This Adaptation Insight builds on GCA’s technical assistance under the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program, which has influenced DCAS integration across 17 major agricultural investment projects across Africa with the potential to improve resilience for millions of smallholder farmers. It draws on the expertise and insights developed in deep collaboration and engagement with governments, international finance institutions, CGIAR and private sector partners to provide a practical roadmap for moving from scattered pilots to scalable, country-owned national systems.

Africa stands at a critical crossroads where climate change is not just an environmental challenge but a profound security imperative. Increasingly frequent droughts, floods, and water stress are fueling instability and conflict across the Sahel and Horn of Africa, with far-reaching consequences for regional and global peace. Adaptation is no longer a distant development goal—it is central to safeguarding stability, resilience, and security.

In 2025, the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) built upon the success of the Pilot Youth Academy on Climate Adaptation and Leadership by hosting the Pan-African Youth Academy on Climate Adaptation and Leadership, a training-of-trainers program designed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge to replicate climate adaptation training in their home countries.