LoCAL empowers Local Governments to drive resilience at COP31

What the report says

Uganda has used a side event at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Turkey, to highlight the role of local governments in climate adaptation and environmental conservation. According to Watchdog Uganda, the message was delivered by Permanent Secretary Benjamin Kumumanya of the Ministry of Local Government at the Uganda Pavilion, where he argued that resilience efforts should be led through the country’s decentralised governance system.

The report says Uganda is promoting the Local Climate Adaptive Living, or LoCAL, Facility as a way to strengthen local action on climate change. The initiative provides Performance-Based Climate Resilience Grants to support community-prioritised projects such as resilient water systems, climate-smart agriculture, flood control, ecosystem restoration and livelihood support. The ministry presented this as part of a broader effort to equip local governments with resources and capacity rather than creating separate implementation structures.

The article also notes that LoCAL is framed as a whole-of-government effort involving the ministries responsible for local government, water and environment, and finance, alongside development partners and communities. It says the programme complements Uganda’s Parish Development Model by helping protect livelihoods, farm output and local infrastructure from climate shocks.

Watchdog Uganda reported that Uganda acknowledged support from partners including UNCDF, Denmark, Ireland, Belgium and the European Union. The broader significance of the message is that Uganda is positioning locally led adaptation as central to climate resilience, with local governments treated as frontline actors in delivering practical responses.