Overseas Development Institute

ODI is an independent think tank with more than 230 staff, including researchers, communicators and specialist support staff. We provide high-quality research, policy advice, consultancy services and tailored training – bridging the gap between research and policy and using innovative communication to mobilise audiences.

As a registered charity, ODI is supported by grants and donations from foundations, non-governmental organisations, the private sector, governments, multilateral agencies and academia. You can find the full list of funders here.

Our mission 

Our mission is to inspire and inform policy and practice which lead to the reduction of poverty, the alleviation of suffering and the achievement of sustainable livelihoods in developing countries.

We do this by locking together high quality applied research, practical policy advice, and policy-focused dissemination and debate.

We work with partners in the public and private sectors, in both developing and developed countries.

Our work

As well as 12 core research programmes, we also host a number of flagship projects and run the ODI Fellowship Scheme. Read more in our Annual Report 2015-2016.

This map shows some of the highlights from our work in 2015-2016.

Climate and Environment Programme

ODI’s Climate and Environment programme supports climate compatible development and poverty reduction through high quality research, analysis and debate. Our teams work to:

  • improve the delivery of climate finance so that it serves the needs of poor people
  • maximise the opportunities and minimise the risks of low carbon growth in developing countries
  • increase the effectiveness of adaptation and resilience policies and actions across scales
  • ensure natural resource management (forests, energy, food and water) balances development and climate goals while protecting the poor.

Our research builds upon extensive coverage of climate and development issues, which includes expertise on forestry, energy, water policy, biofuels, trade, resilience and adaptation to change, disaster risk management, low carbon competitiveness and public financial management. Current flagship projects include:

Content

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Adaptation Without Borders

Climate change – and adaptation to it – will occur in a globalized, hyper-connected world. 

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Members

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A Roadmap for African Resilience

Explore proposed key actions towards realizing an ambition of the African Union Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022–2032) to “Enhance coordination between the Regional Economic Communities and Member States in addressing and managing transboundary and cascading climate risks” in this Adaptation Without Borders roadmap.

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Policy brief: How can Africa manage the transboundary climate risks it faces?

Explore 5 significant transboundary climate risks in Africa that urgently need consideration for management: biophysical, financial, trade, people-centred and geopolitical. The authors draw on real examples from countries across Africa and provide practical recommendations to consider going forwards.

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An African perspective on transboundary and cascading climate risks

Learn about how transboundary and cascading climate risks could impact different African regions, with a focus on East Africa, West Africa and Southern Africa, in this Adaptation Without Borders discussion brief. Also explore the role of national and regional adaptation plans in managing these risks.

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Photo: UN Women via Flickr

Gender in climate action training pack: A resource for practitioners

CDKN has developed a pack of presentations and exercises for facilitators to use in training settings, to help climate and development professionals to integrate gender perspectives into climate projects and programmes.

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The Global Transboundary Climate Risk Report

Discover new evidence on ten transboundary climate risks of global importance that affect critical sectors and regions: from water resources in high mountain environments, to fish stocks in the open ocean, industrial supply chains, and energy and global finance systems, as well as human health, livelihoods, mobility patterns, and physical and mental well-being.

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Operationalizing Finance for Loss and Damage: from Principles to Modalities

Explore this report providing information for crucial negotiations and discussions on loss and damage finance by exploring different options for how it can be operationalized.

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