IDRC and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) are pleased to announce the first portfolio of research projects to be implemented as part of their Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CLARE) initiative.

IDRC and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) are pleased to announce the first portfolio of research projects to be implemented as part of their Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CLARE) initiative. 

CLARE aims to enable socially inclusive and sustainable action to build resilience to climate change and natural hazards in the Global South. The CAD180-million initiative is primarily funded by UK aid and co-funded by IDRC, and is jointly designed and run by IDRC and FCDO. 

“IDRC’s longstanding partnership with the UK has been of great value for the advancement of sustainable development. Together, the CLARE projects announced today represent the focus of our partnership – supporting Southern-led climate-adaptation research to identify innovative solutions and help build long-term resilience while promoting gender equality and inclusion,” said Julie Shouldice, acting president of IDRC. “The teams leading this first group of CLARE projects will now embark on their action-oriented research, with the aim of enabling a more climate-resilient future for people in the multiple countries across Africa and Asia where they will be implemented.” 

This first cohort of 16 research projects will be implemented in 26 countries across Africa and Asia-Pacific, bridging critical gaps between science and action. The projects were selected through a thorough process following a call that received an unprecedented response – over 1,600 concept notes for projects, which confirmed the pressing demand for evidence to inform adaptation action. They will develop new tools and support partner governments, communities and the private sector to use evidence and innovation to drive effective solutions to the climate challenge, while building capacity of those carrying out the research as well as those using the resulting evidence.   

“We are proud to see these projects taking shape, enabled by the long-standing, successful partnership between IDRC and FCDO and by exciting partnerships with researchers and practitioners around the world. We are looking forward to seeing these partners co-producing needs-driven, action-oriented research that will use science and innovation to address short-term climate shocks whilst enabling long-term, sustainable, and equitable development. As CLARE’s largest donor, this is as a great example of the UK fulfilling its COP26 commitments to the initiative and to endorsing the ARA’s Adaptation Research for Impact Principles,” said Professor Charlotte Watts, UK FCDO Chief Scientific Advisor.

CLARE’s ground-breaking research links up short-and long-term issues, providing a better understanding of the risks associated with climate, supporting early action to reduce impacts of climate variability whilst enabling long-term, sustainable, and equitable economic and social development in a changing climate. 

The details of these projects will be published soon on the CLARE website. 

This article was originally posted on the IDRC website.