Fig:ARIN and PlanAdapt During the Consultative Meeting at ARIN Offices

By Washington Kanyangi and Florence Onyango

The Africa Research and Impact Network (ARIN) recently hosted a high-level consultative meeting with PlanAdapt Founder and Managing Director Martin Rokitzki at its offices in Nairobi. The discussions focused on strengthening collaboration in climate adaptation research, amplifying community voices, and supporting early career researchers (ECRs) through strategic funding opportunities.

Both organisations reaffirmed their shared commitment to inclusivity in Research and Development (R&D), emphasising the need to place local communities at the heart of adaptation processes. They highlighted the importance of co-creating adaptation initiatives with communities to ensure interventions are tailored to their specific needs. The meeting also underscored the critical role of knowledge dissemination, with a call for tailored pathways that translate research findings into actionable insights for local communities.

ARIN showcased its Locally Led Adaptation Metrics for Africa (LAMA) project, which engages communities in the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) and Benin to define and measure adaptation progress within their households and localities. PlanAdapt expressed strong alignment with this approach, reinforcing the need for innovative strategies that empower communities to take ownership of adaptation efforts. Looking ahead, both organisations plan to co-develop tools that enhance community participation in adaptation planning and implementation.

The meeting also delved into ARIN’s mini-grants programme, which provides financial support to outstanding ECRs in environmental science. Recognising the administrative barriers many independent researchers face in securing funding, PlanAdapt’s leadership endorsed ARIN’s model as a critical step in fostering research excellence.

Held at ARIN’s offices in Nairobi, the consultative meeting marked a significant step in advancing inclusive and transdisciplinary climate adaptation efforts. As both organisations refine strategies for community engagement and knowledge dissemination, the focus remains on translating research into real-world impact for local communities.

© ARIN Press, 2025