abstracts have not been copyedited by conference organizers. 1

Abstracts have not been copyedited by conference organizers. 1

Poster Presentations 2Data for Agriculture, Food Security & Nutrition 2Data for Disaster Resiliency & Adaptation 5Indigenous Innovations for Data 8Data for Socially Inclusive Economic Growth 9Education and Training for Agriculture Food Security & Nutrition 10Education and Training for Disaster Resiliency & Adaptation 16Indigenous Innovations for Education and Training 17Education and Training for Low-Carbon Urban Development 18Education and Training for Socially Inclusive Economic Growth 20Innovation in Technology and Governance for Agriculture Food Security & Nutrition 29Innovation in Technology and Governance for Disaster Resiliency & Adaptation 32Innovation in Technology and Governance for Low-Carbon Urban Development 35Innovation in Technology and Governance for Socially Inclusive Economic Growth 38The Science-Policy-Implementation Interface for Disaster Resiliency & Adaptation 47The Science-Policy-Implementation Interface for Low-Carbon Urban Development 51The Science-Policy-Implementation Interface for Socially Inclusive Economic Growth 55

Oral Presentations 60Climate Actions and Sustainable Development Goals at the Local Level in Indonesia 60Data for Agriculture Food Security & Nutrition 64Data for Disaster Resiliency & Adaptation 69Data for Low-Carbon Urban Development 71Data for Socially Inclusive Economic Growth 73Education and Training for Agriculture Food Security & Nutrition 91Education and Training for Disaster Resiliency & Adaptation 99Indigenous Innovations for Education and Training 100Education and Training for Socially Inclusive Economic Growth 105Innovation in Technology and Governance for Agriculture Food Security & Nutrition 126Innovation in Technology and Governance for Disaster Resiliency & Adaptation 131Indigenous Innovations in Technology and Governance 136Innovation in Technology and Governance for Low-Carbon Urban Development 142Innovation in Technology and Governance for Socially Inclusive Economic Growth 149Ethics, Religion, and Sustainable Development 164


The Science-Policy-Implementation Interface for Agriculture Food Security & Nutrition 165The Science-Policy-Implementation Interface for Disaster Resiliency & Adaptation 175The Science-Policy-Implementation Interface for Indigenous Innovations 189The Science-Policy-Implementation Interface for Low-Carbon Urban Development 192The Science-Policy-Implementation Interface for Socially Inclusive Economic Growth 196

Poster Presentations Data for Agriculture, Food Security & Nutrition The Impacts of Fisheries Management Practices on Food and Income Security in Belize Flores, Wendy; Student, Columbia University, United States, [email protected] Fisheries throughout the world are being over-exploited through unsustainable fishing practices and face additional stresses from pollution and climate change. Millions of people are dependent on fisheries for food and income; this holds especially true for those in less economically developed areas. Belize is considered a leader in expanding conservation regulations towards stabilizing marine ecosystems. Despite their efforts, however, the Mesoamerican Reef, which borders Belize, is facing degradation through anthropogenic nutrient loading, further threatening fish populations. Furthermore, the continuation of over-harvesting impacts fish abundances in the area. This study will perform household interviews in the Corozal, Belize, Stann Creek, and Toledo coastal districts in order to characterize dietary intake and patterns in fish sales and consumption. Interviews will be conducted along a gradient of urban to rural communities to determine the relationship between fish dependency and geographic location. Focus groups with government officials and NGO workers involved in fishery management will also be conducted to obtain historical patterns of how economic and ecological shocks have impacted fish availability in coastal communities. It is expected that fish dependency will wane in areas that rely on other markets, such as crop-based agriculture. It is also expected that participants in the study who are most affected by over-harvesting fish will have to turn to other sources of animal protein. Understanding the connection between food security and fisheries management practices is the next step in adopting management protocols that will benefit marine conservation and human well-being, as well as highlight areas where the two are incongruous. The results


of my research in Belize would help explain similar issues in other coastal communities, perhaps limited to those that use the Mesoamerican Reef for harvesting. This research provides an immediate opportunity to have large-scale policy influence on marine conservation in a critically important marine biodiversity hotspot. Kombucha: An Exploration of Brewing Conditions and the Effect of Fermentation Time on the Rate of Alcohol Production Gallop Ponamgi, Erin-Leigh; Doctoral Student, Teachers College, Columbia University, United States, [email protected] Kombucha is a probiotic, fermented tea created with the help of a symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria. The presence of bacteria and yeast in the broth permits fermentation and alcohol production to continue after the “mother” SCOBY has been removed and after bottling has occurred for mass consumption. In the normal metabolic path of kombucha fermentation, the yeast breaks down the disaccharide sucrose into the monosaccharides glucose and fructose and ferments the sugar into ethanol. The potential of unmarked, unregulated alcohol being sold in America is a public health concern. The purpose of this study was to identify a standard fermentation time for kombucha that will yield acceptable alcohol levels, establish a shelf life for kombucha, and to provide food scientists with a standard means of kombucha brewing preparation for future research. Two (2) batches of traditionally brewed kombucha were allowed to ferment for an initial period of fourteen (14) days. The samples were observed and the specific gravity was recorded every fourteen (14) days for a total of fifty-six (56) days. Kombucha allowed to ferment at 26°C for forty-two (42) days yielded a desirable broth, containing a concentration of alcohol (0.13%) suitable to sale without further regulation. Standardization of fermentation time and corresponding health education interventions will provide consumers with the tools to make educated choices regarding their storage and consumption behaviors of kombucha. Big Data & the African Smallholder Ibrahim, Faridah; MPA-DP Candidate, Columbia SIPA, United States, [email protected] While much has been said and done about the potential mobile technology has to transform the lives of African smallholder farmers, the possibilities that big data bring to transform smallholders’ lives remain heavily under-researched. By aggregating information about smallholder group behavior and using this to analyze value chain challenges and market failures, big data will provide a


powerful opportunity to design innovative policies, products and responses to the barriers to lifting smallholders out of poverty. Big Data will especially improve access and opportunity for African women smallholders in areas such as financial inclusion, capacity development, climate resilience, and access to markets. With over half of Africa’s poor subsisting by farming, and over half of these farmers being women, it is important to critically analyze the tools and technologies that will change the way they live their lives in a fundamental way, and big data is evolving to become such a tool, so the research cannot be left behind. This presentation will look closely at the evolving trends in the use of big data to design innovative policies and products for African smallholders, and then use this analysis to outline the specific ways in which big data can be used by policymakers, value chain actors, donors and other stakeholders to transform service delivery to African smallholders. The presentation will dissect the ways in which evolving value chains on the continent will impact smallholder access and use of big data, while addressing the challenges arising from the use of this big data in areas such as data privacy and security, regulatory frameworks, and sustainability. Primary and secondary sources will be used to inform the analysis the presentation will offer, with the aim of providing tools and strategies which members of the audience can use to integrate big data into their work, albeit with a critical lens. Does Chochos (L. Mutabilis) Production Have the Potential to Increase Farm Revenues and Contribute to Food Security if Ii Replaces Soybean or Maize Production in Ecuador? Najera, Sarah; Part Time Professor, Universidad Internacional del Ecuador (UIDE), Ecuador, [email protected] Chochos (L. mutabilis) production does not satisfy Ecuador’s demand. Therefore, this paper intends to find if chochos production have the potential to increase farmers revenue and contribute to food security if it replaces maize and soybeans, while assuming three scenarios for chochos production that influence farmers revenue. If so, how would it affect the land use change in terms of food security? A gross margin calculation with three scenarios - current, double and triple revenue - for chochos was compared with maize and soybeans gross margin. Then, a land use analysis throughout yields, crude protein and energy differences. Finally, a narrative literature review to highlight cost-benefits and barriers for chochos. As a result, the current revenue for chochos and if it doubles, demonstrates there would be less income for farmers. However, if revenue triples, farmers would earn more money and contribute towards food security if replacing maize. In contrast, if replacing soybeans, food security is not improved since yield performance for this crop is better than chochos. Even though, chochos would not produce more protein or energy than soybeans in the


near future, research has shown that the negative aspects of soybeans such as GM seeds, could give a reason for chochos to become a better alternative for the future. Nonetheless, if monetary and agricultural barriers are not overcome, chochos will not increase their yield performance and farmers will not acquire enough interest to replace influential crops. Data for Disaster Resiliency & Adaptation Assessing the Vulnerability of Tourism-related Livelihoods to Tropical Cyclones in Small Island Developing States: A Comparison of Tobago and Jamaica Balkaran, Thalia; PhD Candidate, Environmental Management, The University of the West Indies, Jamaica, [email protected] Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are vulnerable to climate-related hazards such as tropical cyclones which threaten critical economic sectors that are key income earners for SIDS. The tourism sector is an important source of GDP and foreign exchange for most SIDS but is often threatened by tropical cyclones. Sustaining and protecting livelihoods is critical to ensuring the continuity of tourism in coastal towns within the islands and it is essential to understand the underlying vulnerabilities that workers are exposed to. This paper examines the factors that contribute to the vulnerability of people working in tourism to hurricanes and tropical storms in Tobago and Jamaica. These two Caribbean countries were chosen so that the impacts of cyclones on an economy supported by oil and gas and one that relies heavily on tourism could be compared. To gather data on tourism livelihoods, a mixed methods approach was used; a sequential exploratory approach was followed to collect data in two phases with the qualitative component being conducted first followed by a quantitative component. Qualitative interviews were carried out using a Community-Based Vulnerability Assessment tool by Smit and Wandel (2006). These semi-structured interviews targeted key informants and persons whose livelihoods were directly-dependent on the tourism industry. Qualitative interviews allowed an in-depth exploration of the underlying factors contributing to vulnerability within the resort towns studied. In order to quantify vulnerability, Hahn et al.’s (2009) Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI), originally used for agriculture was adapted for tourism to create a Tourism Livelihoods Vulnerability Index (TLVI). The TLVI was calculated for selected sectors and then compared across the sites to investigate the factors that contributed most to vulnerability. Preliminary results indicate that the main factors affecting the vulnerability of tourism livelihoods to hurricanes and tropical storms include the global economic


crisis, ensuing changes within the tourism industry including an extension of the slow season, difficulties in securing financial safety nets such as insurance and environmental degradation. Results from the TLVI indicate that generally livelihoods within the selected sites in Tobago were less vulnerable than those in Jamaica. Insights gained from this research can be used to reduce the risk to stakeholders involved in tourism and put in place appropriate strategies to ensure the sustainability of the industry. From Local to Global: Climate Vulnerability of the Supply-Chain Miola, Apollonia; Senior Scientist-project leader, European Commission Joint Research Centre, Italy, [email protected] The global supply chain and the coordinated system of networks that link socio-economic elements localized in different countries are paradigmatic examples of factors making the present economic system globally interconnected. The optimization of production, the comparative advantages and the cost reductions are some of the main elements that during the last decades lead to the success of the so-called “globalization” process. If from one side the increasing economic interconnections allow to reduce costs and to increase the consumption possibilities, on the other side the large complexity and the spatially distributed networks of activities make modern society largely vulnerable to any kind of disturbance. Terroristic attacks, local conflicts, earthquakes or natural disasters taking place in a specific area can generate disruptions along the chain, with domino effects on the global supply. Climate change related events are one of the most important elements influencing the efficiency of the present economic networks. During the last decades an increasing number of studies investigated the main elements of risk and vulnerability, together with the possible impacts in terms of human life, recovery expenses, productivity loss and natural environment degradation. The largest part of these studies focused on the main direct impacts generated in a specific sector of analysis or in a specific geographical area. More recently, however, an increasing attention has also been devoted to analyze the overall vulnerability of the socio-economic system and a particular focus has been placed on the domino effects that a disruption in a specific part of the supply chain can generate along the system. A good understanding of the most vulnerable entities is in fact a fundamental step to avoid, reduce and mitigate the potential costs generated all over the world. A combination of climate modelling, data and intra-regional and intra-sectoral analysis are the fundamental elements needed for this kind of analysis. At the present stage, however, the lack of up-to-date international databases able to capture the trading relationships among countries and sectors, and the consequent limited use of inter- regional models make it difficult to estimate the cascading and the domino effects resulting from the disruption of the international supply chain. In addition, the large data gap


existing for developing countries and small island developing states, where climate change related events are expected to generate the largest catastrophic impacts, makes even more difficult to estimate the costs generated all over the world. The present paper provides an overview of the main studies, methodologies and databases used to investigate the climate vulnerability of the supply chain. In general terms a wide data gap exists for developing countries. In addition, the lack of updated and detailed information covering the trade links between economic sectors and geographical areas is one of the main limits for the quantification of the potential impacts that climate change related events can generate along the global supply chain. A flexible methodology able to include the different elements that compose the global supply chain, together with the possibility to include complexity and uncertainty are some of the main features that would be needed to quantify the domino and cascading effects generated along the chain. In addition, reliable information on the links between economic activities and countries, covering data related to developing and vulnerable areas are some of the most important elements that are needed to quantify the potential costs that climate change related events can generated in the present economic network. A clear identification of the most vulnerable elements together with a good understanding of the transmission mechanism is one of the fundamental steps to design effective mitigation and adaptation strategies. Climate Change and Housing Relocation in the New York Metropolitan Region Taylor, Robert; Director, Sustainability Science Program, Montclair State University, USA, [email protected] Climate Change will make a significant impact on global cities in the next 50 years. The percentage of people living in cities has moved from 50% of the world’s population in 2010, to a projected 60% in 2030 to 70% in 2050. Historically, due to location, most major global cities with the largest populations are located in coastal environments. These environments are the most vulnerable to climate change as extreme weather events and sea level rise coupled with the high percentage of impervious surfaces in cities will lead to severe flooding. There are significant populations in these coastal global cities, mostly the poor in many developing countries, who are the most vulnerable and will be forced to relocate due to flooding. In developed economics such as the United States, the demand for proximity in premium urban locations has generated the construction of housing on marginal sites such as floodways. These locations are now subject to extreme vulnerability, forcing governments to develop policies and strategies designed to: determine which specific locations are the most vulnerable to flooding; establish the procedures, protocols, and financial and legal mechanisms for housing relocation; and to create plans for utilizing the purchased property for green infrastructure and flood abatement.


