Building on a robust portfolio of studies, stakeholder engagement, and grant-funded applied research and capacity building, the Gulf Research Program (GRP) will create a new initiative to Strengthen Adaptive Capacity for Healthy and Resilient Gulf Communities. Adaptive capacity is the ability of systems, institutions, and humans to adjust to change, reduce harm, and take advantage of opportunities to reduce future risk. This initiative will fund projects that conduct research, build strategic partnerships, and convene community members and experts across the regional Gulf corridor, with initial investments in Houston, TX, Baton Rouge and Greater New Orleans, LA, and Mobile, AL, with possible work in other locations, as appropriate.

This initiative will build adaptive capacity and enhance the availability, access, and use of science to increase awareness and understanding of complex health and resilience topics among stakeholders and connect evidence to community-based action, professional practice, and public policy.

The Initiative will:

• Engage and connect academic institutions, nonprofit and community-based organizations, local government, community foundations, or other regional stakeholders to identify disaster resilience priorities and strengthen collaborative evidence-based strategies that build local and regional adaptive capacity, increase resilience, and reinforce community strengths;
• Based on those priorities and strategies, develop funding opportunities and support the implementation and evaluation of regional activities;
• Partner with Gulf-based community foundations, other funders, and service providers to build long-term financial and programmatic sustainability of these activities and efforts; and
• Integrate findings, conclusions, and other outcomes from GRP and National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine work or other science and evidence-based sources to advance regional and place-based strategies that increase adaptive capacity and disaster resilience.

A steering committee will provide guidance throughout the project on program strategy, project implementation, strategic partnerships, the design and awarding of funding opportunities, and program evaluation.