As climate becomes less predictable and extreme weather events become more frequent, there is an urgent need for support that will help communities to prepare and adapt to changing conditions. This support is needed at the local level as well as the national, and must be framed by appropriate policy that secures real benefits for those most at risk. 'Community-based adaptation' (CBA) has been extensively piloted by the NGO community to analyse and understand the impacts of climate change. It is vital that development practice on the ground, as well as the knowledge and capacity of those most affected, keeps pace with lessons that have emerged from more than a decade of action and research. This book's findings reflect on experiences of CBA in practice to frame lessons for adaptation planning in developing countries and deepen understanding of CBA among researchers, students and practitioners with an interest in climate change adaptation.