The World Bank is actively promoting locally led climate action to enhance community resilience and equitable climate transitions. This approach aims to empower local governments, communities, and Indigenous Peoples by increasing their access to climate finance and decision-making capabilities. The Locally Led Climate Action (LLCA) framework is designed to integrate local knowledge with scientific data, emphasizing inclusive participation and the strengthening of institutional capacities.
Fatou Kiridi Bangoura from Agence Nationale de Financement des Collectivités highlighted the collaborative efforts with the World Bank and Agence Française de Développement in Guinea: “With the World Bank and the [Agence Française de Développement (AFD)], we helped create a new way to think about local development, where local communities make their own diagnoses of their climate situation."
Despite the crucial role of local actors in climate mitigation and adaptation, they receive less than 17% of global climate finance. Indigenous Peoples face even greater challenges, receiving only around 5% for environmental protection. This lack of resources perpetuates exclusion and inequality, increasing communities' vulnerability to hazards like floods or water scarcity.
The LLCA framework has been implemented through projects such as Kenya's Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA), which channels funds directly to county governments. FLLoCA has seen significant success, with counties contributing over $23 million from their budgets towards climate investments.
In Guinea, the Support to Local Governance Project focuses on strengthening institutions for transparent decentralization across numerous communes. By 2028, it aims for at least 50% of resources dedicated to community-led investments in climate resilience.
Looking forward, LLCA programs are set to expand globally, supported by partnerships with organizations like the Nordic Development Fund and the Global Center on Adaptation’s locally led adaptation hub. These initiatives will focus on building evidence, sharing knowledge, and enhancing technical assistance across various regions.