Advancing Locally Led Approaches for people, climate and nature

Both ILA and LLA approaches are applied in practice in diverse local settings across the globe. In brief, ILA aims to bring together stakeholders within a landscape context to design and agree on a common theory of change and to commit towards shared long-term landscape goals. LLA refers to action taken to adapt to climate change, which is led by local actors, including citizens, local communities, local governments, civil society organisations (CSOs), and other stakeholders working at the local level. Based on a comparison of the respective principles underpinning ILA and LLA, we identify shared lessons, mutual complementarities, and opportunities to strengthen the effectiveness of both approaches. 

Based on the premise that locally led approaches will remain a critical strategy for the meaningful implementation of national and international policy goals, advancing locally led approaches deserves attention and continuous learning by policy makers, practitioners, and researchers alike. This policy brief is especially intended to contribute to that learning and to inspire practitioner organisations, such as local and international operating NGOs, donors, and funding agencies, to invite more in-depth reflection and exchange on the meaning of locally led approaches and the enabling conditions they require.

Background 

This policy brief is a product of a learning session hosted by the Collaborative Landscape Learning Initiative (CLLI) and co-organised by IIED to facilitate learning and exchange between practitioners with experience in implementing locally led approaches. 

CLLI is a platform by and for NGO’s and knowledge institutes based in The Netherlands to learn about landscape approaches. Participants organise joint learning sessions on issues around the implementation of landscape approaches facilitated by a supporting secretariat of Tropenbos International and the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL). The specific role of PBL is to document policy relevant insights and learnings. 

The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) is a nonprofit international organisation which focuses on tackling global poverty while promoting the sustainable management of natural resources. IIED’s mission is to build a fairer, more sustainable world through evidence-based action and collaboration. Its research emphasises the needs of vulnerable populations, ensuring their voices are heard in environmental policy-making.