The deployment of adaptation plans to limit the threat of climate change often hinges on the capacity of various national and local institutions. An observed decline in South Africa's maize production over the last few decades has raised questions about the capacity of institutions responsible for providing climate change-related adaptive support to maize farmers in the country. This study assessed the adaptive capacity of management institutions in South Africa supporting maize producers, using a combination of literature review, document analysis, and in-depth interviews applied in the adaptive capacity wheel (ACW) assessment tool. On the basis of the results obtained from this analysis, the adaptive capacity of South African institutions responsible for climate change response processes was scored as medium. Findings from the research suggest that the advances made to date in South Africa in terms of climate change-related policy development, resource allocation, and capacity development could be inadequate, given the extent of identified institutional weaknesses, capacity constraints, knowledge, and information limitations. The study concludes that an inability to address current institutional limitations, considering the threats associated with climate change, may result in intensified social and economic challenges in the maize production sector. The study recommends the consistent revision and capacitation of these institutions to enable them to provide the type of support that will ensure effective adaptive responses for farmers involved in maize production in the country. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:1056–1069. © 2021 SETAC

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评估南非在气候变化背景下玉米生产的体制适应能力：社会经济发展层面的整合

部署适应计划以限制气候变化的威胁通常取决于各个国家和地方机构的能力。在过去几十年中观察到的南非玉米产量下降引发了对该国负责为该国玉米农民提供与气候变化相关的适应性支持的机构的能力的质疑。本研究结合文献综述、文件分析和在适应性能力轮 (ACW) 评估工具中应用的深入访谈，评估了南非支持玉米生产者的管理机构的适应能力。根据从该分析获得的结果，负责气候变化响应过程的南非机构的适应能力被评为中等。研究结果表明，鉴于已确定的制度弱点、能力限制、知识和信息有限，南非迄今为止在与气候变化相关的政策制定、资源分配和能力发展方面取得的进展可能不足. 该研究得出的结论是，考虑到与气候变化相关的威胁，如果无法解决当前的制度限制，可能会导致玉米生产部门面临更加严峻的社会和经济挑战。该研究建议对这些机构进行一致的修订和授权，使它们能够提供类型的支持，以确保参与该国玉米生产的农民做出有效的适应性反应。鉴于已确定的机构弱点、能力限制、知识和信息限制的程度。该研究得出的结论是，考虑到与气候变化相关的威胁，如果无法解决当前的制度限制，可能会导致玉米生产部门面临更加严峻的社会和经济挑战。该研究建议对这些机构进行一致的修订和授权，使它们能够提供类型的支持，以确保参与该国玉米生产的农民做出有效的适应性反应。鉴于已确定的机构弱点、能力限制、知识和信息限制的程度。该研究得出的结论是，考虑到与气候变化相关的威胁，如果无法解决当前的制度限制，可能会导致玉米生产部门面临更加严峻的社会和经济挑战。该研究建议对这些机构进行一致的修订和授权，使它们能够提供类型的支持，以确保参与该国玉米生产的农民做出有效的适应性反应。可能导致玉米生产部门的社会和经济挑战加剧。该研究建议对这些机构进行一致的修订和授权，使它们能够提供类型的支持，以确保参与该国玉米生产的农民做出有效的适应性反应。可能导致玉米生产部门的社会和经济挑战加剧。该研究建议对这些机构进行一致的修订和授权，使它们能够提供类型的支持，以确保参与该国玉米生产的农民做出有效的适应性反应。Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021；17：1056-1069。© 2021 SETAC