There is now a large and increasing academic literature on adaptation and development, and many international aid agencies are wrestling with the issue of how to support adaptation to climate change in practice. However, what is striking about much research and donor practice is how little thinking there has been about the political context in sub-Saharan Africa, what this means for the quality of governance, and the capacity to plan and deliver what are often quite complex policies and programmes.
This paper asks what can be learned from that body of knowledge and experience that is relevant for adaptation policy. It is argued that a perspective on adaptation informed by political analysis helps not only to anticipate where particular problems are likely to be encountered, such as specific sectors or locations in a country, but also to point to more effective responses.
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