Project

Adaptation Research Alliance (ARA)

Active project

2025–2026

Project contacts

Albert Salamanca / albert.salamanca@sei.orgPreeti Abraham / preeti.abraham@sei.org

Climate change demands coordinated and ambitious global action. To minimize its impact and build adaptive capacities, evidence-based climate adaptation solutions are urgently needed.

The Adaptation Research Alliance (ARA) is a global coalition responding to the urgent challenges faced by communities vulnerable to climate change. By mobilizing and connecting researchers, governments, development organizations, civil society groups and communities on the frontlines of climate change, ARA fosters action-oriented research to secure climate-resilient futures.

Its diverse membership spans researchers, donors, policymakers, development organizations, and community-based organizations committed to bridging knowledge and action for equitable adaptation.

The ARA accelerates and scales investments in action-oriented research that addresses critical gaps in adaptation and resilience knowledge. It strengthens linkages between research and implementation, builds capacity across all stages of the adaptation process, and promotes global learning to empower the most vulnerable populations.

ARA’s work is guided by the Adaptation Research for Impact Principles, emphasizing:

User-driven research is shaped by the needs of communities and decision-makers.
Co-production of knowledge with local experts and stakeholders
Equitable practices prioritizing justice and inclusiveness through research that is driven by user needs and co-produced with local experts and communities.

Group discussion — Photo: PRIA (Participatory Research in Asia).

Launched at COP26 in Glasgow with the support of the British government, ARA utilizes an action-oriented approach to adaptation research.

Initially hosted by SouthSouthNorth (SSN), a leading not-for-profit organization based in Cape Town, South Africa, ARA grew to over 250 global members under SSN’s guidance.

Key milestones include:

More than 50 micro-grants awarded to grassroots initiatives in the Global South by 2024.
Co-creation programs that incubated actionable, evidence-based research for societal impact.

In April 2025, the ARA Secretariat transitioned to a joint partnership between SEI Asia and Chulalongkorn University Social Research Institute (CUSRI), in Bangkok.

This collaboration combines:

SEI Asia’s expertise in research and policy engagement in environment and sustainable development
CUSRI’s work in innovative, multidisciplinary research for social impact.

Together, SEI and CUSRI will co-create research initiatives, leverage data-driven learning, and mobilize resources to address the adaptation needs of vulnerable groups and communities affected by climate change.

Learn more about ARA’s history and mission here.