Whilst it is increasingly recognised that socio-political contexts shape climate change adaptation decisions and actions at all scales, current modes of development typically fail to recognise or adequately challenge these contexts where they constrain capacity to adapt. To address this failing, the authors consider how a rights-based approach broadens understanding of adaptive capacity while directing attention towards causes of exclusion and marginalisation. Drawing on human rights principles and lessons from rights-based practice, the author develop a novel analytical tool for use with communities that considers adaptive capacity through examination of equality, transparency, accountability and empowerment, applying this to the illustrative case of aquatic agricultural systems in Timor-Leste.