Abstract
The escalating impacts of global climate change and variability pose unprecedented challenges, particularly for the Global South, which bears a disproportionate burden of environmental change. The objective of this study was to examine how North–South research collaborations could strengthen climate change adaptation in developing regions by leveraging information and communication technologies (ICTs), identifying key barriers and enablers, and proposing a framework for co-designed, scalable ICT-enabled adaptation strategies that are responsive to local contexts and policy needs. Document analysis and systematic literature review were adopted as methodologies. The findings show how an ICT intervention organizes changes in communication patterns aimed at reducing climate change vulnerability and exposure. Moreover, ICTs can strengthen local capacity-building efforts, ensuring that adaptation strategies are tailored to specific contexts and are scalable and sustainable. The paper concludes that northern institutions often lead funding, data, and infrastructure, while southern partners contribute local knowledge, context, and implementation pathways. Therefore, ICT interventions must be part of the bigger and ongoing climate change adaptation agenda. The paper recommends a transition towards more collaborative, technology-driven North-South partnerships prioritizing equitable knowledge dissemination and capacity enhancement and promoting cross-cultural collaboration and capacity building to improve modelling and scenario planning. There is a need to invest in infrastructure and to use ICT for co-creation and decision support. By formalizing equitable cooperation arrangements, including co-authored intellectual property, co-led publications, shared leadership responsibilities, and transparent financial allocations, such partnerships can play a crucial role in tackling the multifaceted challenges of global climate change and fostering resilience in vulnerable regions.