This paper focuses on the housing relocation process in Passaic County, New Jersey, located in the urban-suburban belt of the New York Metropolitan Area. The first deliverable will be to develop a layered GIS model to determine specific locations of the most vulnerable parcels for flooding and to prioritize these locations for immediate housing purchase and relocation. The second deliverable is to analyze the specific legal and financial mechanisms used for purchase and housing relocation and measure their effectiveness in terms of social, economic, and environmental criteria. And finally, the paper seeks to provide planners, decision-makers, and governments a set of “best practices” for the purchase, relocation, and reuse of parcels in highly vulnerable flooding locations in global cities. Indigenous Innovations for Data Sustainable Development Through Open Service Innovation Belingheri, Paola; PhD Student, LUISS Guido Carli, Italy, [email protected] This paper studies how to apply the principles of open service innovation in the context of space downstream services, specifically exploring the European Galileo and Copernicus programs, in order to foster the creation of services for developing countries, that contribute towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) defined by the United Nations. Downstream space services, such as earth observation data, are paramount in planning, monitoring and evaluating the impact of development projects around the world. Examples include monitoring of air, marine and land pollution levels, urban densities, natural disasters and migration. Moreover, satellite services enable new sources of connectivity and communication, as well as education, positioning and transportation, all essential elements of a new sustainable development for our planet. This paper examines how open service innovation principles can be harnessed to design services that will contribute to sustainable development goals. Open innovation takes place when stakeholders collaborate with external parties during their R&D phase, in order to gain new insights and find new commercial avenues for their innovation. Within the open innovation framework, open services innovation indicates a roadmap in order to re-think services to efficiently serve customers’ needs. This roadmap includes a thorough review of business models with a service-based mindset, meaning they should be based on customer and stakeholder utility. To this end, co-creation with potential and current customers could help direct services towards specific needs, while providing real-time feedback on their effective implementation in the field. Key stakeholders such as suppliers, competitors, local authorities and civil society


representatives should also be involved, each according to their own expertise and areas of influence, in order to streamline implementation processes, sharing assets and knowledge. These actors should be connected through platforms where information can be exchanged and progress can be monitored for each program. This should enable to develop novel approaches to development issues, taking into account both economic development and sustainability. In this paper we will discuss this model in depth, providing recommendations for stakeholders involved in implementing services to support communities in their sustainable development. Data for Socially Inclusive Economic Growth Big Data for Small Businesses: Leveling the Playing Field Through up to Date Spatially Enabled Economic Reports Moenius, Johannes; Professor, Director, Institute for Spatial Economic Analysis, University of Redlands, United States, [email protected] Small businesses generally have a hard time getting access to up-to-date, reasonably accurate economic data and forecasts that are relevant for their market area. For example, small brick and mortar retailers often only serve a ZIP Code or two. Economic data that may help them determine future sales, such as employment and wages, real estate transactions, or economic risks are regularly only provided at the county level or even higher aggregates. Specifically in large counties this information is of limited help as such large counties usually cover multiple small-scale economic agglomerations that exhibit differing paces of economic development. In this presentation, we report on how researchers at the Institute for spatial economic analysis, short ISEA, create up to date ZIP Code level estimates for salient economic data for small businesses. Small businesses and news media can access this information through a website where they can select their ZIP Codes of interest and retrieve an automatically generated report for the selected area. They can also register on this website to receive updates whenever new data becomes available. The importance of such data is highlighted by the fact that about half of the private nonfarm US workforce is employed by small businesses. Large businesses generally not only have access to geographically differentiated economic data, most of them are also geographically diversified, which renders economic performance of a small economic region irrelevant. In contrast, small businesses have not had access to that kind of data and have been often exclusively dependent on the economic performance of the location where their business is located. Thus, this newly available data helps leveling the playing field for small businesses.


Website: http://www.iseapublish.com More information: https://vimeo.com/159206655 Llama Wool Supply Chain Sustainability in Bolivia Starkman, Rebecca; Graduate Student, University of Florida, United States, [email protected] I will be carrying out research in La Paz, Bolivia with the company Cotopaxi. Cotopaxi is an outdoor gear company that creates and sells llama fiber products. I will be conducting a supply chain analysis of the llama fiber sourced by Cotopaxi and gaining a further understanding of rural llama farming communities in the Altiplano region of Bolivia. I will use participatory approaches, which emphasize the goals of poverty reduction, community empowerment, and the promotion of increased livelihood security. I plan to conduct focus groups and semi-structured interviews with llama farmers in the community and various stakeholders to form a better understanding of possible needs, assets, and constraints. My research will help contribute to a better understanding of the livelihoods of rural llama farmers and inform future decisions relating to Cotopaxi’s social and environmental impact in Bolivia. Education and Training for Agriculture Food Security & Nutrition An Exploration of the Role of Indigenous Women’s Knowledge in the Food System Awotwe, Esther; Graduate Student, University of Winnipeg, Canada, [email protected] Literature demonstrates the growing importance of traditional knowledge from indigenous farming to move agricultural practices toward sustainable practices. Indigenous women are becoming increasingly involved in agriculture providing their traditional knowledge of the environment to agricultural production. This paper will seek to consolidate existing work in the area of indigenous women’s traditional knowledge and integrating this knowledge into existing food security theories. Barooah et al. (2008) have indicated that women from the Bobo Tribe of Northeast India have an intimate relationship with nature and are able to integrate traditional knowledge to crop production to make full use of limited space. This traditional knowledge helps to develop methods of production in which a number of crops are grown together for the purpose of meeting basic needs of the rural household. This focus of agricultural production to meeting


basic needs over and above the consideration of entering a food marketplace sees greater agricultural diversity and yields. Crops and livestock are not produced solely for their market value, but for a multitude of uses including nutritional and medical uses. The traditional knowledge held by indigenous women can help bridge the gap between current agricultural practices and the rights of rural peoples to define the uses of their natural resources. The democratic resource distribution system implemented through the intricate, local relationship between indigenous women and their farm helps to improve rural food security for the entire community. References Barooah, M., & Pathak, A. (2009). Indigenous knowledge and practices of thengal kachari women in sustainable management of bari system of farming. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 8(1), 35-40. Educational Trainings on Sustainable Small-Scale Agriculture in San Juan Colorado, Oaxaca, Mexico: Local Realities and Constraints on Food Security and Nutrition Glenn, Mary; Candidate, Master of Development Practice, University of California, Berkeley, United States, [email protected] This paper examines local realities and constraints on food security and nutrition for small-scale peasant farmers in San Juan Colorado, Oaxaca, Mexico. In partnership with the local grassroots organization Consejo de Desarrollo Sustentable (CDS), or the Council for Sustainable Development, the author will conduct qualitative research during Summer 2016 on the adoption of sustainable agriculture techniques by small-scale farmers following educational trainings, and the effects of these techniques’ adoption on yields, biodiversity, and economic mobility. In addition, barriers to these techniques’ adoption will be explored, addressing the question of, why is it that at the local level, educational trainings on sustainable agriculture may not be put into practice? San Juan Colorado is a small, rural municipality of roughly 10,000 people, with the majority of livelihoods based around small-scale agriculture and ranching. Unsustainable agriculture practices such as slash-and-burn are widespread and contribute to the depletion of biodiversity and natural resources, thereby greatly affecting food security and nutrition. As a local grassroots organization, CDS has facilitated four years of sustainable agriculture trainings with over 60 campesinos, or small-scale peasant farmers. This is a clear example of practical solutions for achieving the SDGs at a local level. While grassroots organizations serve an important role in turning development theory into practice, however, they face notable challenges in that implementation - primarily due to the lack of manpower


with which to collect data and analyze programmatic efforts, constraints, and opportunities for more impactful and scaled-up work. This paper will thus present material that will better explore how economic self-sufficiency, food security, and nutrition can be achieved in the local context of San Juan Colorado. In particular, the results of this research will serve as a catalyst for CDS’s emerging escuelas de campo, or field schools: horizontal knowledge sharing exchanges among campesinos for increased collaboration and sustainable future harvests. Because this is baseline data collection, the methodology will be qualitative research conducted through surveys, individual interviews, focus group discussions, and stakeholder meetings. These above techniques will address the limitations and adoption of sustainable agriculture techniques, and the resulting effects on crop diversity and yield, water management, grazing, labor supply, pests, erosion, and soil quality. Above all, emphasis will be placed on obtaining perspectives on local realities and learning how to best leverage education and trainings to concretely address issues of agriculture, food security and nutrition at the local level. It is only when both constraints and opportunities can be understood at the grassroots level that putting the SDGs into practice becomes a reality. San Juan Colorado is a small, rural municipality of roughly 10,000 people, with the majority of livelihoods based around small-scale agriculture and ranching. Unsustainable agriculture practices such as slash-and-burn are widespread and contribute to the depletion of biodiversity and natural resources, thereby greatly affecting food security and nutrition. As a local grassroots organization, CDS has facilitated four years of sustainable agriculture trainings with over 60 campesinos, or small-scale peasant farmers. This is a clear example of practical solutions for achieving the SDGs at a local level. While grassroots organizations serve an important role in turning development theory into practice, however, they face notable challenges in that implementation - primarily due to the lack of manpower with which to collect data and analyze programmatic efforts, constraints, and opportunities for more impactful and scaled-up work. This paper will thus present material that will better explore how economic self-sufficiency, food security, and nutrition can be achieved in the local context of San Juan Colorado. In particular, the results of this research will serve as a catalyst for CDS’s emerging escuelas de campo, or field schools: horizontal knowledge sharing exchanges among campesinos for increased collaboration and sustainable future harvests. Because this is baseline data collection, the methodology will be qualitative research conducted through surveys, individual interviews, focus group discussions, and stakeholder meetings. These above techniques will address the limitations and adoption of sustainable agriculture techniques, and the resulting effects on crop diversity and yield, water management, grazing, labor supply, pests, erosion, and soil quality. Above all, emphasis will be placed on obtaining perspectives on local realities and learning how to best leverage education and trainings to concretely address issues of agriculture, food security and nutrition at the local level. It is only when both constraints and opportunities can be


understood at the grassroots level that putting the SDGs into practice becomes a reality. International Conference on Sustainable Development Abstract Harris-Coble, Lacey; MDP Student, University of Florida, United States, [email protected] I will conduct my field practicum in Kilosa, Tanzania where I will work with the Tanzania Forest Conservation Group (TFCG) to analyze income-generating opportunities in order to reduce poverty and to increase investments in climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices in TFCG project areas. I will also implement a pilot program of business trainings and a seasonal calendar tool to help project participants take advantage of the income-generating opportunities identified. Finally, I will conduct semi-structured interviews to gain a qualitative understanding of the barriers to the adoption of climate smart agricultural practices, income-generating activities, and livelihood diversification. For this project I will use participatory methods, cost-benefit analyses, surveys, and semi-structured interviews. Need for Global Curriculum on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Krishnaswamy, Kiruba; Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Toronto, United States, [email protected] The bold and transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was officially launched on September 2015 by all member states of the United Nations. The new agenda calls on countries to begin efforts to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) over the next 15 years. SDGs have been proposed based on the momentum generated by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which ended in 2015. The first step towards achieving all the SDGs by 2030, is creating a global curriculum that equips our youth with the proper knowledge and skills necessary to handle all the challenges that may arise. One effective feature of MDGs was the fact that they were presented in an easily manageable set of 8 goals. We should adopt a similar strategy and organize the 17 SDGs into smaller related subsets, in order to make them more accessible. All 17 SDGs can be divided into five interconnected subsets as food and health, society, economy, sustainability and our planet as a whole. Ensuring food, nutrition and water security will improve the health and well-being of our people. By empowering women and improving the quality of education for all, we reduce inequalities. Knowledge will lead to sustainable innovations,


industrialization that promotes economic growth and ultimately end poverty. The resilient infrastructures built on renewable energy and efficient resource consumption will lead to sustainable communities. As responsible global citizens, we will be able to combat climate change and protect our ecosystems in water and on land. Peace and justice are the ultimate end of all 17 SDGs. Organizing the SDGs thus, makes them easily accessible to the general public, and helps researchers and policymakers better collaborate. By creating a global curriculum, we will equip our future leaders with the proper knowledge and skills they will need to face the challenges that will surely arise. Education will pave the way to the creation of informed leaders with innovative solutions. SDG curriculum development will progressively evolve over time. Ideally this curriculum will even evolve to be language independent, so that it not only educates the literate but connects the global population as a whole. Such a global curriculum is the necessary first step towards achieving all the SDGs by 2030. Fostering Rural Empowerment and Sustainable Development Solutions: Case Studies of Rural Communities in Nigeria and Senegal Oshinowo, Olufemi; MDP Student, University of Ibadan, Centre for Sustainable Development, Nigeria, [email protected] The sustainable Development Goal 2 seeks to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. In African rural communities, there are challenges of poverty, hunger, and inadequate access to basic services and infrastructure. Therefore, investment in empowerment geared to meeting social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development are germane to effective transformation of the rural economy in Africa. Rural livelihoods and empowerment can be enhanced through effective participation and decision making of rural people. Rural empowerment would assist rural communities in the management of their own social, economic and environmental/natural resources. Using a combination of qualitative and quantitative data gathering and analysis approaches, this study elucidated the importance of rural empowerment taking into consideration the natural resources of the rural community, including occupation and entrepreneurship, wealth rankings, assessment of ecosystem services, gender analysis as well as the type and sources of technical/donor assistance needed to optimally utilize the ecological resources in their domains. Our preliminary findings suggest that entrepreneurship is central to economic growth and development of the rural areas. Rural entrepreneurship enhanced access to healthcare, education, water and sanitation. Also, conversion of agricultural produce to monetary income underscored the importance of


