Kulima Integrated Development Solutions is a boundary organisation working within the field of climate change.  What this means is that they act as the interface between scientists and end-users, including policy-makers, practitioners and community members in both the public and private sectors).  Their role is facilitating a two way dialogue which ensures, on the one hand, that end-user needs are identified and effectively communicated to scientists.  On the other hand, Kulima works to make sure that relevant scientific information is communicated to end-users in a format that enables them to integrate it into their decision-making, and ultimately to adapt to climate change.

They are a small consultancy of professionals committed to addressing the risks imposed by climate change and securing human development, particularly in Africa.  "Kulima" is a word found in many Nguni languages which refers to "preparing the ground so that something can take root" – that is, a period of preparation that takes place before seeds can be planted, without which their chances of germinating and growing are very small.  They chose this as their company name as it embodies their vision: they aim to provide high quality technical inputs, and capacity building at the early stages of projects, programmes and other processes, so that a situation is enabled where they can flourish and bring about sustainable development.

Their expertise is centred around climate change adaptation, and includes the related fields of vulnerability, climate finance, and disaster risk reduction.  They are also committed to taking gender-sensitive approaches to their assignments.  Common projects that they undertake include vulnerability assessments (at a variety of scales using various methods as appropriate to the context) and proposing adaptation options – for both policy and practice.  Between us they have many years or experience in Africa, and are well aware of the limited success of imposing solutions from outside.  They are committed to a complete understanding of institutional and policy context, and undertaking stakeholder consultation processes to ensure that proposed solutions are owned by the appropriate stakeholders to ensure their continued success.  Ongoing training and capacity building is another of their strengths.