This Learning Review is a part of the programmatic learning endeavour to take stock of the lessons emerging from FCFA’s collective experience that might inform future investments into research on climate and development. We focus on three interrelated themes: project team members’ collective learning, leadership and capacity development, and knowledge co-production and research uptake. Specific objectives are (1) to examine how learning has guided the governance and research processes and outputs within FCFA, and (2) to reflect on FCFA members’ experience of the successes, or lack thereof, throughout the programme. Taken collectively, these three areas of review reveal some important insights and recommendations for improving the design, delivery and impact of climate and development research.