entrepreneurship to the rural people. However, the acceptance of entrepreneurship as a central development force by itself may not lead to sustainable rural development and the advancement of rural enterprises. What is needed in addition is empowerment of the rural entrepreneurs. It was observed that empowerment is central to promoting rural sustainable entrepreneurship. The Talking Book: Impacts of Audio Information for Women on Farming Practices, Gender Equity, and Nutrition in Northern Ghana Turkaly, Sarah; MDP Candidate, Emory University, United States, [email protected] This evaluation directly pertains to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 2: to “end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture” as well as one of the indicators of this goal to “...double the agricultural productivity and the incomes of small-scale food producers, particularly women” by 2030. In order to increase outputs of soybeans and groundnuts, the CARE Pathways program has piloted the Talking Book audio technology in seven communities of Ghana’s Upper East region. The Talking Book makes use of songs, dramas, and radio shows in local languages to disseminate extension information regarding gender, agriculture, marketing, and nutrition messages. The audio nature of the technology allows for education on nutrition and dissemination of farming techniques and practices to women no matter their level of literacy. Additionally, the piloting of the technology has taken place within pre-existing Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), established to enhance women’s ability to share and incorporate the information received into their daily lives through conversation with others. During the summer of 2016 an evaluation will be conducted by the CARE Pathways Ghana team and a student intern from Emory University’s Master’s in Development Practice program. The evaluation will measure the impact of this technology through field assessments including focus groups, surveys, interviews, and observation to determine the knowledge gained and the application of the farming practices promoted by the Talking Book. The evaluation will conclude with data analysis and recommendations on how the CARE Pathways program can most effectively use the Talking Book technology. The evaluation will determine the usefulness and practicality of audio technologies for education and training for rural women on agriculture, food security, and nutrition information. It will also seek to discern best practices for implementing this technology and potential for bringing it to scale elsewhere. The outcomes of the evaluation have the potential to contribute to existing strategies for creating food security and improving nutrition for women and farmers in other locations around the world.


Education and Training for Disaster Resiliency & Adaptation Study of Climate-Adapted Value Chains Development Tuyên Quang Province, Vietnam Desjonqueres, Chloe; MSc. in Development Practice Candidate, Trinity College Dublin & University College Dublin, Ireland, [email protected] Tuyen Quang is a province North of Vietnam that has been allocated $24.2 million out of a $49 million IFAD loan to the Government in an attempt to develop rural areas in 2011. The Program Coordination Unit (PCU) of Tuyen Quang City has been responsible for the distribution of the funds and progress supervision of the project, entitled the IFAD Tam Nong Support Project (TNSP). The aim of the project is to help Provincial Governments to develop pro-poor institutional reforms, including bottom-up participatory approaches, through value chains development initiatives. The way it is currently in place in Tuyen Quang Province is as follows: the TNSP team has allocated funds to each district, who encourage farmers’ groups and companies to develop a production-oriented business plan. The plan, based on a template provided by IFAD, varies according to each group’s identified needs, according to the approach of each district within the province, and to the expertise of the villagers’ communes’ officials, who are responsible for assisting them in the development of the plan. This competitive process, once approved, unlocks the funds to be disbursed to the companies and farmers’ groups. The farmers receive funds through the companies, which should lend input material at zero (for the poor households) or very low (for the near-poor households) interest rate, which is to be paid back after an agreed time period, and then re-invested in the farmers in the next period. The farmers also benefit from the creation of credit-savings groups, as well as free training provided by the companies. The companies and the farmer groups sign a contract whereby the company agrees to purchase all or part of the farmers production output. The partnership also requires the prioritizing of beneficiary for women and ethnic minority farmers, as they are the poorest. Now five years into the initiative, and a year ahead of the project’s end, IFAD and TNSP’s officials are interested in learning more about the interactions of value chains development and climate adaptation in the province. My research project aims at evaluating the relationship between climate change, climate resilience, and tea production, as part of the value chains development of Tuyen Quang Province. Value chains development through the Public Private Partnerships emphasized by the SDGs, helps to improve the economic lives of the poor - with an emphasis on women and ethnic minorities. TNSP is looking for a case study analysis of tea, one of the main products of the province. As tea is a crop that is highly vulnerable to changes in climate, the current questions that I will potentially answer through the study are: How does climate change impact each stage of tea value chain development? How does the development of agro-


value chains make tea producing households more resilient to climate change? What value chains mechanisms support ethnic minority and female tea producers in a context of climate change? How efficient is the Tuyen Quang Province value chains developmental approach in fostering the farmers’ climate adaptation capacity? Value chains development is an approach that needs further research, as it has often been focusing on businesses’ profits as opposed to the income of the poorest, most vulnerable individuals. The research will involve a mixed-methods approached, potentially conducted as an evaluation of the TNSP project, and will be further developed with the head of the project once the IFAD Supervision Mission has left the site - it is currently conducting the final assessment of the project’s progress in the province before the end of the initiative next year. The data that I hope to collect includes demographic data, pre and post-TNSP implementation data (2011 to 2016) for economic variables (yields, incomes, productivity) hopefully getting economic data for the years prior to 2011, so my analysis is based on a greater time-period, climate data for Vietnam and for the province, tea production data at the district and provincial levels, as well as a qualitative assessment of the farmers’ perception of climate change. Indigenous Innovations for Education and Training Participatory Health Care Intervention in Los Robles Nicaragua Chen, Ruofei; MDP Student, Emory University, United States, [email protected] Located in the north of Nicaragua, the state of Jinotega produces almost two thirds of Nicaragua’s annual crop. From here one hour toward north is found the community Los Robles, home to more than 500 coffee farmer families. Due to isolation and high rates of poverty, Los Robles faces a number of economic and health challenges that exacerbate the living conditions of the villagers. The Brigadistas, a team of community health workers, has been crucial for the wellbeing of the community in the last decades. They take care for pregnant women, revise children for cases of malnourishment and stunting, and respond to health emergencies in the community such as injuries or infectious diseases. At this moment, upper respiratory illness is one of the most pressing issues in the community. Together asthma and other respiratory diseases account for 37% of all clinic visits in 2015. Noting the urgent need to reduce this trend, the brigadistas reach Emory Goizueta Social Enterprise through the support of the NGO NCHC. This collaboration grown afterwards to include the Global Health Institute, and lead to the formation of a team Comprised of six students and six advisors from five different disciplines. We aim to develop together a comprehensive health model that will be adopted by the community and improve respiratory health.


The project consists of three components including health education, clinical management and health project implementation. All these three components will be developed with the brigadistas in order to facilitate the community outreach and empower local capacity. In the education component, we aim to conduct participatory research with the brigadistas to understand the main causes of upper respiratory illness in the community. After knowing the main causes, the proposal is to strengthen the collaboration between the brigadistas and the clinic in place, leveraging local resources to bring up possible solutions for the issue. Finally, a health intervention will be designed and implemented through the leadership of the brigadistas with the support of the students and other stakeholders. Above all, building capacity on brigadistas is the path to increase community resilience toward illness. This health model will be applicable to other emerging diseases as well as chronically diseases that might be impacting the wellbeing of the villagers. However, the usage of the model must be adapted and managed by the local brigadistas. In this sense, we believe the empowerment of the community itself will be the key for sustainable bottom-up improvement. Education and Training for Low-Carbon Urban Development Sustainable Development- Environment, Climate Change and the City of Mumbai Atthar, Rashida; Guest lecturer and mentor Climate project, NGos Insititutions and St Xavier's College Mumbai, India, [email protected] Sustainable development has been my area of study and research since the late 1990’s. As a researcher I was drawn to this alternative concept of development and was convinced it is the most relevant form of development for developed and developing countries. My paper will look at the various concepts of Sustainable development in different fields and how it has evolved in the past decades to the present 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). How the values for sustainable development education and training in the universities can lead to its effective implementation and practical adaptation in various work areas. Practical examples as a resource person for nature education for young people will be shared and how it changes the entire outlook of young adults towards nature and development. The paper will bring out inter-linkages between SDG 3 good health SDG 4 quality education and SDG 13 climate action and the policies towards forests and trees in particular in local context of Mumbai city. The paper will draw cause and effect linkages and how citizen participation and awareness is the key to bring about transformation towards a sustainable society and talk about solutions. The case


studies from India like the chipko movement and other movements will be analysed to bring out how ecosystems have been conserved by such movements. Similarly linkages will be drawn from global to local level and how what happens in one part of the world can affect the life of people in another part of the world. When there are various variables to a problem it becomes a complex problem and the paper will examine the theoretical framework and concept from psychology and sociology and how people respond to ecology and climate change and what could be the indicators to assess the performance towards problem solving of the ecological crisis at present. The paper will bring out a framework for practical application of sustainable development in the university system in particular environment subject and how nature principle and values can be interwoven in the syllabus and also how citizens can work with local governments to bring about clean energy transportations and solar and wind energy in everyday use and improve the city’s air quality leading to low carbon development. The paper will emphasis the role of anticipatory action for sustainable development to bring about institutional awareness and changes to prevent the collapse of a city like Mumbai due to fragmented approach to environment planning at present leading to a climate crisis. Fostering Sustainable Infrastructure Through Project Rating System Foley, Madeline; Research Technician; Calvano, Ava G.; Graduate Assistant; and Lorenz, William; Sustainable Engineering Program Director, Villanova University, United States, [email protected] In the last decade “green building” has gained momentum. A large number of tools such as LEED, BREEAM, GREEN GLOBES, and others have been developed to facilitate sustainable design and delivery of buildings. Given their similar goal, it is interesting that across the building industry, a single tool, LEED, has rose to particular prominence. The purpose of this study was to present a comparative review of the existing LEED against two freshly published sustainability tools: Sustainable Project Appraisal Routine (SPeAR) and ENVISION. While this report includes a comprehensive literature review and a case study, it mainly focuses on the comparison of international sustainability tools and examines their characteristics and differences in both theory and practice. That said, Villanova University’s West End Zone project is used as a proxy to analyze the characteristics of building rating systems and sustainability decision-making methods. The results demonstrated LEED design and construction projects incur performance and opportunity gaps by reason of: overlooking integration during


pre-planning or early stages in project development; and concentration on environmental reductionism. The paper highlights that more inclusive, life-cycle conscious assessment systems have enhanced sustainability potential compared to conventional tools like LEED. And recommends that in the long-run, (1) integration of multi-stage tools that value positive impact sustainability into a building assessment systems and (2) the adoption and tailoring self-assessment and decision-making tools towards project and/or company goals are necessary to yield significant benefits. Assessment of Student Behaviour in Sustainable Campus Life Kulce, Gulsume; PhD Candidate, Bogazici University, Turkey, [email protected] In recent years, there has been an increasing awareness of the need to manage the impact of human activities on the environment. Environmental education and its role in changing the lifestyle and attitudes of students is therefore crucial in altering future consumer behaviour. A Sustainable and Green Campus Questionnaire-based survey was carried out at BogaziÃ§i University. Our survey focused on the pro-environmental consumer behaviour and lifestyle patterns of university students. The main assumptions of the research were that: (1) To determine the demographic characteristics of students; (2) impacts of environmental education are reflected in the consumer behaviour of students; (3) courses on sustainability and environmental issues offered by the university significantly enlarge students’ environmental knowledge base-however, their attitudes are also shaped by several other factors; (4) reported environmental awareness and actual behaviour of respondents are usually not consistent. The information obtained from Sustainable and Green Campus Questionnaire was analyzed by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, version 21.0) statistics program. In conclusion, questionnaire results are presented. The aspects of sustainability are interconnected and related to each other and understanding these relationships is crucial for successful implementation of an university students behaviour. It is a true challenge for environmental education to address the student groups with different consumption and lifestyle patterns in order to motivate them towards more sustainable consumer behaviour. Education and Training for Socially Inclusive Economic Growth Can Research and Extension Be Integrated?: Kasiglahan Village National High School Case Study


Bugas, Ruth; Research Management Coordinator, Miriam College, Philippines, [email protected] The public and private partnership (PPP) of the Philippine government aims to help certain programs of the local government units through a joint venture with private individuals and groups, volunteers, religious community, and others, in order to become successful in attaining its goals. At the education level, the Department of Education (DepEd) developed a strategy called “Adopt a School Program” or Republic Act 8525 enacted in 1988 that allows individuals, like business groups, NGO's and civil society groups to adopt a public school of their choice to provide the necessary support on a short or long term basis along the areas of infrastructure, facilities, teaching and skills development, monitoring and evaluation, and learning support, including computer and science laboratory equipment. As mandated by the Philippines’ Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), Higher Education Institutions (HEI) has three major functions: Instruction, Research, and Extension. Miriam College (MC) through its institutional research arm, the Research and Publications Management Office (RPMO) supported these government programs through a research project approved and funded by the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), the “Sierra Madre: Innovating community organizing and mentoring as strategies for poverty alleviation and for the protection and conservation of the environment” has extended the project to a public national high school in Region IV-A (CALABARZON) in Barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal. Kasiglahan Village National High School (KVNHS) is situated in a housing project for the informal settlers from various cities of Metro Manila. The various teacher-trainings conducted were “Strategies in Teaching for Understanding”, “Effective Helping Skills for Teachers”, and “English as a Second Language.” Donation of various instructional materials was also done. Monetary funding of existing nutrition programs, “Feeding Program” and “School Garden” were provided. Livelihood skills training on “Hilot Pinoy”, “First Aid”, “Apple Pie Making”, and “Herbal Medicine Processing” were conducted to faculty, staff, and parents on a voluntary basis. The role of research was the impact assessment and evaluation conducted through interviews and questionnaires to assess how the various support affected change in the academic performance and behavior of KVNHS students, professional and personal growth of their teachers and staff and the total school operation. Results of the impact assessment points that collaborative efforts like the "Bayanihan" cultural value of the Filipinos implies that when we work together and join forces, resources and strengths, we can make things possible. The difference that we made in the lives of others may just be the beginning of a long journey together. Restored Mangrove Area Creates Environmental Awareness


