Framing locally led adaptation in a planned relocation in Fiji

Locally led adaptation (LLA) is a new paradigm that seeks to ensure that adaptation decision-making is driven by local people affected by climate risks to deliver context-specific and equitable solutions for local communities. LLA proposes a meaningful approach to decision-making about how, when, and where to adapt; however, there are several challenges associated with LLA including complex power dynamics at the local scale. Empirical research is needed to examine how to best utilise and put in practice LLA principles and processes for improved outcomes on-the-ground. This paper reports on findings from research undertaken in Cogea, Fiji, which is a village that planned to relocate following the destructive category 5 Tropical Cyclone (TC) Yasa and associated flooding in December 2020. This paper draws from Talanoa discussions with small groups and individuals and participant observation in December 2021 and January 2023, to contextualise experiences of the planned relocation process in the context of the eight principles of LLA: devolved decision-making, responsiveness to structural inequalities, reliable funding, investment in local capabilities, robust understanding of climate risk, flexible programming, transparency and accountability, and collaborative action and investment. As this paper explores, Cogea’s relocation was aligned, either strongly or partially, to these LLA principles, albeit with the involvement of donor and development partners in decision-making processes. The paper argues that it is not sufficient to devolve adaptation decision-making to the ‘local’ level; LLA requires ‘critical localism’ that is responsive to vernacular understandings of the local, and the agency of and power dynamics between different actors.