VCA’s participation at CBA19
This year, the 19th International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation to Climate Change was held in Recife, Brazil, between May 12 and 16, 2025. Our VCA colleagues attended the conference, along with several of VCA’s Next Level Grant Facility (NLGF) in-country fund managers, to connect and engage while attending the conference.
The CBA conference is a space for the adaptation community to share lessons on community-based and locally led adaptation approaches and explore how to practice the principles of locally led adaptation (LLA), recognising the complexities, innovations, and challenges that must be overcome.
NLGF Fund managers who are rooted in their local communities and have a strong capacity to administer and monitor the NLGF grant in a transparent, fair and just manner, met in a workshop to share lessons on disbursing funds to small, local, and informal grantees, focusing on identifying common challenges and approaches. CBA itself focused on getting finance to the local level and the role of local funds.
Facilitated by Rede Comua, VCA held a joint side event called Alternative Financial Mechanisms to Promote Inclusion and Action at the Community Level. Using a fishbowl discussion format, co-hosts shared case studies and insights on how communities navigate financial challenges and help shape more adaptable financial models. The session was open to audience interaction, fostering collective brainstorming on how philanthropy can move beyond trends to support long-term, community-driven climate adaptation.
In addition to the side event, VCA hosted a Marketplace stall where the VCA could share tools, products, games or new approaches to locally-led adaptation, as well as lessons and insights from our experience on the NLGF. One of the products showcased is a booklet providing comprehensive information on our Next Level Grant Facility (NLGF), which supports locally-led climate solutions in Tunisia, Indonesia, Kenya, Bolivia, Brazil, Zambia, and Paraguay through small grants.
To explore the NLGF’s approach and impact, download the booklet here.