Callado, Luiza; Master Student, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro; Lira-Medeiros, Catarina F; Botanical Garden Research Institute of Rio de Janeiro; and Felippe Freitas, Andre; Graduate Student, Program in Sustainable Development Practice in Rural Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, [email protected] Mangroves are ecosystems of great importance for wildlife and communities. Many wild species use these areas for breeding and feeding while fishermen and crab hunters explore their resources for their livelihood. In the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, most of the mangroves have suffered a direct impact from urban growth. Large areas of mangrove still exist around Guanabara Bay, but these are constantly affected by the development of large cities in their surroundings. In the year 2000, a large oil spill in the Guanabara Bay caused serious losses for the fauna and flora in the mangroves and thousands of fishermen were forced to interrupt their activities. In the same year, a project was launched to recover the already degraded mangrove areas of the Guanabara Bay in Maui beach (Praia de Maui), Mag-RJ. The environmental foundation OndAzul created the Mangue Vivo (“Living Mangrove”) project, which has recovered a total of 12.9 hectares of mangroves in the area. In the restoration project work was done by the fishermen who had their fishing activities paralyzed because of the oil spill. Alongside the restoration project, environmental education activities were started for the fishermen and in schools in the region. To understand the impact of the mangrove restoration on the population, we conducted a study in the area interviewing fishermen and others living and working in the surroundings of the coastal community of Maui beach. We conducted 41 interviews with residents, which were divided in two groups: Group 1 composed by the residents whose livelihood depend on the mangrove such as crab hunters and fishermen, and group 2 composed by residents who had no direct connection to the mangrove. All interviews were anonymous with open and closed questions, where the latter included the observations of the respondents about the mangrove’s importance, perception of recent changes in the environment and other aspects related to the restoration project. Group 1 demonstrated high comprehension about the mangrove’s importance, but mostly linked with the economic aspect. While in group 2, the majority recognized the benefits of restored mangroves for the fishing community, but also, for the environmental aspects. The environmental education activities of the Mangue Vivo project, especially in schools, also contributed greatly to the perception of respondents. The direct involvement of the community in the restoration seems to have played a key role in the awareness process as many fishermen worked in the reforestation and became emotionally attached to the project and the mangrove area. Although mangrove areas are usually unwanted in urban centers due to its characteristic appearance and smell, it is believed that the project led to a greater awareness of the population about the importance of this ecosystem, both its environmental and social aspects.


Everyone Knows They Need to Innovate and Invest in Sustainability, Now We Need to Teach Them How Corden, Pat; Consultant - Futureye and BSc Advanced (Global Challenges), Monash University, Australia, [email protected] I am currently 21 years old and studying a science degree - BSc Advanced (Global Challenges) - at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. It's a science degree that has a strong focus on entrepreneurship, innovation and communication. After an internship, I also managed to secure part-time consulting work at Futureye, a consulting firm that specialises in risk communication and sustainable development. What I have noticed is that more and more start-ups are innovating with sustainability in mind and large companies spend millions on research and development. However, the backbone of our economy, and many economies around the world, small and medium businesses, don't know how to innovate sustainably. Single companies developing innovative solutions to global challenges is not enough to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out for 2030. In order to reach them, we need all businesses to contribute to sustainable innovation. Achieving the SDGs will only happen when we shift to a focus on creating shared value so that social and environmental benefits are achieved in line with profits, rather than against them. We need to teach small businesses how to do that. At Futureye, I have worked with companies in the past to do this, however with the increased challenges that we face globally, working one-on-one is not sustainable long term. We have now developed a three-month program that will teach businesses to look externally at the challenges society is facing, and then internally align their business to tackle those challenges. Front and foremost of those challenges are the SDGs. Empowering small businesses through programs such as this have the potential for monumental change on a global scale. In the past, we worked with a dry cleaner, Bancroft, whose margins were squeezed by constant price hikes for hazardous chemicals going to landfill. The company could not foresee a solution: they needed the hazardous chemicals to clean clothes. It was fundamental to their business. Throughout the program, Bancroft ultimately transformed their business by finding and buying the licence for a non-toxic, green dry cleaning fluid. This reduced their costs, and, as the new cleaning fluid was kinder to customers' skin, added a valuable dimension to their service offering. They expanded from a single dry cleaner to an Australia and Asia-wide sustainable dry cleaning operation.


Large, innovative companies and small and fast growing start-ups may be more glamorous, but we also need to focus on the millions of small businesses that, when working together, will achieve the SDGs and a sustainable future. Everyone knows they need to innovate and invest in sustainability but they don't know how. Now is the time to teach them how, and governments, educators and businesses need to step up and fill this role. Alternate Power Source for ICT in Rural Schools of Nigeria: Case Study Enugu State, Nigeria David, Nathan; Senior Lecturer, University of Nigeria, Nigeria, [email protected] In a world of computer based testing, lack of ICT skills shuts one out of the tertiary education and limits one’s earning power. Education creates an escape route from poverty. Once there was want of information, today we are drowned in the surge of information. Without the basic computer literacy, one finds it almost difficult to function comfortably in society. Primary educational programs for the rural areas cannot by themselves reach out to all the communities without the basic communication infrastructure that would enable these programs to be conveyed. This work highlights the plight of schools in rural areas where the lack of basic amenities is the order of the day. In order to provide ICT to rural areas the primary focus is rural education with the provision of running an Internet Service in an effort to become self-sustainable. This would in turn ensure the development of a critical mass of rural dwellers, enabling them to benefit from better IT driven education. However, a major problem in rural communities is the unavailability of power which hinders progress in rural education. The lack of electricity in many of these communities makes it more difficult to achieve the proposed goals, some rural areas will probably not have access to the grid for many decades and when they do have erratic supply. A survey was carried for a period of five months from February to July 2015 to determine the number of hours of power supply per day to a particular region Nsukka, Enugu State. Along this line of thinking, we look towards the sun to supply the required energy needs. An important advantage with solar electricity is that it makes electricity available in remote areas; there is no need to wait for the extension of the electric grid to get good light. The investment for a solar electric system is high, and the operating costs are low. The intent is to set-up a stand-alone PV system to meet the power needs for the rural schools taking into consideration the minimal power requirements, and that these systems would become more competitive as the costs would decline with time. In order to convert, store and use the energy in the sunrays as electricity a solar electric system is utilised. Solar energy is converted to electrical energy by solar panel made up of transducers called solar cell. These panels are placed on the top of houses for the purpose of obtaining maximum solar energy. This received energy is temporarily stored in a battery


via a charge controller and is finally made available for use through the inverter. With the evident erratic power supply, the necessity for an alternative power supply arises. When the electricity supply is running properly via the ‘grid’, if available, the schools would use this power. However, in the event of blackout or load shedding on the grid, the system would switch to "off-grid mode" drawing power stored in the battery bank to power the schools and using the solar panels to recharge the battery bank. Addressing Social Inequality Through the Establishment of Arts and Crafts Training Centre in Ekiti State, Nigeria Dioka, Yvonne; Sustainable Development Practice Student, University of Ibadan, Centre for Sustainable Development, Nigeria, [email protected] One of the greatest challenges facing the government and society in Nigeria today is that of rising income and gender inequality. Ekiti is an agrarian State. The economic base of the State is weak, and requires economic diversification. This study therefore, proposes and analyses the implementation of an arts and crafts training centre for women and youths with focus on reducing gender inequality, and promoting economic growth and diversification. The arts and crafts centre will comprise different sections, including art production, art instruction and art research. It will train on various artistry and artisan works such as furniture making, plumbing, baking, sculpturing and weldering. The focus on the chosen respondents, women and youths would bring about women empowerment and youth employment, respectively. The project would employ sustainability approaches, including community mobilization, cooperation and group financing. The project would boost indigenous hands-on artistic and artisan knowledge, including increase in employment of out-of-work artists and artisans. This would create more jobs, reduce inequality, and add to the growth of the local economy. It would improve the lives of Ekiti women and youths not only to ensure their well-being but also to level the playing field in the socio-economic space. It would also help to address sustainable development goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 10. If achieved, the arts and crafts training centre for women and youth would be a sustainable approach to social inclusiveness. It would reduce youth idleness, reduce social unrest, increase participation and leap people out of the clutches of poverty. Productive employment will not only provide increased income earnings but also bring about a healthy, well coordinated and self-reliant grassroots people which can to a large extent increase the state of happiness of the people. Given the expected outcomes, it would be strongly recommended that youths and women across other local government areas and communities of the State and beyond be engaged, be empowered and gainfully employed as they, particularly


the youths, constitute the most productive sect of any society. Also, the arts and crafts training centre and similar empowerment schemes can be modeled across Ekiti State and other States of the country to foster transformative and sustainable national development. Engaging Men in the Dialogue on Changing Women’s Oppressed Status Lastinger, Rachel; MDP Student, Emory University, United States, [email protected] My name is Rachel Lastinger and I would like to present an abstract for an oral presentation at the ICSD 2016 conference. During this summer, I will be conducting research with a grassroots organization called the Manaleni Achievement Center (MAC) in KwaMhlanga, South Africa. One of our aims for our research this summer is to address the problem of a high dropout rate from school for girls in the community which is being partnered with self-esteem challenges. Through the use of various participatory methods, we hope to discover the root causes to this problem which would aid the MAC in developing a new program to address this problem. Through prior research, the most plausible cause is that KwaMhlanga has a high percentage of incidences of gender-based violence. Another plausible cause is societal gender norms and a history of patriarchy. These plausible causes are why I believe it will be important to engage the men in this community in the discourses happening around these issues of gender-based violence and patriarchal oppression. Why is it important to engage males in the conversation rather than just talking to and empowering the females who are the ones being directly affected? By engaging men we are more likely to deconstruct the social hierarchies and patriarchal institutions and cultures that allow these gender-based problems to flourish. When it comes to these institutions, both men and women contribute to the maintenance of the status quo, so it is necessary to involve both. By including both genders, one can also more easily make a commitment to changing the ruling idea that masculinity equals dominance, control, and violence and shift towards advancing a positive view of masculinity. Masculinity can become a characteristic that respects and protects all members of the community without emasculating men. Engaging men and starting to do so at a young age is also important because too many boys are growing up to be men, thinking that violence is normal and indeed expected, and that achieving manhood and being recognized as a man means using violence. A growing topic in sustainable development is the empowerment of women and their access to the market and other resources. Whenever we encounter these women living under oppressive systems, we tend to then seek to empower them and start creating dialogue with them. The problem is that we never talk to the men and we


never talk to the male youth whom are the next generation of male leaders. If we want to actually address the oppression of women then we need to be inclusive in our dialogue creation and we need to engage men in the conversation. As men are engaged in the conversations about gender norms and women’s rights then we are more likely to see the oppressive system be lifted off of women which would lead to an overall economic growth for the community. The engagement of youth boys in the dialogue on gender norms, gender roles, and self-esteem will be the main innovative research method that I will be putting to use this summer. Promoting Women’s Voices in Rural Contexts: Reflections from the Literature and Women Sapphire Miners in South West Madagascar Lawson, Lynda; Training and Knowledge Transfer Manager, Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, Sustainable Minerals Institute, University Of Queensland, Australia, [email protected] In recent years both development agencies and research have underlined the vital need to strengthen women’s participation in natural resource management. The roles and activities men and women play in the protection and exploitation of natural resources differ be they in relation to marine (Westerman & Benbow, 2014), forest (Agarwal, 2009) or mineral (Lahiri-Dutt, 2008) resources. For example in developing contexts women and children are often those primarily responsible for the collection and use of water and firewood. They are thus directly impacted by the negative impacts of resource extraction on water quality and availability and on forested areas. In mining it is widely acknowledged in the literature that the negative impacts women fall disproportionately on women rather than men (Jenkins, 2014).These negative impacts are likely to be exacerbated by a changing climate for example for those women working on small holder farmer in regions such as Southern Madagascar (Harvey et al., 2014). The inclusion of women in decisions about natural resource management is thus essential. However there is little in the literature which provides a theoretical framing of, and a thoughtful methodology for, the strengthening of women’s participation. Yet this is essential if women’s participation is to be effective and critically evaluated as more than tokenistic. This paper will review the literature around women’s participation in meetings and dialogues in developing contexts with a special emphasis on natural resources. It will seek to identify theoretical framing and practical insights for successful engagement with women and the inclusion of women’s voices in discussions and decisions about natural resources. It will also draw on the author’s recent experience working with women miners in Atsimo Adrenana (Madagascar’s South West region) where a process is being put in place to assure the inclusion of women’s voices in a national dialogue concerning the


