This literature review summarises evidence on system strengthening for climate resilience, focusing on evidence and lessons learned for eastern and southern Africa. It synthesises key findings from academic and grey literature published since 2015, highlighting what has worked to strengthen national policy, governance, coordination, and financing systems, and explored evidence on programming in key sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, financial inclusion, social protection, and health. Mirroring the wide remit, this review has found a broad literature, but limited in-depth research overall looking from policy intent and programme design to system-strengthening outcomes for climate resilience in this region.
Two key priorities for strengthening systems that emerge from reading across the literature include integrating climate adaptation with disaster risk management for coherent policy, and promoting equity-focused approaches. The evidence on policy, governance, and coordination emphasises the pivotal role of ministries of finance and platforms to enable coordinated action across government, and resourced decentralisation. The literature also highlights that local civil society organisations, public–private partnerships, and regional cooperation all have roles in strengthening climate-resilient systems. Across the sectoral evidence, critical enablers include investing in participatory and locally led approaches; valuing indigenous knowledge; providing tailored support for marginalised farmers; and ensuring system-strengthening efforts incorporate a gender and social inclusion lens.
Author: Becky Carter, Researcher, IDS