The Bergrivier Climate Knowledge Network
Kirsty Nortje
African Climate and Development Initiative, University of Cape Town.
WRC Dialogue13 November 2015
“ The ACDI is a university-wide initiative at the University of Cape Town that supports collaborative research and training in climate change and development”
The “Project”
• Practical objectivesBuild a inter/transdisciplinary (ID/TD) knowledge
network Bring diverse “academics” and “practitioners”
together to help advance understanding of climate & development issues in Bergrivier municipal area
Develop projects that enhance appropriate climate change responses and resilience in the Bergrivier municipal area
The Project
• “Academic” objectives– Enhance interdisciplinary collaboration across UCT– Explore the advantages, disadvantages of an
interdisciplinary approach to CC– Support UCT “research-into-practice” agenda– Develop interesting, problem-oriented research
projects– Cutting-edge publications
The Project GroupHolle – Renewable
Energy, UCTJen – Cape Nature
Lesley – Anthropology, UCT
Timm – Ecologist, UCT
Sherwin – Engineer, PPC Ralph – Business
Sustainability, UCT GSB
Penny – Climate CC Support Programme,
WCG
Tracey – Strategic Manager, BR Municipality
Tania – Planner, UCTJulien – Farmer,
HopetownJan – Environmental
Lawyer, UCT
Hilary – Community Worker, Autrora Hedley – Literary
Scholar, UCT
Learning Journeys
Who, What, How?
Walking in Each Others Shoes
6
Climate Development“Is climate change really a priority here? It’s like putting a plaster on someone who needs a wheelchair!”
“What good is the wheelchair if the wheel will come off – that’s what climate change might do!”
Local / Practice Global / Theory“This theory is all well and good, but what are the impacts for people on the ground?”
“What about this work can we publish, and where?”
Outcomes• An ID/TD Collective- a knowledge and personal
network• Evidence and learning about ID/TD • MSc & PhD Projects in an ID/TD holding space
– A study of an integrated management initiative to improve the Berg River, Western Cape, South Africa
– Using complex system thinking for managing natural resources in the Groot Winterhoek Strategic Water Source Area in South Africa
– The application of the Nexus framework in the Bergrivier Municipality: a potential tool for the enabling coordination at the local municipal scale
– Mapping the governance landscape related to ecosystem-based adaptation in the Bergrivier Municipality.
Outcomes• An ID/TD Collective- A knowledge and personal
network• Evidence and learning about ID/TD • MSc & PhD Projects in an ID/TD holding space• Funded research projects– Climate change risk assessment & adaptation strategy– FEWBL Nexus at catchment scale– Complementary Currency to foster local resilience
and wellbeing
Emerging Lessons
• Trans-disciplinary processes are likely to benefit from:– A clear convening “problem”– Careful facilitation – Surfacing and making creative use of thematic /
epistemological tensions– Investment in supporting the process
Challenges
• Uncomfortable space• Difference between inter/transdisciplinarity
and collaboration• Prioritisation• Practicalities • Funding
Thank you!
