Participation of CSDI to AfricaAdapt Symposium on Climate Change in Addis Ababa (9-11 March 2011)
A Climate Change Symposium launched by Africa Adapt took place form the 9th to the 11th of March 2011 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Crosscutting issues were discussed such as Agriculture, fisheries and food security, Energy, Forestry, Gender, Health, International climate negotiations, Poverty and vulnerability and Water in the entire African area. Over 120 researchers, civil society actors, donors, government officials and NGOs gathered to share and learn at this 3-day event the significant lessons or learning of their project or research. CSDI also participated to the debate with Federica Matteoli’s intervention. Here is her presentation.
Maria Onyango: Policy Issues in Integrating Indigenous Knowledge in climate r...
Africa adaptmarch2011(7)
1. Collaborative Change A Communication Framework for Climate Change Adaptation and Food Security Communication for Sustainable Development Initiative (CSDI) Federica Matteoli Office of Knowledge Exchange, Research and Extension FAO AfricaAdapt Symposium on Climate Change, Addis Ababa, 11/03/2011
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6. Role of ComDev to CCA scientific technology innovation disaster risk management livelihood options for adaptation good governance and policy indigenous knowledge and coping strategies area of interface when ComDev is employed extension services and rural knowledge institutions sustainable natural resource management
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Editor's Notes
CCA focuses on enabling vulnerable groups and communities to enhance their own adaptive capacity and increase resilience to climate change. A holistic approach to climate change adaptation requires multidisciplinary, multistakeholder action and process of social learning for adaptive livelihoods. Successful local adaptation to climate variability and change requires multiple pathways with well planned, interrelated, short- and long-term measures, most of which are considered “knowledge intensive.” They include: a. adopting physical adaptive measures (e.g. storage facilities for retaining rain water); b. improving existing agricultural practices (e.g. adjustment of cropping patterns, selection of drought-tolerant crop varieties); c. adjusting socio-economic activities such as livelihood diversification and market facilitation; d. strengthening local institutions through self-help programmes and capacity building; e. creating awareness of and advocacy for climate change and adaptation issues; f. strengthening linkages between research, extension and farmers; and g. providing access to adequate knowledge and communication services
Communication for Development (ComDev) is a participatory approach that integrates the use of communication strategies, media and processes to enable people and institutions to share knowledge and information and reach consensus towards common action. As promoted by FAO and other development agencies, ComDev combines participatory communication methods and processes with a variety of media and tools ranging from rural radio to ICTs. ComDev focus on responding to knowledge and information needs of rural audiences, including both knowledge institutions and vulnerable groups. Within the framework of CCA, communication plays a key role in addressing the complex dimensions of vulnerability. This calls for two-way communication processes integrating the use of various media according to the characteristics and needs of the audience with regard to climate change. As such, the systematic use of communication methods and strategies is essential to bring rural people and institutions together to plan for the future and achieve collaborative change .
Based on the experiences of several field projects, the main areas related to climate change that need communication support are those listed below: • technology innovation/adaptation • sustainable NRM • disaster risk management • livelihood options for adaptation • environmental/local governance With an explicit and strategic ComDev approach that brings value added to these processes, the scope for knowledge sharing is enlarged and deepened. It must also be acknowledged that the interaction among the various knowledge domains is not a static process, but is dynamic and sometimes can be confrontational. With ComDev this dynamism can be better facilitated and encouraged. Communication plays a key role as cross-cutting, interdisciplinary approach that integrates in a holistic vision different sectors of expertise and different stakeholders, bridging the knowledge and information gaps among them.
The CSDI programme, implemented by FAO and the Italian Ministry of Environment and Territory , is promoting ComDev applications to CCA and FS. Its strategy is three-fold : a. normative activities systematizing approaches, good practices, methodologies, training materials and policies on the application of ComDev to NRM and CCA and making these available at the international level, also promoting training and policy advice. b. field components piloting ComDev strategies and services in the rural areas of Congo, Jamaica, Bangladesh, and the Caribbean. These services will be scaled-up and institutionalized as part of the national research and extension system of the countries involved, as in the case of Bolivia. c. knowledge sharing and networking implementing regional and thematic platforms in collaboration with institutions and communication and/or environmental networks, to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and experiences in ComDev applications to NRM/CCA and enhance ComDev services and capacities worldwide. participating in international events and fostering cooperation among different stakeholders
The results of CSDI to date demonstrate that sharing knowledge on good practices among peers fosters horizontal collaboration, capacity building and networking. Lessons learned: Integrate ComDev approaches and strategies in CCA A deliberate effort to integrate ComDev in community-based adaptation from the very beginning to ensure that it becomes a constitutive part of the adaptation process b. build on existing knowledge and communication systems c. use appropriate technologies and promote local content As adaptation strategies of local communities evolve in response to climate change, it is necessary to asses where ComDev practices can appropriately fit, taking into account varied local contexts and identifying opportunities for adequate ICTs. d. Document best practices and showcase results Pockets of successful cases illustrating how ComDev helps provide added value to community-based processes of livelihood adaptation have to be properly documented and eventually shared with others to maximize their educational value. ICTs can help considerably in this respect. e. Build capacities in ComDev ComDev for CCA entails additional knowledge and skills in communication planning and in the appropriate use of methods and tools, including ICTs. A program for strengthening ComDev capacities should be put in place at the national, regional and global levels. f. Support communities of practice and partnerships Climate change and adaptation to its impacts are global phenomena, the need for knowledge sharing and partnership becomes an ever more significant part of a set of solutions for addressing adaptation. The current revolution in ICTs also provides new opportunities to share experiences in the application of ComDev to livelihood adaptation to climate change, and to move towards collaborative change. f. ensure financial sustainability