future of artisanal and small scale mining in Madagascar. There are strong implications for the training of women especially in relation to the Sustainable Development Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Agarwal, B. (2009). Gender and forest conservation: The impact of women's participation in community forest governance. Ecological economics, 68(11), 2785-2799. Peace Boat’s Ecoship: a holistic approach to putting the SDGs into practice Lewis, Robin; International Coordination, Peace Boat – Ecoship, Japan, [email protected] Peace Boat, an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations, carries out educational and advocacy voyages for peace and sustainability on a large passenger ship. Working on a social business model, its voyages create awareness, spur action and inspire positive social change. As an official messenger of the MDGs, and now SDGs, Peace Boat’s unique method furthers implementation of SDGs 4,10,15 and 16. Peace Boat is now engaged in creating the world’s most sustainable cruise ship. Planned to sail in 2020, the 55,000 ton, 2000 passenger capacity nature-inspired vessel combines radical energy efficiency measures and the use of renewable energy at a level never achieved before in maritime transport. With its 40% reduction in CO2 emissions, it will be a transitional model for low-carbon maritime transport and a flagship for climate action (SDG 7,13). Its closed-loop, low-impact operation will respect oceans and coastal regions, and introduce clean technology in 100 ports per year. As a catalyst for responsible consumption patterns, it will educate participants but also motivate the cruise industry to innovate and build infrastructure to respond to new public expectations (SDG14, 12,9). Daughters United: A Model for Girls’ Leadership, Empowerment, and Reproductive Health Advocacy Through Safe Spaces and Cascading Leadership in Kibera, Kenya Ward, Sarah; 2nd Year MDP Candidate, University of Florida, United States, [email protected] Putting the Sustainable Development Goals into practice is an immense effort that must take into account the impact that can be made by women in the world’s most impoverished places, paying close attention to their ability to make local change. Carolina for Kibera (CFK) is an organization that closely represents


these ideals, working as a non-profit near Nairobi, Kenya in one of the world’s biggest low-income urban settlements. During the summer of 2016 I will be conducting the fieldwork practicum component of my Master of Sustainable Development Practice degree with CFK to support their Daughters United program, which provides safe spaces for adolescent girls to learn about women’s rights, reproductive health, and leadership. Conference participants who view my poster presentation will have a better understanding of the role that women play in creating sustainable local change. Daughters United hosts workshops on numerous topics in neighborhoods across Kibera, a settlement riddled by gender-based violence, HIV/AIDS, and poverty. My investigation focuses on Carolina for Kibera’s “cascading leadership” model, which encourages local leaders to be in charge of projects in their communities and to see themselves as agents of positive social change. I will be monitoring existing workshops taught through the program as well as creating and teaching new modules that aim to better inform the participants inspire them to be leaders, and ultimately stimulate sustainable development throughout Kibera. My work will also incorporate participatory research methods such as ethnographic observation field notes and pre- and post-test evaluation of girls participating in the programs to determine short-term impacts of the program on girls’ perceived leadership capabilities. I hypothesize that by combining skill development training and education with safe spaces and mentorship opportunities, the Daughters United program will have success in their goal areas measurable in the short term. My poster presentation will focus on the preliminary finding that I will have presented to Carolina for Kibera in order to better inform their program structure and operations. I hope to highlight how the on-the-ground knowledge acquired through my fieldwork in Kibera will help contribute to techniques used by non-governmental organizations and non-profits to achieve socially inclusive development. This knowledge will inform development practitioners about the effectiveness of the safe space and cascading leadership model promoted by Carolina for Kibera specifically among adolescent girls. Based on my observations I believe that knowledge can be taken and used to better incorporate women into the development process in their own communities, therefore putting the Sustainable Development Goals into practice. Innovation in Technology and Governance for Agriculture Food Security & Nutrition Urbanization of Refugee Camps and the Role of Urban Agriculture in Combatting Food Insecurity


Campbell, Michael Baylen; MSc MDP Candidate, Trinity College Dublin/University College Dublin, United States, [email protected], [email protected] Managing urban growth has become one of the most important challenges of the 21st Century. Instead of being places of opportunities and prosperity, in many cases urban areas have become places of deprivation, inequality and exclusion. Recent trends have seen the rapid urbanization of unplanned settlements in the form of refugee camps. Refugee camp Dadaab in Kenya is now home to nearly half a million people, most of which have come from Somalia, escaping the civil war that began in the early 1990s. Many refugee camps outlast their initial mandates, and the unplanned nature of these camps result in a myriad of challenges facing analready fragile context. All the while, camps like Zaatari in Jordan develop semi-formal markets, modes of transport, education systems, and much more which is why we chose to categorise such settings as urbanised. This paper explores the challenges facing refugee camps as zones of urbanization. Our team of multi-disciplinary development practitioners has examined the effects of food insecurity, mental health, economic deprivation and gender-based violence in these environments. From reflecting on these numerous challenges, this paper discusses how urban agriculture can serve as a multidimensional tool for addressing social and economic challenges. Urban agriculture is presented not only as a means to mitigating the issue of food security, but as a mechanism to solving other pressing issues within the urbanized refugee camps of today and tomorrow. Given the state of the global migration crisis and predicted impacts of climate change over the next 50 years research suggests that similar trends in the urbanization of these transient settings will continue. As such, it is the goal of the essay to outline the beneficial impacts institutionalized urban agriculture practices can play in camp setting and that such programs become a facet of camp management in the future. The Importance of Peasant Production and Family Farming as the Basis for Food Sovereignty Guzman, Adolfo; student of master in development practice, CATIE (Centro Agronomico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza), Costa Rica, [email protected] For several decades, the development model has been based on the extraction of natural resources, the appropriation of biodiversity and the generation of dependence on agriculture. This has caused the marginalization of indigenous communities who own the knowledge and have managed to create the basis for a healthy and safe feeding through traditional agriculture.


Therefore our work as practitioners must collaborate with indigenous and peasant rural communities; for an inclusive, development and conservation comprehensive and sustainable development. Thus, this way consolidates a community base for endogenous development, achieving greater impact at local and regional level. In this sense, both family farming and traditional production acquires great importance for further strengthening local processes, based on organic farming, suitable production facilities, closed production cycles and the balance between natural and sociocultural environment. Our work was in San Antonio Los Altos, Chiapas-Mexico, between the years 2010 - 2013, and it focused on promoting and strengthening integral production initiatives with a sustainable approach in the community. The community established seven integral systems of permaculture, which do not harm the environment and which can generate a production with a closed ecological cycle. This way had a steady and healthy production without harming the environment and was resilient when the production unit was degraded. It also generates surpluses to activate a productive local economy and ensures food security. The work area contained the units of a rural production community and as a result, seven different systems of eco-technologies were established, which helped reduce pressure on the use of natural resources and to strengthen the process of consolidation of food security.

• Stoves and ovens savers firewood system reduces smoke emissions to environment, and additionally they can reduce the use of firewood by 50%.

• Dry ecological toilets system, which help reduce gastrointestinal diseases, prevent contamination of groundwater and reduce overall water consumption. In addition, they catch waste, which are used as organic fertilizers and repellents in crops.

• Integrated water management systems in housing, where infrastructures collecting rainwater were established for household supplies. Also it established collectors for treatment and reusable wastewater through filters, to reuse water from sinks and showers.

• Composting organic waste and separation of solid waste from households, which involves the use of organic materials to produce fertilizer and reuses solid wastes for construction or other practical uses.

• Production of backyard animals, which gives food to families directly or through secondary products. Where the excrement of animals is important for making fertilizer for crops.

• Bio-intensive garden system with double digging, which maintains a constant production of vegetables and spices for family feeding and selling surplus. This system generates parallel production of medicinal plants, fruit trees and timber.


• Integral housing system, where local and specific materials of the region were used for building houses, respecting the ethics of ecological balance, without ignoring the importance of welfare and safety.

Through actions like these, this approach of inclusion and endogenous development aims to build social power from families with self-sufficient households. Implementing actions help improve nutrition, health and the environment, which at the same time involves ecological and social awareness of family members. Likewise this approach aims to be strengthened through capacity building and organization to generate community processes which continues promoting the importance of family farming and peasant production. Innovation in Technology and Governance for Disaster Resiliency & Adaptation Saving Lives at Birth in Rural Afghanistan Asem Rahmani, Fardous; Founder and Deputy President, The Green Organization (TGO), Master's in Development Practice Candidate 2017, University of Arizona, United States, [email protected] With 327/100,000 live births, Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world. Due to environmental and social unrests such as conflict, it is very difficult to deploy adequate skilled birth attendants and services to many Afghan villages. We propose a midwife-centered community based rural telemedicine hub connecting CHWs to midwives. An Initiate-Build-Operate-Transfer (IBOT) will be used to install and implement telemedicine programs. Direct and safe communication will be maintained between CHWs, midwives, and patients for prompt response to emergency/complicated cases without any delay. The objective of this pilot project is to improve maternal, child, and newborn health in rural Afghanistan utilizing midwife-centered telemedicine technology and staging CHWs as frontline providers. The end point is to establish a telemedicine hub between communities and health centers for better communication, service delivery and monitoring and evaluation. Long-term impact of the project will save lives and reduces morbidity in the target communities. Linking midwives to CHWs through telemedicine technologies has never been tested at community level thus it is an innovative approach. Earthbag Technology: Presented by Good Earth Nepal Belofsky, Nathan; Co-Founder, Good Earth Nepal, Nepal, [email protected]


Conventional building is toxic to the environment. The manufacture of cement, bricks and steel pollutes our air and water; logging and mining deplete scarce natural resources. Delivery, usually by truck, clogs roads, eats fuel and burns carbon. High prices force the rural poor to build with more accessible mud, clay, stone and straw, often catastrophic in the face of earthquake, flood and typhoon. Relying on soil obtained from the worksite, Earthbag technology is an inexpensive, simple and environmentally sustainable method for building structures able to endure earthquake (to magnitude 9), fire, flood, and wind. Now used in disaster-prone zones all over the world, Earthbag technology makes minimal use of cement, concrete, steel and timber-and the fuel and vehicles needed to transport them. Earthbag technology requires only the simplest of tools, no electricity, and costs considerably less than more conventional building methods. Though relatively “new”, the basic principles behind Earthbag technology have existed for centuries. Sometimes called “Rammed Earth in a Bag” or “Reinforced Rammed Earth”, the strength and resilience of Earthbag designs and buildings have been confirmed both in the lab and in the field. In perhaps the best measure of the technology, in 2015, all 55 Earthbag structures built in Nepal survived a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake with no structural damage, often standing beside the shells of ruined buildings. This, and the displacement of over three million residents, triggered an unprecedented boom in Earthbag building throughout Nepal. Now, for the first time, we have the opportunity to truly develop and scale the technology, first in Nepal and then to communities worldwide. Soil taken from the construction site is stuffed inside plastic bags, which are then staggered like masonry. Tamped down, the bags become rock-hard in a month or two. Barbed wire, instead of cement, serves as the mortar. In seismically-active zones, reinforcing buttresses, rebar and bond beams are added as needed, and the building "floats" on an innovative rubble trench foundation, minimizing shockwaves. As the building nears completion, a lightweight roof is installed, and the building is plastered and painted. Inside and out, Earthbag homes and schools look just like "normal" homes and schools in the community, making them desirable and culturally acceptable. With routine maintenance, they'll last for centuries. Earthbag construction does not require any special tools or machinery; an Earthbag home or school can easily be built by a group of unskilled workers under the supervision of a construction manager. Properly taught, village builders can learn the technique themselves. Advantages of Earthbag Technology:


Safety: Earthbag technology has now been tried and tested in Nepal and elsewhere, with traditional techniques tragically failing Reduced Use of Materials and Transport: Earthbag structures require minimal cement, concrete, wood and steel; thereby lessening need for transport and lowering fuel costs Less Pollution: Building with soil means fewer factories and trucks, less fuel usage, and reduced depletion of natural resources Ease of Construction: Earthbag technology requires no masons and few skilled workers, and is easily adopted by local communities Cost-Effective: Earthbag homes and schools cost substantially less than traditional methods Earthbag construction offers a safe, affordable and environmentally sustainable building method. Widespread adoption of this developing technology will result in stronger, safer communities and a cleaner, more livable planet. The Role of Government, NGOs and Developers in Revolutionizing Technology for Increasing Resilience to Natural Disaster in Bangladesh. Sharmeen, Saiba; Undergraduate student, Monash University Australia, Australia, [email protected] Due to the geographical location and geology, Bangladesh is a disaster-prone, low-lying country which lies on the Ganges delta in Southeast Asia. The country is highly vulnerable to natural hazards such as flood, cyclone, drought and earthquake and issues like climate change and high population density can worsen their impacts. The buildings in the urban areas, such as the capital city of Dhaka, are vulnerable to earthquake as the building codes were not followed by most developers and owners during the time of development. At 2016, Bangladesh already experienced two large earthquakes with an intensity of 6.9 on the Richter scale and it is estimated that around 60% to 80% of buildings will be destroyed in Dhaka if the intensity is 8. Bangladesh, as a developing nation, faces a huge challenge in managing natural disaster due to a dense population and a weak economy. But It is evident that Bangladesh has done considerably well in increasing resilience and improving relief when impacted by major cyclones as the number of deaths due to the recent major cyclones Sidr (2007) and Aila (2009) were reduced by 99.2% from the number of deaths from the devastating cyclones of 1970 and 1991. This is a great example of how rapidly and effectively the government and communities of a nation can adapt with natural disasters and move forward for a sustainable development.


