With a strong focus on understanding the factors that enhance or diminish people's vulnerability and wellbeing, and the responses they take to deal with both climatic and non-climatic stressors, ASSAR focused on the most marginalised. In particular, we sought to shift the adaptation narrative from centering mainly on infrastructural, technical solutions to forefronting and addressing some of the barriers posed by power structures, patriarchal norms and governance disconnects. 

Gender inequality is a key factor making adaptation efforts ineffective, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. Researchers and practitioners involved in ASSAR provided ample evidence to show that commonly-held beliefs about women being the most vulnerable and needing to be the target of interventions should be challenged as local realities show much more complexity and variance.

Hailing from Bangalore, India, Natasha SK reflects on the process of synthesising familiarity and difference while working in Accra, Ghana.

How a two-day capacity building workshop equipped women leaders in semi-arid Ghana with valuable skills for financial record keeping and access to credit. 

ASSAR Ghana, in partnership with local and national institutions, has launched Climate Advisory Resource Centres in Nandom and Lawra districts for the training of farmers and extension officers on climate change adaptation, water management and agronomic practices.