The development of national platforms to channel climate funds directly to the local level is central to LIFE-AR, and can thus provide practical models for broader "country platform" strategies being explored globally. While these platforms share the goal of mobilising finance for nationally determined programmes, the LIFE‑AR approach is more ambitious, aiming to reform governance and transform climate finance systems through long-term, principle-based, country-led planning that is inclusive, adaptive and rooted in partnerships.
LIFE‑AR promotes integration of diverse stakeholders—local governments, civil society, and academia—into the delivery of climate finance, with a strong focus on gender and social inclusion. The six Front Runner Countries—Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Malawi, and Uganda—demonstrate varied approaches to building their platforms, adapting structures to suit national contexts and capacities. Some have integrated LIFE‑AR into existing frameworks, while others have created new entities or financial channels to ensure effective local delivery.
The initiative recognises there is no one-size-fits-all model, and that building truly transformative systems takes time, flexibility, and local leadership. By avoiding reliance on international consultants and investing in in-country expertise, LIFE‑AR is laying the foundation for sustainable, context-specific climate action that can inform future government-led programmes across the LDCs.
