The brief analyses these institutional, financial and structural barriers and shows how global climate finance flows remain skewed towards mitigation while adaptation receives far fewer resources. It highlights how little funding reaches the local level and even less reaches women’s groups, despite their central role in advancing adaptation. Building on good practices, it sets out recommendations for reforming access modalities, strengthening national and local capacities and expanding grant-based and inclusive mechanisms to ensure adaptation finance is more accessible, gender responsive and impactful.