Two perspectives have dominated the social science discourse on climate change adaptation. Firstly, an international narrative among UN and donor agencies of technical and financial support for planned climate change adaptation. Secondly, a significant volume of studies discuss how local communities can undertake their own autonomous adaptation. Effective and sustainable climate adaptation requires a third focus: understanding of the political processes within sub-national institutions that mediate between national and local practices. This book address the knowledge gap that currently exists about the role of district-level institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa in providing an enabling institutional environment for rural climate change adaptation. Key Features: * Analyses the disconnect between national and local policy and practice, and how to overcome it * Analysis of the political ecology of climate change adaptation in 10 diverse rural districts across Sub-Saharan Africa based on evidence from thorough field work * Explains how to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of climate change adaptation programmes by engaging with decentralized local governments and principles of subsidiarity with regards to decision-making and control over financial resources