The institutional context of governance is a fundamental determinant of the adaptive capacity of rural agricultural producers and their communities to adapt to climate change and respond to drought and flood (Adger et al., 2009; Willems and Baumert, 2003). Unit 1C of the VACEA project evaluated the governance and policy context in relation to the adaptation of agricultural producers and the events of drought and flood.

After a review of secondary sources (institutional mandates, laws, policies, and in- struments applicable to agriculture, drought and flood), seventy interviews were con- ducted with local governance institutions in the VACEA study areas and a further twenty six semi-structured interviews were conducted with key informants in the provincial and federal governance system relating to agricultural producers, local communities, droughts and floods. 

Vulnerability to Climate Extremes in the Americas Project (VACEA) Governance and Policy Assessment (Unit 1C) by Margot Hurlbert, Sam Hauge, and Harry Diaz