The resilience of the country to natural disaster is an essential part of sustainable development and after the outset of the Sustainable Development Goals; Bangladesh has been improving the use of technology for disaster management. In this study, we examined how the government, NGOs and Developers are using different technologies to govern disaster management in Bangladesh for increasing resilience. Unstructured interviews were taken from representatives of different government bodies such as the ministry, departments and government developers as well as NGOs and private developers to get the information about the use of different types of technologies in tackling different types of natural hazards. The results showed that the use of modern IT, ICT and simulation based technology have been revolutionized and increased in the recent years by the government and NGOs in Bangladesh which is functional to provide early warnings for cyclones and floods. Furthermore, the purchase of high technology equipments is also considered in this year’s budget of the government for search and rescue operations on earthquakes and other disasters and the fire and civil service workers will be trained to use them. The technology already being used widely is Geographical Information System (GIS) for creating flood hazard maps, earthquake maps, flood vulnerable analysis, etc. The unstructured interviews with the developers reflected that the government is using research technologies to recreate earthquake tolerable building codes and making the laws stricter for effective implementation, though it will be a great challenge due to the lack of knowledge and awareness of developers and land owners. Bangladesh Meteorological Department has also increased and improved the use of technology in recent years, which will help in tracking climate change. Though there is a gradual increase in the use of technology for disaster management in Bangladesh, it is not sufficient in regards of the population and hazard risks. It is important to increase the budget for this purpose and international donations are needed. Furthermore, there is a shortage of skilled IT and other technology professionals in the country as well as training centers and therefore more training are needed to work with the equipments and IT technology for disaster management. Innovation in Technology and Governance for Low-Carbon Urban Development The Transformation of an Energy Company Through Governance and Technology Dilyard, John; Associate Professor, St. Francis College, United States, [email protected]


The energy systems managed by today’s energy companies rely heavily on fossil fuels, which put a severe burden on the environment. The transition to a world in which energy is provided on a carbon-free basis, however, cannot be done without the participation of those energy companies. After all, they are the entities with the best knowledge of how, when, where and to whom energy is provided, and how much. They also have the resources in place to generate energy and manage a complex infrastructure system that delivers it to their customers. But they also have been built on a carbon-based platform and use an old and inefficient infrastructure. What is more, the prevailing business model essentially has been to make energy available to the consumer whenever it is wanted regardless of the cost to the consumer. Or, as it has turned out, regardless of the cost to the environment. Responsible energy companies, though, have realized that the way of the past is not the way of the future. They know that they have to wean themselves from a reliance on fossil fuels and reduce the use of fossil fuels by not only developing renewable sources of energy but also accelerating their implementation. From a business model perspective, reducing the use of fossil fuels while a transition to renewable sources is being done means that energy companies implies that they will want consumers to use less energy while at the same time compensating them for switching over to either less environmentally damaging fossil fuels (e.g., from oil to natural gas) or renewables (solar, wind and bio energy). One way to get consumers to use less energy is giving them more knowledge about and control over when they use energy and how much it costs them. Doing these things requires a supportive governance structure and philosophy as well as the intelligent use of technology. A supportive governance structure and philosophy means that those who run the company - senior management and the Board of Directors - actively pursue strategies and actions that are planned to move the company to a low carbon energy future and accept the short and long term implications of this on the company’s bottom line. Intelligent use of technology refers to (a) discovering ways to modernize the existing energy grid infrastructure, (b) determining how to integrate renewable sources of energy into the energy grid (while at thesame time modernizing it), (c) learning more about where and when energy is used, (d) giving consumers information on their own use of energy so that they can manage it better, (e) developing ways that customer users of renewable energy can send energy back into the system, and (f) inventing ways to store energy created by solar and wind sources so that it can be used anytime, not just when the sun shines or the wind blows. This paper is a case study of how one energy company - National Grid - is transforming itself into a provider of clean, green renewable energy for the next generation through the combined efforts of smart governance and an innovative use of technology. This also means building a future network that is more resilient, smarter and has the ability to integrate distributed energy resources. The paper will describe how


it is encouraging its customers to use less energy and giving them the tools to do so, detail its programs to encourage and expand the use of renewable energy sources, and discuss innovative solutions for providing safe and reliable energy to rural and urban areas. Distributed Electricity Generation and Resilient Cities: Governance for the Energy-Climate-Poverty Nexus in Brazil Gucciardi Garcez, Catherine; Research Award Recipient, International Development Research Centre, Canada, [email protected] A transition to low-carbon energy systems is widely accepted as a necessity for mitigating climate change. Distributed electricity generation, DG is a growing trend for incentivizing renewables and increasing energy efficiency in electricity sector and is expected to play an important role in this transition. DG could help tackle two Sustainable Development Goals: 7) ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all; and 13) take urgent action to combat climate change. Sustainability transition literature provides a framework for analyzing changes in socio-technical systems, such as the electricity sector, but it does not address how social inclusion becomes one of the core attribute of a transformation in an emerging economy, such as in the case of Brazil. Through the study of three pilot projects in low-income and urban communities, this paper will explore how a renewable energy policy in a developing country may contemplate positive synergies with social policies and can become a strategic niche within a low-carbon transition. The three pilot projects included in the analysis represent distinct archetypes of distributed generation. They differ in scale but also in the regulatory arrangement and socioeconomic benefits generated; two pilots take place within the context of a low-income mortgage program, one generates income for the families through the sale of electricity, while the other offsets their residential consumption. The third pilot takes place within an urban slum (favela) and offsets consumption at a time in which electricity is transitioning from illegal connections to regulated and metered ones. Through the comparison of the three projects, the paper will draw attention to lessons for the strategic management of the niche and a conceptual model for the governance of DG policy interventions so that it may contribute to a sustainable and socially inclusive transition in the Brazil. Towards Low Carbon Tourism Through Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans Lazarevic, Sladjana; PhD Student at University of Architecture Project Coordinator for Spatial Planning and Energy Efficient Architecture, UNDP Montenegro, United Nations Development Program, Montenegro; Jelena Janjušević, Professor, Mediterranean University, Montenegro, [email protected]


Low Carbon Sustainable Development leads to the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG). Low Carbon Urban Development creates sustainable urban energy structures through integrated planning at all levels with the aim to mitigate climate change. Considering the fact that second biggest energy consumers in the cities is identified in the transport sector which certainly represents one of the largest polluters in the urban spaces, we are asking how transport could leads low carbon and carbon neutral urban development? While we consider as the biggest energy consumers in the cities, especially those with tourism expansion, existing buildings, we make direct interrelation of energy renovated buildings with sustainable transport options, which lead towards low carbon tourism. The reason is simple: When we are coming to the integrated urban planning, in the tourism and transport sector we are facing with huge energy consumption and emissions of GHG just because a sustainable urban mobility lacks in touristic cities. Working on Polycentric Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (POLYSUMP) for four Montenegrin’ cities we are challenging at the one side with the integration of innovative modern technologies and respecting of the UNESCO protected city area, and at the other side with everyday needs of inhabitants and tourists. Through developing this Polycentric Plan for pilot area for four touristic cities we are showing how integrated urban planning can directly contributes to Low Carbon Urban Development. POLYSUMP will be the key document that defines the way in which the plans, priorities and programs of the user, concerning the transformation of the transport system, lead to changes over time and affect a number of different policy objectives. It is way of creative urban thinking and the best use of innovation and technology. POLYSUMP will make it easier to reach a transportation system accessible to all, connecting communities by improving access to jobs and services, offering access to all residents and visitors making the main touristic locations accessible by sustainable urban mobility transport. At the one side plan will contribute to improving the attractiveness and quality of the urban environment in local centers and key transport corridors, and at the other side it will decrease energy consumption and reduce GHG emissions, with emphases at tourism sector. Innovation in Technology and Governance for Socially Inclusive Economic Growth Human Development in the Arab Spring Ben-Meir, Yossef; President, High Atlas Foundation, Morocco, [email protected] There is a common denominator among successful human development projects, be they in the field of education, health, economic growth, cultural


preservation or the environment, namely that the project beneficiaries themselves participated in their design, management and overall control. After decades - centuries even - of development interventions and the implementation of strategies to promote human services, the mountain of evidence accumulated worldwide clearly points to popular participation as the primary determinant of successful sustainable development. The definition of sustainability itself has evolved since its original conception in the late 1980s. Rather than merely emphasizing untenable levels of consumption of natural resources, it has expanded to include a multiplicity of factors - economic, political, cultural, technical, financial, historic, climatic, and more - that bear on the longevity of development projects. Participatory methodology is an inclusive approach, not only by virtue of its facilitation with local communities so that they may identify and determine projects and create action plans for their implementation, but also since it enables the consideration of the wide range of factors mentioned above. Key strategies employed enable the broad-based catalyzing of community meetings in rural and urban settings. Fundamentally, it should be recognized that facilitators of community dialogue are essential in order to ensure that (a) local meetings are widely attended (b) all voices have the opportunity to be expressed and heard and (c) the community data thus generated is organized and made available to local people so that they may make the most informed decisions possible. Without facilitators, the vital community meetings and in situ prioritization and implementation of projects will be virtually impossible. Given that sustainability requires participation and participation requires facilitation, the following recommendations seek to create bottom-up, grassroots participatory development movements, driven by community-owned projects and diverse partnerships. Facilitators of participatory community planning may be literally anyone who has the opportunity to interact with community members and who is accepted in turn in that intermediary or third party role. Facilitators may be - among others - schoolteachers, civil society organizers, local government technicians, locally elected representatives, dedicated women and youth, cooperative members, private sector workers, village leaders or volunteers from the Peace Corps or other organizations. The effectiveness of facilitators is enhanced greatly when they participate in capacity building workshops involving experiential learning in community settings.


Community-driven development that is intended to be launched and supported across municipalities, provinces and regions will thrive to the utmost in a context of decentralization. Morocco should be lauded for its exceptional decentralization initiative. Nevertheless, the long-term challenges remaining to its becoming a fluid, fully functioning system within the Kingdom should be borne in mind.

• Decentralization is a state of mind. Even as subnational-level officials may well have the right to dedicate resources to local human development, the habit of decades of referring to Rabat has become so deeply engrained that very often they do not exercise the power they possess.

• Decentralization could also have the effect of increasing inequality at the local level if the precondition of full community participation, which ensures a level social playing field, is not in place and implemented.

• Finally, decentralization could simply become a structure promulgating and regurgitating antiquated and unhelpful thinking if not accompanied by workshops focusing on self-reliant empowerment and free, creative thinking.

Power ought to be transferred as close to the people as possible - in Morocco this is the municipal level. The Kingdom also created a fine example in the form of its 2010 amendment of the national municipal charter, with its requirement for locally elected representatives of the people to create municipal development plans based on direct popular participation. (The activities and aims of these representatives should be focused towards genuine popular needs, as expressed in community meetings, rather than biased in favor of narrow interest groups). Even as this legal requirement is highly progressive, unfortunately it has not been accompanied by the necessary training in order for local representatives to fulfill this important obligation. Therefore, innumerable municipal development plans have been created without awareness of intended beneficiaries or consideration of local particularities. Without essential experiential training in the application of participatory methodology at government level therefore, both effective decentralization and the creation of workable municipal development plans will remain elusive. It would be helpful to see that the implementation of community projects resulting from a participatory process not only advances the goals of the Post-2015 Agenda but also helps construct a decentralized system of decision-making and management. Local communities come together to assess their needs and follow through on projects that achieve the results that are most important to them, doing so by way of diverse partnerships. In the process, they also create productive relationships


and channels of communication that can and should be revisited continuously in order to advance development. These subnational pathways producing measurable benefits for local people thus constitute the decentralized system itself. Furthermore, requiring the municipal level closest to the people to create participatory plans helps form the dynamic structure and processes of decentralization. In sum, for the Post-2015 Agenda to achieve its full potential in terms of human development and social change, it must unleash the power of the millions of villages and urban neighborhoods in our world, requiring the granting of authority to them. It necessitates the applied learning of facilitators so that they may convene community meetings and most of all it requires the funding and fulfillment of the countless plans of action that local people construct to improve their lives. The Role of the Tanzanian People’s Defence Force in the Socio-Economic Development of Dar es Salaam Considine, Patrick; MDP Student, Trinity College Dublin - University College Dublin, Ireland, [email protected] The Tanzanian People’s Defence Force (TPDF), established in 1964, is a multi-disciplined organization consisting of Army, Navy and Air Force components. The TPDF has been extremely active in various United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping operations throughout the African continent over the past few decades, including contributing troops to the UN Force Intervention Brigade in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Although the TPDF has worked across borders in partnership with many of its neighbouring African militaries, the TPDF’s relationship with its own civilian-led government is unique to those of its partners. Not once during the 50-year existence of the TPDF has the military ever successfully overthrown the government in a military coup. Despite minor attempts to do so, the strong civilian leadership of the Tanzanian government has always been able to quickly dismantle any attempt. While perhaps an insight into an aspect of European colonialism left behind in Tanzania, this relationship between the government and military command structure of the TPDF may provide a good example for nations who struggle to assert strong, democratic civilian-led political systems. In order to better understand the nuances of this civilian-military relationship, this research, which will be conducted during Summer 2016, proposes to examine areas of socio-economic development where the TPDF may be aiding or empowering the work of government agencies and civil society organizations in some aspect. Aiding government programmes or development interventions may come in the form of assisting in transporting supplies or goods - such as in humanitarian disaster relief situations, defending off-shore natural resources,


intervening during exploratory oil drilling feuds with neighbouring countries, or preventing illegal fishing activities. The research will use an inductive approach to examine this civilian-military relationship. This research intends to use both quantitative and qualitative methods by blending a rigorous literature review - including an examination of government policy materials and academic sources - with interviews from key military and civilian leadership. Focusing primarily on the city of Dar es Salaam, the research also aims to examine the protocols by which the TPDF abides when interacting with not only Tanzanian civil society and government organizations, but also with international agencies operating in the socio-economic development sector. By comparing these Tanzanian protocols to those of the United Nations, the research will highlight what is working well for the TPDF and recommend areas for improvement by which both the Tanzanian government and its regional neighbours may reference when evaluating their policies around civil-military integration. Melbourne: Visions of a Sustainable City O'Connor, Louis; Undergraduate Student, Monash University, Australia, [email protected] With more than 54% of the world population now living in cities, and with that number expected to grow to 66% by 2050, re-evaluating our approach to urban development is vital if we are to realize any of the principal goals set out by the SDSN. To achieve this, one must first ask themselves, what makes a sustainable city? First and foremost, it should be able to move, feed, house and foster positive relationships between its inhabitants in a way that is inclusive and sustainable in nature. Infrastructure planning and implementation strikes at the heart of this issue, and presents an area where great strides can be made, particularly in the city of Melbourne. Before addressing Melbourne's historically dominant transportation and infrastructure ideology, it may be useful to first reflect on where these ideas originated. In many ways Detroit is the template for modern day suburbia and infrastructure policy. This was a city that boomed off the back of automotive industry in the mid 20th century, up the point where its urban development began to be defined and influenced by the automotive industry. The urban decay that followed, may have visually manifest itself in houses and suburbs falling to rubble, but its roots lay in its failure to provide successful models of transport, housing development, and civil cohesion. This highlights the fact that in developing a city to cater only for car travel is to invite trouble. Such a move generates a disconnection between city inhabitants, invariably encourages inequality, and invites for urban development that neglects any notion of sustainable responsibility.


