Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening for Enhancing Social Resilience to Address Climate Change

Abstract

This study is about capacity building and institutional strengthening for enhancing social resilience to address climate change. Climate change is one of the most important issues of our day, requiring coordinated action at all levels to reduce its effects. While international accords such as the Paris Agreement provide broad frameworks, there is an increasing realisation of the need of understanding and addressing climate vulnerabilities at the regional, national, and local levels. By keeping this background in mind, the study aimed to investigate the complex dynamics of climate change governance, capacity building, and institutional strengthening, with a focus on Pakistan and neighbouring nations. the study has developed a theoretical framework based on resilience theory, institutional theory, diffusion of innovations theory, adaptive capacity framework, policy transfer and lesson drawing theory, network theory, environmental justice theory, and innovation systems theory. The study has followed qualitative research type, an anthropological approach and interview study research design. The study has population of Ministry of Climate Change. The data was collected though open ended semi-structured interview guide. The collected data was analyzed with the implementation of thematic analysis. The study has found that there are specific responsibilities within the Ministry of Climate Change, obstacles and potential for global alignment and regional collaboration, the growth of capacity-building programmes, and the relationship between societal resilience and climate adaptation. It also looks at how national policies are translated into concrete tactics, the obstacles of execution, and future climate policy prospects. The dynamic nature of aligning national policies with global climate goals underscores the paramount importance of collaboration across diverse stakeholders and regions. Capacity building efforts that are transitioning to participatory techniques highlight the transformational ability of including communities in climate resilience, despite implementation obstacles owing to budget limits and coordination challenges. Future prospects include adaptive governance, youth participation, technology breakthroughs, and multidisciplinary partnerships, underlining the necessity for empowering communities, creating diversity, and raising public awareness for effective climate resilience efforts.