Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) define countries’ commitments under the Paris Agreement, including planned adaptation strategies and actions. Although NDCs represent national-level commitments, their execution, especially those related to adaptation, is highly localised in practice. Effective adaptation, therefore, requires institutional mechanisms that systematically recognise and integrate local adaptation efforts into national policy and planning frameworks. Consequently, localising NDC commitments is essential to raise awareness regarding the distinct roles and responsibilities of grassroots actors and to enhance engagement across subnational stakeholders.

To address this need, locally led adaptation (LLA) has emerged as a new paradigm that aims to transfer decision-making authority to local stakeholders for the design, planning, implementation, and monitoring of localised adaptation actions. The eight principles of LLA, introduced by the Global Centre on Adaptation and endorsed by over 150 organisations—including governments, development agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and community-based organisations (CBOs)—provide a structured framework for shifting decision-making power to local actors to strengthen grassroots resilience. LLA demands an equitable, inclusive, and just approach to adaptation by positioning local stakeholders—particularly vulnerable groups such as women, older persons, children, Indigenous Peoples, and youth—as active leaders rather than passive beneficiaries. Ultimately, this framework recognises local communities as pioneers capable of innovating adaptation solutions driven by situational needs and supported by inherent indigenous, traditional, and local knowledge (ITLK) systems.

As a contribution to the capacity-building pillar of the Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Information Platform (AP-PLAT), this project investigates local capacity needs for putting LLA into practice and connecting local adaptation priorities with NDCs and NAPs. The project uses a “Model Case Site (MCS)” approach to evaluate LLA principles and formulate an “LLA Blueprint” that can assist local stakeholders in prioritising and autonomously implementing adaptation actions. Crucially, ITLK systems are central to this methodology, serving as the foundation for all subsequent adaptation planning and action.