The primary objective of this project was to guide the definition of a research agenda, and inform the scope of work to build the knowledge required, to support South Africa’s climate change adaptation response. It was a collaborative effort, under the co-lead of GCI at Wits and ACDI at UCT.

The approach taken was intended to inform ongoing planning processes based on analysis of past adaptation research, including but not limited to, South Africa’s Long Term Adaptation Scenarios-Flagship Research Programme (LTAS), as well as through identification of priority gaps and needs to be addressed by future research efforts. Furthermore, the assignment aimed to provide a practical assessment of the Adaptation Research Flagship efforts to date, including the preceding LTAS phases, and considers the degree to which emerging research has been integrated into ongoing processes for adaptation planning. Finally, several recommendations were provided to increase the effectiveness and uptake of adaptation research and knowledge.

Time Frames: November 2017 – September 2018

Funders: Commissioned by National Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

Partners: Global Change Institute (GCI) at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), African Climate Development Initiative (ACDI) at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the DEA

For further details: contact Katinka Waagsaether