This desk-based assessment documents the current state of knowledge and key information gaps on the impacts of climate change on social and biophysical systems of West Africa. It then assesses regional institutions for their adaptive capacity to help countries adapt to climate impacts. Finally, the report outlines areas for potential engagement for additional research and scoping on West African coastal climate impacts. The report argues that climate change is placing new, unanticipated pressures on West African coasts, areas that are already experiencing stressed ecological systems and rapidly changing socioeconomic dynamics. At present, the pressures of urban development, rush for resources, ad challenges of carrying out and enforcing land use planning dominate development along the coast. It argues that the lens of climate change offers the opportunity to integrate medium- and long-term risk into coastal planning and development.