Abstract
This paper investigates the role of multi-stakeholder partnerships (MSPs) in supporting the development of enabling conditions for adaptation to climate change among micro, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries. Specifically, through thematic analysis of key informant interviews, we explore the ways in which such partnerships are being mobilised to support SME adaptation in Kenya and the rationales underpinning interest in MSPs as a model to structure the delivery of adaptation resources in development practice. This study finds that a wide range of private sector actors can be mobilised to produce adaptation resources for SMEs through partnerships, including to support adaptation among groups, regions and sectors that would otherwise fall outside of market inclusion. MSPs are consequently often seen to present an exciting opportunity to plug gaps in adaptation and development finance and to upscale adaptation. Further analysis, however, suggests that, dependence on market mechanisms for delivering adaptation resources means MSPs may exclude the poorest groups, expose businesses to new risks and reproduce existing inequalities. Additionally, despite expectations that market-based approaches will support partnership sustainability, MSPs often remain heavily dependent on donor-led organisations for both resources and momentum. In Kenya, opportunities to develop more integrated responses to supporting the adaptive capacity of SMEs are being missed through a disconnect between the practice of MSPs and the national governing public private partnerships framework. By paying particular attention to the ways in which stakeholders represent the distributional outcomes of MSPs, in this paper we identify opportunities to enhance the strategic design of MSPs to support more inclusive adaptation.