progress towards transformational change in adaptation. It consists of three components:  

1. Transformational characteristics – the indicators of transformational change; 
2. Transformational domains – the route by which transformational change is achieved; and  
3. The enabling environment – the factors that predate and support transformational change.  

The framework can be used by practitioners and policy-makers to understand, strengthen and monitor the likelihood of transformational change in adaptation. 

Even under the most ambitious climate scenarios, the consequences of climate change and its impacts will be severe. Storms, heatwaves and flood events are all expected to increase in frequency and intensity, and seal level rise will put coastal settlements at risk. Countries in South Asia are especially vulnerable, and the scale of ambition on climate change resilience building must increase to ensure they are able to meet their development objectives. Given the scale of the challenge, it has become clear that applying piecemeal adaptation measures will be insufficient: there is a need for transformative change.

ACT is a £23 million UK government-funded regional programme managed by Oxford Policy Management (OPM) in collaboration with many consortium partners. It has been working since 2014 in partnership with national and sub-national governments of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan to assist the integration of climate adaptation into development policies and actions while transforming systems of planning and delivery, including leveraging additional finance.