Climate Adaptation Learning Network
The inaugural Climate Adaptation Learning Network Meeting launched our latest Learning Network focusing on climate adaptation in the Global South. Hosted by the DLL team, including Jon Einar Flåtnes, Viola Asri, and Kristine Helgheim, this event marked the beginning of a growing community, fostering collaboration, shared learning, and innovation.
The Purpose of Learning Networks
Our learning networks serve as a platform for collaboration, offering opportunities to discuss practical challenges, share relevant research, and establish lasting connections. Most importantly they aim to integrate learnings in program planning and ultimately enhance the effectiveness of development programs.
The climate network brings together a group of researchers and practitioners with a broad range of thematic expertise, covering diverse regions and sectors. The network strives to foster this diversity, giving space to participants to highlight their areas of interests and climate aspirations in the broader space of climate adaptation.
The Inaugural Event
On October 21, 2024, the first meeting of the Climate Adaptation Learning Network was held at the Norad office in Oslo. The event brought together practitioners and researchers to foster exchange, build partnerships, and deepen our understanding of climate adaptation challenges and solutions in the Global South.
The day began with introductions led by Viola Asri, followed by Jon Einar Flåtnes outlining the key objectives of the learning network: to create a collaborative space for sharing experiences, identifying knowledge gaps, and advancing evidence-based approaches to climate adaptation.
Participants engaged in a rich plenary discussion to map out priority knowledge needs. This was followed by two presentations by Jon Einar: the first offering an overview of the current status of climate adaptation in the Global South, and the second providing a brief but comprehensive review of the literature on adaptation interventions in smallholder agriculture—highlighting what works, what does not, and why.
After lunch, attendees broke into smaller groups to exchange practical experiences from the field. The breakout sessions sparked thoughtful discussions and concluded with a plenary sharing round that revealed key insights and common challenges across contexts.
The event closed with remarks from Jon Einar outlining next steps for the network, including future meetings and opportunities for collaboration.
A Vision for Learning and Collaboration
The Climate Adaptation Learning Network aspires to grow into a platform for sustained engagement, where practitioners, researchers, and policymakers come together to address the complex and evolving challenges of climate adaptation. The network seeks to equip its members with the tools, insights, and connections needed to navigate this dynamic field—fostering a spirit of collaboration, critical reflection, and mutual learning.
Looking ahead, we plan to convene one to two meetings each semester, each centered around a thematic focus shaped by the interests of participants. These gatherings will strike a balance between research and practical implementation, featuring a mix of external speakers and contributions from within the network. Topics will evolve over time, but may include areas such as concepts and measurement, climate education, climate-smart agriculture, conflict and adaptation, insurance, and the use of evidence in decision-making.
Beyond the meetings themselves, the network aims to establish a shared space for continuous knowledge exchange—where members can share lessons learned, explore new approaches, and contribute to a growing body of evidence and experience. By promoting evidence-informed practices and supporting innovative thinking grounded in real-world realities, the Climate Adaptation Learning Network intends to drive meaningful, long-term impact across diverse contexts and communities.
The second meeting is scheduled for April 28, 2025 and will focus on concepts and measurement in climate adaptation.