The SIDS CBA project has committed 60% of the total resources ($11.8m) through the implementation of over 135 projects. These community-led projects support communities in adapting to present and future climate change impacts and address development, climate and ecosystem sustainability in an integrated manner. The initiatives’ focal areas included Water Resource Management, Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Agriculture and Food Security and Land Degradation. The communities are also trained on income diversification options, financial management and establishment of savings-and-credit schemes. Projects have demonstrated evidence-based policy influence. Linkages to government, private sector and other UN agencies expand support to communities.

The process of building communities’ capacity to understand climate change impacts needs to be iteratively done and supported many times for a longer period of time beyond the designated project period. Additionally, implementation progress is also slowed down by the need to embrace cultural norms------a key ingredients in changing behaviours and attitudes required in adaptation projects and occurs---- amongst many communities targeted by the projects and who exhibits diversified values.

Continued capacity-building training for communities and grassroots-level organizations will be priority in the specific country action plans. These actions will be coupled by stakeholder analysis activities aiming of including cultural values in the continual adaptation process.

Local communities, community based organizations (CBO/NGO) and disable persons organizations (DPO) The communities have a more shown that they are embracing sustainable livelihood options that their environment can support as a result of improved provision of ecosystem services through projects interventions. For example, communities have shown that when they have increased access to potable and cleaner water, increased food security, increased awareness on how to mitigate climate change impacts and its variability, improved conservation of flora and fauna of global significance, there is less conflict and incomes have improved from a number of income generating activities leading to better environmental conservation.