Community-Based Adaptation to Climate Change in Timor-Leste

The researcher spent 12 months in Timor-Leste working for APHEDA-Union Aid Abroad as an Environment and Climate Change Education Advisor from May 2010 to May 2011. Climate change has been identified as a significant threat to community livelihoods in Timor-Leste and various organisations are working with local communities to integrate climate change adaptation into their existing activities. Based on findings of a baseline study on community vulnerability to climate change in Timor-Leste, "learning by doing", interviews with community development practitioners and practical work with a local community-based organisation, this paper critically evaluates three distinct community-based approaches to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction applied in Timor-Leste. By identifying key lessons learnt and useful tools and gaps, the paper recommends an integrated research-action framework to help facilitate community-based adaptation actions and reduce climate-related risks in target communities in Timor-Leste.