In many ways, Melbourne’s growth over the past half century has been influenced by cities such as Detroit. In this sense, Melbourne has become a city of extremely low urban density and low public transport. Because of our forced reliance on cars, the problems associated with them, such as congestion and pollution, are significant. However, to limit such a reading to pollution and congestion would be to neglect the social pitfalls that have resulted from the growth of an otherwise affluent city. In fact, 70% of Melbournians have access to only 20% of public transport, while the 30% that live in the inner city have access to 80%. It should come as no surprise that the areas with the highest need for public transport are found on the fringe of Melbourne - victims of a growth pattern that serves those with the deepest pockets and marginalises those at greatest risk of mortgage, petrol and inflation changes. In the search for truly inclusive economic growth, the problems are to be found folded into the very fabric of our urban development. In order to meet the SDSN’s target for sustainable infrastructure, we must use this analysis as an opportunity to pivot towards new agendas - implementing infrastructure projects that serve society at large and promoting urban growth patterns that aims to make the most of available resources. Economic Empowerment of Women and Inclusive Growth: A Study of Mahalir Thittam in Tamil Nadu, India* Ramadevi, Nithiyanandam; Ph.D., Research Scholar, Department of Public Administration, Presidency College, Chennai, India, [email protected] Emergence of self-help groups in Tamil Nadu during 1980’s was quite new to the people. At that time it was known as Mahalir Sangam (women association) or Mahalir Kuzhu (women group). It was only after the establishment of Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women ( TNCDW) in 1983, SHG concept got more meaningful direction with the priority to be used for the development of women. The main aim of this corporation is to extend its helping hand to those women who are capable of improving their livelihood, but unable to do so, due to lack of sufficient resources. These groups were introduced in Tamil Nadu through IFAD (International Fund For Agricultural Development Scheme) scheme in 1989. The expanded successive scheme was announced in 1996-1997 with the name ; Mahalir Thittam and it was started functioning in 1997-98 on the line of IFAD. Mahalir Thittam intends to give only a support to SHGs, particularly women SHGs through its partners. It aims to promote the economic and social development of poorest of the poor women through a network of self-help groups formed with active support of NGOs. These NGOs identify the beneficiaries and help them to form into groups by giving guidance services for their savings, credit and related programmes. Mahalir Thittam covered all the districts of Tamil Nadu


in a phased manner, with the vision of forming and nurturing around 60,000 sustainable women self-help groups covering 10lakhs women over the initial project period of five years in TamilNadu. These groups have not engaged in productive, economic and social activities, but functioned as an important sustainable democratic institutions managed by women. These SHGs were instrumental in assimilation and dissemination of knowledge about health, nutrion, literacy, women’s rights, child care education, adoption of new agriculture practices and paved the way for increased participation of women in decision making processes in households, community and local democratic set up besides helping to prepare women to take up leadership positions. Strategies of Mahalir Thittam

• Development of strong, cohesive, women self-help groups through inculcation of team spirit.

• Inculcating habits of savings and principles of financial discipline through training, providing relief from money lenders and making poor women credit worthy.

• Improved access of SHGs members to various government development schemes and bank credits through strong partnership between banks and NGOs

• Increased asset-base and income, through access to inexpensive and timely credits.

• Self confidence building through networking, exposure, and holding of regular meetings, compulsory attendance and savings are the main features of the Mahalir Thittam.

• Improved status of women in the family and society through credit, enhanced skills and capability

• Access to market, through training and facilitation. • Assisting and encouraging need-based tapping of alternate credit

delivery • systems and • Encouraging networking through formation of women federations at

various levels. Roles of Corporations and Multi-Stakeholder Governance for Advancing Sustainability of the Supply Chain - A case of Palm Oil Thangavelu, Indra; PhD Candidate, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia, [email protected] Sustainable development can be achieved by creating sustainable supply chain and the activities of the corporations contribute directly towards this end, for among the firms, governments and NGOs; it is the corporations that have the resources to push forward change. And this change can be primarily effected by companies practicing sustainable procurement activities. Although reactive


change is triggered by external factors such as stakeholder pressure and supply chain risk, it is the enablers of sustainability oriented leaders and followers, and transparent supply chains that brings forth tangible changes to the companies’ strategies and practices. Transparent chains allows for free flow of information which dents the bounded rationality of corporate decision makers resulting in more accountable choices. Access to information is pivotal to induce upstream production improvement of agricultural commodity like palm oil because the production and consumption are geographically dispersed. Clear corporate visions and missions are needed to remain long-term focused since sustainable practices are not known to deliver short or medium term returns but companies must continue design and delivers on responsible buying activities. Firms policies on sustainable procurement augured with adequate resources facilitates the implementation of practices such as supplier development through funding and technology transfer, 3rd party certification and traceability to sources, and active communication promotes sustainable development at source, and for palm oil, the sources are primarily located the developing countries. Employee skill enhancement, IT infrastructure, revision to operating processes, enforcement of code of conduct and sharing technologies and know-how with the suppliers are all practices that improves the sustainability of the chain. The traceability of product to source is critical as much of the unsustainable practices occur at the commencement of chain such exploitation of workers and destruction to the environment. Using 3rd party certification to police implementation fills the gap of weak enforcement of laws and regulations by national governments. To facilitate firms moving in the right direction, the presence of multi-stakeholders for supply chain governance are found to be both necessary and useful. The intervening relationships of these institutions specifically RSPO for sustainable palm oil is dichotomous, a bilateral relationship between the individual firm and a multilateral relationship with all supply chain players. The multi-stakeholder integration with the firm is formed through bilateral interaction, knowledge of the demands and adaption of business practices to these demands. With multiple and at times, conflicting interest claims, limited by scarce resources, the firms identify themselves with the multi-stakeholders who hold power, legitimacy and urgency. Whilst power and legitimacy are generally attested to effectiveness of multi-stakeholder, it is the urgency of the message that sways firms to institute change in the near distance. As multi-stakeholders are themselves limited by capabilities and capacities, only with the pooling of resources from various fronts including private, public, non-governmental, academic and scientists can deliver the sustainability messages that are weighted on urgency towards reduction of global warming, protection of eco-systems, prohibition to land-grabs and displacement of native people can be effectively disseminated. The Startup Country: Lessons from Estonia’s Digital Society


Zhang, Kathy; Manager, Columbia Journalism School, United States, [email protected] The Start Up Country: Lessons from Estonia’s Digital Society Following the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Estonia’s President Ilves stated enthusiastically, “The smart use of the Internet and digital technologies can be essential drivers for economic growth and development.” Estonia, a Northern European country of 1.3 million residents, may be best known for being home to the creators of Skype. In recent years, Estonia has attracted interest as a global leader in e-governance. Beyond a development buzzword, what does e-governance mean for everyday people? It means providing government services (banking, medical records, etc.) digitally and securely, saving on average 5 working days for each employed citizen. It means adapting policy to disruptive technologies like UBER and Airnbnb (Estonia introduced legislation to tax directly on UBER’s mobile phone transactions; France is fighting the very presence of UBER in its country). In developing and fragile states, it means using SMS and mapping tools to track vaccine surpluses and incidents of violence. Additionally, transparency and accountability are among the most obvious benefits of e-governance. The international development community has been excited about the role of ICTs in accelerating progress towards each one of the SDGs and its targets. This paper aims to provide an overview of impacts of Estonian e-government system on government, business, and the citizenry, with particular focus on SDG 8. The research includes a literature review on the political framework that has enabled the ICT infrastructure and digital society. Additionally, the study will include interviews with Estonian academic, policy makers, and technologists on the promise and perils of an information society (data security and integrity, privacy and the surveillance state), as well enabling conditions that can help translate the success of Estonia’s approach to different national and regional contexts. Technology is widening the development gap - with some countries advancing rapidly and other falling further behind. ICTs alone cannot fix a broken system, but it can make good governance better. In the age of sustainable development in an increasingly digital world, we are compelled to consider: as governments augment the physical infrastructure with the digital, what values are we taking with us, and which ones are we leaving behind? How can governments build - and maintain - trust? How do we leverage innovation to benefit the people? As a small, post-Soviet state, Estonia has undergone a complete digital transformation in only the last 20 years, with valuable lessons for countries at all stages of development.


The Science-Policy-Implementation Interface for Disaster Resiliency & Adaptation Operationalising the SDGs Through Climate Action in Aotearoa New Zealand Flood, Stephen; Post Doctoral Fellow, New Zealand Climate Change Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, [email protected] We are currently in an almost unprecedented policy window of opportunity with the ratification of a comprehensive climate agreement at COP21 and the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To capitalize on this unique opportunity, greater attention is required to identify synergies between the climate change and sustainable development agendas. This presentation proposes that insights from systems thinking can provide a framework for a linked-up approach to aligning these two agendas: climate change cuts across the other 16 SDGs, and has direct impacts on human well-being and livelihoods. By framing the analysis in terms of resilience, we draw attention to the capacity for moving beyond recovery, or maintenance of the status quo, and highlight its value as a conceptual and analytical tool to realize the aspirations of the SDGs and the climate action agenda. We conclude by presenting a number of concrete actions linked with climate change and the SDGs that might be be achievable in Aotearoa New Zealand over the next 12 to 18 months, including concrete steps to help ensure they are achieved. Enabling Global Partnerships for Sustainable Development: A Science-Policy Interfaces to Support Climate Resilient and Low Carbon Development Miola, Apollonia; Senior Scientist, European Commission Joint research Centre; and Neher, Frank; Scientist, European Commission Joint research Centre, Italy, [email protected] Many initiatives are in place to support climate resilient and low carbon development in coherence with the new global agendas that have been framed by the Sustainable Development Goals. This paper presents an index designed to support the European Union Global Climate Change Alliance Plus (GCCA+) in its efforts to help the most vulnerable countries mitigate and adaptation to the worst impacts of climate change. This GCCA+ index is an open source index accessible via a web platform that serves as science-policy interface organizing indicators, methods and data to reconcile climate change challenges with development objectives by incorporating the principles of sustainable development.


The GCCA+ index is a “fit for purpose” index that addresses the GCCA+’s policy objective of boosting the efficiency of response to the needs of vulnerable countries and groups. It covers the social, economic and environmental aspects of achieving climate-resilient development by aggregating 34 country-level ‘fit-for-purpose indicators’, which have been identified on the basis of both their relevance within the scope of the GCCA+ programme, and compliance with the following criteria: reliability, open source, consistency, scientific robustness, global coverage. The selected indicators have been classified along one of the four components characterised as follows: Natural hazards (the occurrence of climate-related and weather-driven hazards, flooding, storms, droughts, and sea-level rise); Exposure (the consequences for people and assets of the occurrence of such events); Vulnerability (the socioeconomic and environmental factors that are likely to influence vulnerability. It includes indicators on sensitivity, which can be considered as the dependence on sectors sensitive to natural resources such as agriculture); Capacity (Adaptive capacity: encompassing the features that determine the ability to adapt of a local community including ecosystem services; Coping capacity: capturing the ability of a country to cope with disasters in terms of formal, organised activities; Mitigation capacity, which refers to the factors that ease implementation of actions reducing greenhouse gases). The GCCA+ index can be consulted at on linea web knowledge platform (http://knowsdgs.jrc.ec.europa.eu) that acts as interface between science and policy and provides transparent, reliable, accurate, and open source information on the indicators, data and methodology applied to build the index. It allows users to examine the factors behind the index and the indicators to design their knowledge base for climate resilient and low carbon development. The main objective of this platform is to support the development of strategies that contribute meeting both climate and poverty alleviation objectives, thereby reducing the risk of conflict between solution. Such efforts should create win-win opportunities, by ensuring that current and future climate risks are systematically integrated into development strategies designed to foster economic growth, poverty reduction and other development objectives. Urban Ecosystem Services Reviews for Climate Resilience, Energy Supply and Green Space Development Sieber, Jeannette; Project Manager, EIFER - European Institute for Energy Research, United States, [email protected] In the past years, a review of city concepts on sustainability and resilience revealed an increasing importance of ecosystem services (ES). In the frame of the Sustainable Development Goals, ES and their assessments can be used to support several of the defined 17 goals. This paper highlights the use of an


