Overview
CDKN works with the public, private and non-governmental sectors in support of locally-owned and -led climate-resilient action. Founded in 2010, the network has worked in over 70 countries, focusing on bridging knowledge and climate action by shifting power and resources to local communities and advancing equitable, locally-led climate responses.
Mission and focus areas
CDKN’s focus is on mobilising knowledge, capacity and leadership in the Global South to improve the wellbeing of the most climate-affected people. Its priority action areas include gender equity and social inclusion (GESI), which empowers women, youth, and Indigenous peoples; strengthening equitable and locally-appropriate ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA); promoting flexible, inclusive and locally-led financing systems; and exploring the role of knowledge brokers as facilitators of change.
Structure and governance
CDKN is a Southern-led network. In its current third phase, the programme is managed by SouthSouthNorth.
Programs and offerings
CDKN provides a range of resources and capacity-strengthening initiatives, including a toolkit to help local organisations turn climate adaptation ideas into fundable projects and a capacity-strengthening programme for knowledge brokers. It produces ‘learning stories’ from its work in countries such as Namibia, Uganda, and Nepal, and publishes technical working papers, ‘CDKN Essentials’ briefs, and journal articles on climate knowledge brokering. The organisation also facilitates webinars on enabling and scaling locally-led adaptation and hosts training workshops for young climate leaders.
Our mission
The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) works to improve the well-being of the most climate-affected people in the Global South, especially marginalised groups, through transformative climate-resilient action.
We work in partnership with the public, civil society and private sectors to mobilise knowledge, leadership and capacity in the Global South from local to global levels.
