How to fund community based climate change work?

Given the predominant ‘top-down’ financing model of environmental funders, which sees the vast majority of funding going to large organisations who are part of established networks, how can local, community rooted projects thrive?

What evidence can be levied to demonstrate how local, community based environmental responses developed in partnership are more effective and just than ones where external organisations come in with their own solutions?

The issue is quite pressing. A UK report in 2014 identified a number of issues, which only seem to have worsened as funders have closed ranks to shut out the smaller organisations with participatory and broad climate change community projects – especially ones around adaptation and resilience.