Bridging the gap between global climate finance and local action. With 20 years of expertise across all regions, we help governments, MDBs, and NGOs scale adaptation that is equitable, effective, and sustainable.
adapt-develop principal Paul Mitchell has more than 20 years experience in the climate and development sector.
Paul has worked for think tanks (including the International Institute for Environment and Development), NGOs (including Save the Children), and Governments (including Australia), leading adaptation strategy, program design and facilitating convenings and workshops globally.
The shift from temporary project cycles to permanent systems, ensuring that climate resilience endures and evolves long after the initial investment has concluded.
The bedrock of accountability that protects the flow of climate finance, ensuring that every investment is backed by technical rigor and remains transparent to the communities at its heart.
The essential link that turns external investment into internal capability, ensuring adaptation is both grounded in local reality and bankable at the global level.
Navigating the transition from fragmented pilots to transformational strategies that scale resilience across systems.
Providing evidence-based insights to close the rhetoric-reality gap in climate policy and finance.
Co-creating technically rigorous, bankable adaptation programs that turn strategic concepts into scalable, on-the-ground resilience.
Leading high-level technical workshops and multi-stakeholder convenings, from CBA conferences to bespoke trainings.
Operationalising the Principles for Locally Led Adaptation to shift decision-making and resources directly to the local level.
Guiding organisations through the complexities of climate finance to ensure resources reach the right places.
Environ. Res. Lett. 21 104016
Systematic assessments of climate change adaptation are critical for monitoring progress and planning effectively, but current approaches are limited in their scope, accuracy, and relevance to local contexts. Here, we present an improved approach using coproduction to quantitively assess
adaptation based on local knowledge and priorities.
See the full article here.
IIED Issues Paper
This paper examines why LLA – which places decision-making power directly in communities’ hands – has gained widespread policy support but minimal implementation at scale. It explores three potential scenarios for LLA by 2030 and charts pathways from principles to scaled-up practice based on extensive stakeholder consultations.
See the full paper here.
IIED Issues Paper
This paper estimates flows of climate finance targeting the local level and those that are specifically locally led over the past eight years. While there has been a jump in reported funding for locally-led climate action since 2021, transparency and reporting practices are shockingly incomplete, such that even in the highest year, less than half a per cent of all reported climate finance can be deemed to be locally led.
See the full paper here.
"I have known Paul for 15 years, and worked with him in his roles at AusAID, Save the Children and the Australia Pacific Climate Partnership. Paul is deeply knowledgeable and experienced in climate change, locally-led adaptation and climate finance, often at the helm of cutting-edge approaches, including in the Pacific and Asia. He works very well with project teams and stakeholders of all kinds, including communities, NGOs, industry organisations, partner governments and donors. He has worked across the program cycle, from design, to implementation, to monitoring, evaluations, reporting and learning, including to inform national and international advocacy. I would work with him in a heartbeat."
I have known and worked extensively with Paul over a 15-year period and have consistently valued the depth of expertise, integrity and strategic judgement he brings to complex climate and development challenges.
Paul combines strong technical knowledge, field experience and a clear commitment to practical, locally grounded outcomes. He has an impressive ability to translate complex climate challenges into credible strategies and programs that are actionable, partner-led and responsive to community priorities.
What distinguishes Paul is his considered leadership: he brings clarity, humility and purpose to his work, builds trusted relationships across diverse stakeholders, and is a tireless advocate for advancing locally led adaptation.
I would highly recommend Paul to any organisation seeking senior expertise in climate change adaptation, climate finance access, locally led development and high-quality programme design.
Email: info @ adapt-develop . com
adapt-develop is based in Naarm (Melbourne) on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and acknowledge that their sovereignty over this land, and their deep connection to its waters and climate, was never ceded.