The Capacity Strengthening (CS) Hub, part of the CLARE Programme, supports the CLARE initiative in its objective to strengthen capacity from research to action for sustainable, climate-resilient development. Hosted by the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) and PlanAdapt, the CS Hub works closely with CLARE projects to strengthen capacity in climate change adaptation and resilience research across individuals, organizations, and networks. The Hub provides tailored and demand-based virtual and in-person support for researchers, practitioners and project staff through a variety of means such as trainings, facilitation and  advisory services.

Our Mission

The Capacity Strengthening Hub’s mission is to support locally led climate adaptation and resilience research to action by strengthening the capacity of researchers, practitioners and institutions engaged in CLARE.

Our Work

The Hub offers capacity strengthening support to a range of actors, particularly CLARE-funded researchers and practitioners spanning across different career levels. The Hub focuses on the following skills and competencies:

Figure 1: The skills and competences that the CS Hub supports and focuses on. Source: CS Hub

To enhance these skills, the Hub operates in four core areas: (1) coordinates, co-designs and implements CS activities through a variety of modalities and learning methods such as trainings or peer learning sessions; (2) supports and advises projects on enhancing CS quality and impact; (3) summarizes learnings of enablers and barriers of innovative CS approaches; and (4) connects and convenes colleagues on CS topics

Figure 2: Conceptualization of our work. Source: CS Hub

From seasonal schools and inclusive workshops to responsive funds, we promote collaboration, gender equality, and Southern leadership in climate resilience research. Here is a more detailed look at our work:

1. Strengthening Research and Research for Impact Capacities 

We work to strengthen the capacities of researchers, practitioners and project staff to conduct research for climate-resilient development. This includes building both research capacities and research-for-impact capacities. To enhance these competences for both individual and institutional capacities for research and research uptake, we coordinate and co-design a diverse set of activities. These include targeted activities such as trainings and workshops (e.g. on knowledge brokering and Gender & Social Inclusion (GESI)), peer-learning sessions (e.g. on equitable partnerships or stakeholder engagement), and seasonal schools to enhance targeted capacity gaps.

Learning and convening at the Seasonal School. Photo credit: Fiona Makayoto – CS Hub

2. Promoting inclusive and well-designed CS Approaches

We provide support and guidance to CLARE projects to ensure their capacity-strengthening activities are well-designed, inclusive, and enhance southern leadership. This includes financial support for demand-driven CS activities, advisory on how to enhance the impact and embeddedness of CS approaches, offerings to enhance the overall understanding on CS concepts and methods as well as facilitating specialized communities of practice.

3. Understanding Enablers and Barriers of  CS

We enable learning for the CLARE programme, to foster a deeper, critical understanding of the barriers and enablers of impactful, innovative and sustainable CS approaches in the context of adaptation research. ​ As the CS Hub, we not only track and share our progress – we also developed a theory of change to understand how capacity strengthening is unfolding across the CLARE programme and our role within it. Through our learning agenda, we will actively explore the assumptions and pathways of how capacity strengthening is impactful and innovative, working closely with the CLARE programme and projects to learn together.

4. Connects and Convenes Colleagues on CS Topics

The Hub connects and convenes colleagues across projects, disciplines, and regions to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and co-create solutions on CS topics. We make sure that our actions are based on the demands and needs of projects while being streamlined with other Hubs’ and Working Groups’ activities.

Connect with us

Stay informed about new capacity-strengthening updates:

• Follow @ACTSNET and @PlanAdapt
• Email us: clare.cs@acts.net