Community centered adaptation
A strong example of a community-centered adaptation plan is the community-led mangrove restoration and livelihood diversification initiative in the Anloga District, coastal Ghana.
The plan was designed through participatory vulnerability assessments, community durbars, and consultations with traditional leaders, women, youth, and fisherfolk. Communities selected restoration sites, agreed on by-laws to protect mangroves, and identified complementary livelihoods. NGOs supported with technical guidance, while implementation was led locally.
The initiative reflects community values of collective responsibility, stewardship of natural resources, and respect for traditional authority, with mangroves viewed as both cultural and livelihood assets.
It directly addresses coastal erosion, flooding, and declining fish stocks. Vulnerability was assessed by considering exposure (shoreline erosion), sensitivity (fishing-dependent livelihoods), and adaptive capacity (income options, early warning access).
Potential conflicts over land use and access were managed through dialogue with chiefs, elders, and user groups and by establishing community rules that balance conservation and livelihoods.
The plan meets community needs by reducing flood risks, improving fisheries, and creating adaptive livelihoods. It strengthens adaptive capacity through local ownership, skills development, and sustained collective action, demonstrating that adaptation is most effective when it is locally led and culturally grounded.