Challenges and opportunities in building community-driven adaptive capacity under climate change for smallholder farmers in the Global South

Purpose This study responded to the disproportionate impacts of climate extremes on smallholder farmers in the Global South by developing frugal innovation tools and strategies to support climate resilience and agricultural decision-making through community-academic partnerships. Design/methodology/approach Using a community-based participatory approach, academic researchers collaborated with a local development organization and stakeholders through remote focus groups and surveys to co-develop the NicaAgua mobile app. Designed for areas with limited internet connectivity and digital literacy, the app integrates real-time weather data, short- and long-term forecasts and historical climate trends, with user-friendly visuals and interpretive guidance. Findings Frugal innovation and community engagement identified six key functionalities prioritized by users: short and seasonal forecasts, early warnings, local weather station data, climate change metrics and the moon phase. The app showed moderate to high forecasting skill at local scales. Community feedback confirmed the need for accessible forecast tools tailored to local indicators, while also revealing barriers such as low digital literacy and internet access. Despite widespread smartphone ownership, older adults and women often faced challenges in app use, requiring inclusive design strategies. Originality/value This study presents a frugal, community-driven approach to localizing global climate science for vulnerable farming communities. It highlights effective strategies for designing equitable, accessible digital tools to support climate adaptation, offers lessons on fostering transboundary academic-community collaboration and contributes to building smallholder farmers’ capacity to manage climate risks in Central America.