This paper is the first of the Adaptation Briefing series under the NDC Support Cluster, which aims to provide concise and easy to digest information on key topics, relevant for projects working on climate change adaptation. The Briefings – besides short thematic introductions – offer well-selected references, which provide a rich source of further knowledge and information on practical solutions and can help projects navigate adaptation processes in their respective countries. This Briefing gives a short introduction to alignment as an underlying principle of international agendas such as the Paris Agreement, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction to advance climate-resilient development.