An initiative of the ACP Group of States funded by the European Union

Global Climate Change Alliance: Intra-ACP Programme

Training ModuleMainstreaming Climate Change

Module 10 – Enhanced participation of communities

Ms Isabelle MamatySenior Expert

Climate Support Facility

Enhanced participation of communities

Learning objective: o To understand the need to put communities first in designing

appropriate climate change responseso To understand the need to integrate local knowledge on climate

change in development planning

Expected outcomes: o Raising awareness on the recognition and respect of the

vulnerability at community level to the impacts of climate change

o Raising awareness on the use of lessons and experiences at the local level to feed into higher levels of decision making

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Why should communities be involved?

Climate change impacts occur locally and affect local livelihoods activities

Vulnerability and adaptive capacity are context - specific and local

Climate change actions are best observed at local levels

Communities are an important repository of experiences and lessons learned (traditional knowledge)

Communities may help building climate change strategies to support poverty (via top-down and bottom-up approaches)*

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Challenges facing the participation of communities

Lack of awareness of the government at local and national levels

Lack of information at local level

Limited capacity (financial and human) of local authorities

Structural and Institutional constraints e.g Land issue

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Channels of engagement of communities (1)

Government should increase participation of communities in decision making processes though: o Local governmento Civil societyo Private sector

Both top-down and bottom-up approaches should be encouraged: communities should benefit from and shape decision making on climate change at national level

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Local governments can help communities understand and reduce climate risks through: o Political representation: make sure that communities socio-economic and

environmental priorities are taken into account in regional and national decision making and policies

o Strategic development planning: Ensure participation of communities for strategic development planning processes for infrastructure, housing, land use and allocation, and regulation of natural resources

o Delivery of public service: e.g. infrastructure and technology selected with a climate lens

o Raising and managing local revenue: in case of higher decentralisation in the country

…. But generally they are facing financial constraints that make the prioritisation of development objectives and activities difficult.

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Channels of engagement of communities (1)

Civil society is effective intermediary between government and the communities through: o Advocacy: ensure that needs and preoccupations of communities are

taken into account in development policies and processes at local and national levels

o Awareness raising: e.g..( new) measures that seek to reduce climate-related risks

o Research: collect of analysis of information on risk , vulnerability, adaptive capacity and monitoring and evaluation at community level

o Capacity building and training: e.g. new skills may be needed to develop Climate change strategies

o Service delivery: health care, water and sanitation, disaster risk reduction

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Channels of engagement of communities (2)

Private sector may support communities through:o Provision of economic opportunities and growth: job

creation, better incomes

o Service delivery: health, water ..

o Political influence: local and national levels

o Provision of financial, technical and human resources: access to innovations and technologies: e.g. water conservation; more resilient buildings…)

o Public – private partnerships

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Channels of engagement of communities (2)

Elements for successful participation

Effective engagement with the community depends on: clarity of the objectives and goals; understanding of how the engagement fits in with official

processes; collect and communicate accessible, reliable information

about climate change trends, impacts and actions: awareness-raising and targeted messaging on climate change

respect and promote local knowledge and ownership; skill development and capacity building; build relationships based on mutual trust and respect:

participatory approaches e.g. participatory budgeting

feedback to the community and flexibility in the approach.

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Gathering and using appropriate information (1)

Scientific information should be translated into information relevant to the target group

Knowledge about past climate risks and coping strategies is embedded in local traditions, histories and practices and should be understood as a basis for action

local knowledge should be gathered though Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools, stories, evidence, experienced trends; etc…

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Different categories of tools exist :o Process guidance tools that guide users through

the identification, gathering, and analysis of relevant data and information

oData and information provision tools that generate or present data and information

o Knowledge-sharing tools: platforms and networks that offer adaptation practitioners a virtual space for information and experiences related to climate risk and adaptation

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Gathering and using appropriate information (2)

Tools for gathering and organising information at the community level (1)

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Information for adaptation Examples of tools for gathering and organising information

Climate-specific tools Generic tools

Climate forecasts, predictions and projections

Scientific/quantitative : daily weather forecasts; seasonal weather forecasts; cyclone/hurricane monitoring; regional climate models and global circulation modelsIndigenous/qualitative: traditional knowledge

Natural hazards and environmental assessments

Scientific/quantitative : wind, rainfall and temperature data (historic and current)Indigenous/qualitative: traditional knowledge

Scientific/quantitative: geological hazard maps; hydrological maps; local rainfall and flood level recordsQualitative: participatory local hazard maps; time lines

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Information for adaptation Examples of tools for gathering and organising information

Climate-specific tools Generic tools

Vulnerability and capacity assessments

Capacities and vulnerability analysis; IFRC vulnerability and capacity assessment; CARE international climate vulnerability and capacity assessment framework

Participatory rural appraisal tools: stories and oral histories; household surveys; transect walks; wealth and well-being ranking; semi-structured interviews and focus groups; time-lines; seasonal calendars; problem trees ad flow charts; Venn diagrams

Livelihood analysis CRiSTAL (community-based risk screening tool-adaptation and livelihoods)

Local coping and adaptation strategies

Tools for gathering and organising information at the community level (2)

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Turning words into action Turning words into action

Discussion

Questions and answers Participation of communities

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What are the opportunities for enhancing participation of communities in mainstreaming

climate change process in your sector or at your level and what are the institutional and

capacity needs in your organisation to do so?

Presentation of case studies

Presentation of case studies and best practices on the participation of communities

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Recap – Key messages

In order to enhance participation of communities there is a need to: o analyse their problems, needs and interests in relation to

national development prioritieso gather, use and provide appropriate informationo develop through top down and bottom approaches,

strategies that will reduce their exposure to climate hazards and/or increase capacity to cope with their impacts while responding to their development needs

o Development of these strategies should be through local governments, civil society and private sector channels

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Key references

Conde C., K. Lonsdale, A. Nyong and I. Aguilar, 2005a. Engaging stakeholders in the adaptation process. In: Adaptation policy frameworks for climate change: Developing strategies, policies and measures. (B. Lim and E. Spanger-Siegfried, Eds.) Cambridge University Press, UK, 49-60.

OECD (2009) Integrating climate Change Adaptation into Development Co-operation-policy guidance

UNDP (2011) Practitioner’s Guide: Capacity Development for Environmental Sustainability. United Nations Development Programme, New York

UNDP-UNEP (2011) Mainstreaming Adaptation to Climate Change into Development Planning: A Guide for Practitioners. UNDP-UNEP Poverty-Environment Initiative

UNDP – Integrating environment into development: http://www.undp.org/mainstreaming/

USAID (2007) – Adapting climate change – Guidance Manual

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• Thank you

• Contact: Dr. Pendo MARO, ACP Secretariat pendomaro@acp.int or +32 495 281 494

www.gcca.eu/intra-acp