Supporting Socially Inclusive CLimate Adaptation and REsilience (CLARE) in ASEAN Cities
CLARE-ASEAN initiative, aimed at supporting socially inclusive urban climate adaptation and resilience in ASEAN, was officially launched at an inception workshop held on 4 June 2025 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Initiated in late 2024, CLARE-ASEAN is a flagship regional initiative under the framework of Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CLARE). CLARE is funded primarily by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) with co-funding support from Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC). CLARE-ASEAN is endorsed by the ASEAN Secretariat and aligns with ASEAN’s climate adaptation priorities.
Implemented by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), CLARE-ASEAN is a multi-year programme running through 2026, aiming to strengthen urban climate resilience across ODA-eligible ASEAN Member States by fostering evidence-based, socially inclusive solutions. The programme builds on close collaboration with the ASEAN Working Group on Climate Change (AWGCC) and the ASEAN Senior Officials on Environment (ASOEN), ensuring alignment with regional policies such as the AWGCC Action Plan and the ASEAN State of Climate Change Report. CLARE-ASEAN supports four competitively selected multi-country research projects led by local institutions in ASEAN, managed by AIT.
From AIT, the initiative is led by Prof. Shobhakar Dhakal, from the Department of Energy, and Climate Change, a prominent climate scientist, who serves as Principal Investigator. Other faculty members implementing the programme include Prof. Paula Banerjee, IDRC Endowed Research Chair on Gender and Forced Displacement at AIT, an expert in gender and social inclusion, Prof. Mukand S Babel, Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering (WREE), an expert in water and climate adaptation and Dr. Malay Pramanik, Department of Development and Sustainability, an expert in urban and climate change.
The inception workshop featured opening remarks by Dr. Vong Sok, Head of the Environment Division at the ASEAN Secretariat, and H.E. Sarah Tiffin, UK Ambassador to ASEAN, emphasizing the programme’s vital role in addressing urban climate vulnerabilities in Southeast Asia. The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Winston Chow (Urban Institute, Singapore Management University and IPCC WGII Co-Chair), who highlighted the importance of evidence-driven and inclusive approaches to climate adaptation. Prof. Shobhakar Dhakal presented the overall objectives, workplan and implementation arrangements for the initiative.
CLARE-ASEAN focuses on:
- Co-developing climate adaptation solutions with marginalized and vulnerable urban communities
- Advancing nature-based solutions
- Enhancing strategies to mitigate and adapt to extreme heat, including in ASEAN cities and housing models
- Integrating Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GEI) to enhance resilience impacts on vulnerable groups
- Producing policy-relevant evidence briefs to support ASEAN decision-making
- Facilitating regional knowledge exchange and capacity building
The programme’s outputs are expected to directly support ASEAN’s urban resilience agendas, contributing to the broader international climate change discourse including the forthcoming IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities.
As the implementing agency, AIT hosts the Project Management Unit, coordinating research activities, stakeholder engagement, and policy outreach. The ASEAN Secretariat provides policy guidance and facilitates regional coordination to ensure the programme’s outcomes align with ASEAN’s development goals.
Through its collaborative and multi-disciplinary approach, CLARE-ASEAN seeks to build sustainable urban resilience pathways that are socially inclusive and contextually grounded — ultimately helping cities in Southeast Asia adapt to the complex challenges posed by climate change.
