This living manual, prepared by CIESIN staff, is intended for those preparing National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) or specific adaptation interventions. It provides guidance on how to understand and use climate information in the context of adaptation planning. The material was developed in the context of a coastal adaptation project in West Africa—the USAID-funded West Africa Biodiversity and Climate Change project—but it has wide utility for anyone interested in the application of climate information for adaptation planning and development interventions. This web-based resource is called a “living manual” since the contents have been updated based on the needs and feedback of participants in a series of country workshops held in the West Africa region.