The GCA Local Adaptation Champions Awards is open to all nationals. The GCA Local Adaptation Champions Awards honor and promote creative, model, motivating, and scalable locally-driven initiatives that tackle the effects of climate change. Any organization or network of partners worldwide that is putting into practice resilience and/or adaptation strategies for climate change that adhere to one of the eight Locally Led Adaptation Principles is eligible to apply for the GCA Local Awards. In the face of the most existential threat to humankind, these awards help the most vulnerable communities, groups within society, and people develop effective climate resilience. 

The GCA Local Adaptation Champions Awards will be awarded in four categories: Water Security, Food Security, Urban Adaptation Solutions, and Local Entrepreneurship. Individuals working under one of these categories are eligible to apply for these international awards. The first category is Water Security. This category recognizes community-based projects that improve local capacity for adaptation by addressing water-related issues and effectively draining, channeling, using, or conserving water. In order to ensure equitable management of water resources for all, solutions must be locally designed, accessible, and adapted to the needs of the most vulnerable groups in the community.

The second category is Food Security. This category recognized local, community-led projects that promote the design, acceptance, and mainstreaming of climate-smart food production systems. Smallholder growers and vulnerable communities along the supply chain devised these methods. Initiatives should demonstrate how they help guarantee ongoing, equitable, and sustainable access to a variety of nutritious foods for impoverished, vulnerable, and disadvantaged populations. The third category is Urban Adaptation Solutions. This category recognizes locally led efforts aimed at urban climate change adaptation. Effective projects involve and help vulnerable urban areas, local leaders, and local governments by using a long-term vision to gradually enhance adaptive capacity over time, collaborative design, and incorporation into city adaptation strategies.

• The international competition will select 20 entries.
• The top 20 nominees can get a chance to publish their videos, photos or infographics as part of the promotional campaign for the GCA Awards.
• There will be four winners of this award competition.
• Four of these winners will get a cash prize of €15,000.
• A chance to attend the Award Ceremony at COP29 in Baku, which will take place from 11 to 22 November 2024.

• Women-led groups, Non-governmental organizations (local, national, and international), Universities, research institutes, think tanks, Governments, Entrepreneurship support organizations, Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), Tech and non-tech enterprises, Local corporates or organizations promoting local climate adaptation along supply chains are eligible to apply for this international award.
• Applicants from all over the world can apply.
• The entry must fit into one of the four GCA Awards categories.
• Applicant must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for the 2024 GCA Local Adaptation Champions competition:

a) The intervention is being implemented, and the results are demonstrable.

b) The intervention aims at the most vulnerable communities, society, and individuals experiencing climate impacts.

c) The intervention addresses adaptation to climate change impact or builds resilience against climate impacts.

d) The intervention is locally led, adhering to one or more Principles of Locally Led Adaptation.

GCA Local Adaptation Champions Awards Requirements:

• Short description
• Photos or infographics
• 2 minutes video or less (not looking for high-quality, polished videos)
• News articles or media coverage (if available)