Evidence from climate research and substantial experience on the ground reveals that climate change already has a tremendous worldwide impact on agriculture and the rural development. Climate change has direct implications on global food security and affects mostly rural dwellers. Adaptation of agriculture to adverse effects of climate change is today considered one of the central challenges of international cooperation. UNIQUE was contracted by the German development cooperation GIZ, in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), to carry out a policy analysis of global hot topics and processes in the context of rural development and climate change adaptation. The study analyzed the state-of-the-art and contributed to the strategic advancement of agriculture and rural development projects.

• Summary of existing knowledge.
• Analysis of the most important results and impacts of different adaptation measures.
• Deduction of recommendations for concept and strategy development in international cooperation.
• Development of a climate proofing manual for agriculture and rural development projects.