<p>Climate change poses escalating risks across South Asia, where diverse ecological conditions, socio-economic structures, and governance capacities shape uneven adaptation outcomes. This study provides a comparative assessment of climate adaptation policies in eight South Asian countries, focusing on how governance arrangements, financing mechanisms, and regional cooperation influence policy effectiveness. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines policy document analysis, secondary data, and comparative case evidence, the study applies a structured evaluation framework to assess policy coherence, institutional capacity, financing arrangements, and implementation dynamics. The findings indicate substantial variation in adaptation governance across the region. Countries such as India and Bangladesh exhibit relatively mature institutional frameworks for disaster risk reduction and adaptation, while Nepal and Bhutan place stronger emphasis on ecosystem-based and community-oriented approaches. At the same time, all countries face persistent challenges related to financing constraints, coordination gaps, and uneven implementation capacity, with these challenges particularly acute in politically and fiscally constrained contexts such as Pakistan and Afghanistan. Across the region, climate finance remains unevenly mobilised, vertical and horizontal coordination mechanisms are inconsistently institutionalised, and regional cooperation under SAARC remains limited in scope and enforceability. By systematically linking policy design, institutional capacity, and regional coordination, this study contributes a comparative analytical perspective on adaptation governance in South Asia. The findings underscore the need to strengthen institutional coherence, mobilise sustainable financing, integrate scientific and indigenous knowledge, and enhance transboundary cooperation to support more effective and equitable climate adaptation outcomes.</p>