Wide-scale adoption of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) technologies and practices will require an enabling environment which includes local, institutional, national and regional level plans and policies.

This research area will explore appropriate plans and policies at subnational levels (public/ private sector or from civil society) that can provide incentives for CSA scaling-out. It will also address local level enablers for farmers to access credit, extension, technologies amongst other resources that will increase adoption rates of tried and tested CSA technologies and practices.

Initially focused on Asia (but not exclusively) where significant local adaptation planning takes place (e.g LAPAs in Nepal), the objective of of our research is contributing to improvement of equitable and effective  adaptation plans which are a key scale out strategy to provide incentives for CSA adoption, and support CSA investment.

Key research questions addressed include:

  • What are the most appropriate subnational policies and how might local CSA programs be best designed to promote CSA adoption?
  • What is the role of local institutions in providing supporting services to farmers that increases CSA adoption levels, and promotes gender-equitable outcomes?