Coproduced assessments of locally led adaptation highlight equity challenges

Current climate change adaptation assessments are limited in their scope, accuracy, and relevance to local contexts. Here, we present an improved assessment approach using coproduction, applied to locally led adaptation (LLA) to flood risk in Tamale, Ghana. Through a multi-year process, including participatory ranking, focus groups, and household surveys, 11 solutions were assessed. Assessments considered multiple risk-reduction mechanisms, equity, sustainability, and co-impacts. Community-based and behavioural solutions, such as collective action and tree planting, were deemed most effective, whilst structural and technical solutions were ranked lower. By integrating these assessments into a flood risk model, we show that LLA approaches significantly reduced flood risk overall but did not address existing inequalities. Our results showcase the potential of coproduction to increase the scope and robustness of adaptation assessments and highlight practical challenges of delivering on the LLA principles in real-world settings.