Urban Ecosystem Services Review (uESR) for goals no. 3 “Good Health and Well-Being”, no. 7 “Affordable and Clean Energy” as well as no. 11 “Sustainable Cities and Communities”. ES provide cities and their inhabitants with benefits from ecosystems while, however, cities also impact on ecosystems. This dependence-impact-interaction in the context of urban development and the food-water-energy- nexus is the subject of this research. Based on a literature review of worldwide plans, concepts and programmes, Berlin, Singapore and New York City were chosen as case studies for the application of an uESR. This uESR consists of an assessment of the priority ES in each city, the mapping and analysis of said priority ES with the help of GIS-based tools as well as recommendations and the implementation of the findings in urban planning issues. Since years, Berlin uses the Biotope Area Factor for a rough assessment of biodiversity and ES in the city, while Singapore shaped the concept of the City Biodiversity Index, earlier known as the “Singapore Index on Cities’ Biodiversity”. The PlaNYC for the urban agglomeration of New York is the latest reference document for the resilience of infrastructures and built environment considering climate change and ES. Nevertheless, all of these precursors do not explicitly frame ES as a necessity for human well-being and sustainable development. The priority ES used in this case and which are common for the three selected cities are: recreation and scenic quality, food supply from green roofs and urban gardens, as well as air quality regulation in terms of carbon storage. The nexus approach will be discussed with regards to competition of

• renewable energy supply such as photovoltaic rooftop installations, • public safety aspects, e.g. water tanks for fire fighting and open spaces

and • extreme weather regulation in terms of technical measures vs. green

and blue infrastructure. We therefore conducted Urban Ecosystem Services Reviews as follows: An introduction to the different concepts on climate resilience, energy supply and green spaces in Berlin, Singapore and New York leads to similarities and differences in handling urban ES. Furthermore, the modelling of the priority ES with GIS-based tools, including proximities, clusters, densities and viewshed assessments leads to a catalogue of best practice. These results can be used in the frame of the food-water-energy nexus to support resilient urban development with regard to the sustainable development goals. Adaptive Urban Governance to Climate Change Risk in Indonesia: Cross-Comparative Study


Wimbardana, Ramanditya; Researcher, Resilience Development Initiative, United States, [email protected] In the last decade, there has been a considerable increase in the frequency of hydro-meteorological disasters (floods, sea level rise, water scarcity) causing severe impacts and disruptions to on-going development in several major cities in Indonesia. Many studies showed evidences that climate change is the key driver of the increasing of climate hazards in the archipelago through changing weather pattern, altering precipitation pattern and rising sea surface. As its cities are predicted to grow more vulnerable, there have been concerns on how the local entities have capacity to deal with risk induced by climate change. Some adaptation initiatives have been established by community-based organization, local government institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in order to increase urban resilience. However, there is still limited comprehensive understanding about how well adaptive strategies have been applied by those institutions. This paper is aimed to review and compare climate change adaptation strategies applied by urban governances in four different cities of three island regions in Indonesia, including Balikpapan (Eastern Borneo), Bandar Lampung (Southern Sumatera), Indramayu (Western Java), and Semarang (Central Java). Comparative analysis is used to examine their climate change adaptation strategies based on goals, climate change science basis used, observed direct and indirect impact, adaptation measures, and involvement of stakeholders. The data was collected from the combination of institutional survey by conducting semi-structural interview to selected key-informants representing the local institutions and literature study to gather climate change policies and regulations in those cities. The results show that climate change adaptation strategies have been incorporated into some of the cities’ plan and the governments’ annual budgets, such as in Bandar Lampung and Semarang. Both cities involved multi-stakeholders to create the adaptation strategies, including NGOs, universities, private sectors, and the cities governments agencies through shared learning dialogue. The increasing awareness of climate change issues has motivated them to incorporate climate change adaptation through their sectoral problems priorities. For instance, Bandar Lampung commits to improve current solid waste management in order to create healthier environment for community as a preventive measure from exacerbating vector-borne disease. On the other side, local institutions awareness in Indramayu and Balikpapan to climate change issues are still low that adaptation activities are rarely to be found in their programs. They do not have any mechanism among its agencies to tackle climate change threats in their region. Nevertheless, they have potential programs and plans that could be promoted as the adaptation strategies at city level, such a river dredging program to prevent flood in Indramayu floodplain although some of them tend to be responsive and not driven by a long-term consideration. This study concludes that in the era of decentralized governance structure in Indonesia, some cities have initiated climate change adaptation strategies, depending on each governance characteristics, through a


combination of structural and non-structural measurements. Combined with national or international supports, multi-stakeholders’ involvement is the key to increase climate change awareness and to allocate resources needed to adapt. The next challenge is to integrate these local level initiatives with national strategies in order to achieve ‘good’ adaptation to climate change impacts. The Science-Policy-Implementation Interface for Low-Carbon Urban Development Thailand’s National Policy on Low-Carbon Urban Development in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement Limjirakan, Sangchan; Lecturer, Environmental Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, [email protected] A set of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals was adopted in 2015 and the Paris Agreement has also put in place the framework, milestones and the support to enable this essential global transformation on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This agreement is a breakthrough in international climate policy that is applicable to all countries. The twelfth National Economic and Social Development Plan, NESDP (2017-2021) of Thailand will be adopted and implemented in the last quarter of the year 2016, while the Climate Change Master Plan, CCMP (2015-2050) was adopted in 2015. Thailand submitted the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent of economic-wide coverage from the projected business-as-usual (BAU) level by 2030. The level of contribution could increase up to 25 percent, subject to adequate and enhanced access to technology development and transfer, financial resources and capacity building support through a balanced and ambitious global agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Urban areas account for more than half of global primary energy use and energy-related CO2 emissions (IPCC, 2014). Urbanization is associated with increasing in income, and higher urban income are correlated with higher energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, there is however an opportunity for mitigation actions in urban areas expecting to be most effective when policy instruments are bundle. For developing cities in Thailand, mitigation options would include shaping their urbanization and infrastructure development could be towards more sustainable and low-carbon development pathways. In this regards, main concepts, direction, strategies, as well as action plans of the new NESDP, the CCMP and other sectoral development plans need to explore and analyze the potential and effectiveness of mitigation actions toward a low


carbon urban development to achieve successful co-benefit implementation of urban-scale climate change mitigation strategies and action plans. The Negative Economic, Environmental, and Social Implications of Brazil’s Energy Policy: The Case of the Belo Monte Dam Complex Maxwell, Laura; MDP Candidate, University of Waterloo, Canada, [email protected] In 2011, renewable energy production accounted for 88.8 percent of Brazil’s energy supply mix, the majority of which is generated from hydroelectric plants, making the country a global leader in renewable power generation. With millions of Brazilians being lifted out of poverty every year, electricity demands in Brazil are growing quickly, demanding rapid expansion of energy infrastructure. Energy shortages in the early 2000’s attributed to a lack of effective planning, low investment in the energy sector, and a drought that reduced the capacity of hydro power reservoirs have led to renewed interest in expanding and diversifying the country’s energy supply mix, and investment in large-scale energy generation infrastructure. However, the resulting expansion of low carbon energy generation, specifically hydroelectric, in Brazil has been met with criticism domestically and internationally. Hydroelectric power generation is considered to be a clean and low carbon form of energy, but due to large land-use requirements can have significant negative environmental and social impacts locally, raising questions regarding the science-policy-implementation interface. The Government of Brazil has set an energy policy driving the development and construction of several large-scale hydroelectric dams in the Amazon region. Despite controversy over the planning and development of the Xingu River Complex in particular, which will include the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam, the Brazilian Government has continued to defend its position that these projects are imperative to meet the future energy demands of the country through clean energy generation. This paper examines the development of the Belo Monte Dam, which will produce energy contributing to low carbon urban development in Brazil, and argues that the costs of Brazil’s energy policy may be unreasonable due to displacement and lack of consultation with local indigenous people, underestimated and negative environmental impacts, and possible negative economic impacts locally and nationally. The Government of Brazil must reconsider its energy policy and examine the potential for reduction of electrical losses and the decentralization of electricity generation if it wishes to minimize the negative impacts of future energy development. Riverine Biomass as Ecosystem Service for Low Carbon Urban Development


Pfau, Swinda; PhD candidate, Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands, [email protected] The western parts of the Netherlands are dominated by densely populated urban areas in the delta of three major rivers. These urban areas are vulnerable to peak discharges, which are predicted to occur more frequently due to climate change 1-3. One new approach to adapt to the increased flood risk is to allow river floodplains upstream of urban areas to inundate during peak discharges, reducing the water level further downstream. However, this requires constant management of floodplain vegetation to ensure sufficient discharge capacities. This gave rise to the idea of using biomass released during floodplain management as so-called ecosystem service, thereby providing a valuable resource. In the upcoming bio-economy, biomass is in great demand as a sustainable resource for the production of renewable energy and bio-based products, thereby contributing to SDGs 7 (affordable and clean energy) and 12 (responsible consumption and production). However, land use issues and competition with food production limit the amount of biomass that can be produced sustainably in forests and on agricultural land, without constraining SDGs 2 (zero hunger) and 15 (life on land). This created a shift of interest towards residual biomass 4. Biomass from floodplains released during regular maintenance measures is therefore an interesting resource for a low-carbon bio-economy in urban delta areas. This new idea brings together two different interests of Dutch river management organization: ensuring flood safety on the one hand and creating income on the other. The combination of conducting maintenance activities and at the same time harvesting biomass as ecosystem service seems to be a win-win situation. Using residual biomass, is, however, not self-evidently sustainable 4,5. Various factors influence whether the exploitation of biomass as ecosystem services is sustainable and socially responsible. We argue that when governmental organizations pursue economic activities, they should at least comply with corporate social responsibility criteria, since in this case they act as a corporate entity. Moreover, it could be argued that they should go further than corporations in making sure their actions are beneficial in regards to sustainability and social responsibility. This is where science, policy and implementation must come together to ensure a sustainable use of biomass as a natural resource: the positive and negative effects of biomass use should be determined scientifically, principles for responsible use should be imposed by policy, and governmental organizations should implement river management considering both the scientific findings and their social responsibilities. The goal of this study is to facilitate governmental organizations in achieving this balancing act through:


• determining which principles governmental organizations should apply

when considering the use of biomass as ecosystem service.

• analysing the current practice of biomass utilization in river management regarding the consideration of these principles and giving advice if and how this can be improved in future projects.

To achieve the first objective, we will conduct a desk study on (corporate) social responsibility of governmental organizations regarding concepts such as ecosystem services, natural capital and building with nature. Considering biomass specifically, we will then formulate principles that should be applied by governmental organizations. To achieve the second objective, we will analyse Dutch river management projects of the last 10 years that include biomass utilization. We will review objectives, decision criteria, final agreements and realizations of these projects, analysing whether, how, and why principles of sustainability and social responsibility have been taken into account. We will gather empirical data via project documentation, questionnaires, and structured interviews. In our poster presentation, we will first present the identified principles and subsequently highlight the most outstanding results regarding biomass utilization in current Dutch river management projects. Finally, we will give recommendations for future projects. References 1. Middelkoop, H. et al. Impact of Climate Change on Hydrological Regimes and Water Resources Management in the Rhine Basin. Clim. Change 49, 105-128 (2001). 2. Kabat, P., van Vierssen, W., Veraart, J., Vellinga, P. & Aerts, J. Climate proofing the Netherlands. Nature 438, 283-284 (2005). 3. Albers, R. A. W. et al. Overview of challenges and achievements in the climate adaptation of cities and in the Climate Proof Cities program. Build. Environ. 83, 1-10 (2015). 4. Pfau, S. F. Residual Biomass: A Silver Bullet to Ensure a Sustainable Bioeconomy? in Eur. Conf. Sustain. Energy Environ. 2015 Off. Conf. Proc. 295-312 (2015). at <http://iafor.org/archives/proceedings/ecsee/ecsee2015_proceedings.pdf> 5. Pfau, S., Hagens, J., Dankbaar, B. & Smits, A. Visions of Sustainability in Bioeconomy Research. Sustainability 6, 1222-1249 (2014).


The Science-Policy-Implementation Interface for Socially Inclusive Economic Growth Sustainable Development and Oman fisheries: Current practices and Development needs AlRizeiqi, Mohammed H; PhD candidate, University College Dublin; and Walsh Patrick Paul; Professor, UCD School of Politics and International Relations, Belfield, Ireland, [email protected] Oman is located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, has a long coastline with rich fishing resources. The fisheries sector supports the livelihood to more than 44,500 fishermen operating in 21,300 small-medium fishing vessels. The average annual per-capita consumption of fisheries products was estimated to be 26.9kg/p/year, compared to a global trend of 18.7kg/p/year. While the seafood industries only contributed to 0.6% (of around 600m USD) of the national GDP in 2013 it is the second most important sector after oil. Oman fisheries sector faces sustainability challenges. Fisheries practices along the 3,165km of the Oman coastline (200mile EZ) contribute significantly to the decline of some major species. Climate changes in the marine ecosystem with other environmental impacts are immense and will result fisheries decline and the overall variations of stock for both pelagics and demersal species. We show that high total wild fisheries landing, the lack of sustainable aquaculture, the lack of integral process supply chain and harsh fisheries export legal stringency in high value markets, like the EU, are creating an underperforming fisheries sector from the economic, social and environment viewpoints. There is a lack of sustainability on all dimensions. We demonstrate the impact from the three different fishing practices (commercial, artisanal and aquaculture) to the overall variation of major species in the period from 1985 to 2013. The study would also highlight the importance of process value chain (optimization) to the term of trade (TOT) in Oman. The study concludes on how both mediators (process value chain and avoidance of legal stringency) could create an extra impact to the income, output, higher utility and employment for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12 (target 12.5), on sustainable consumption and production and SDG 14 (Target 14.7) on sustainable use of oceans. Spatially Integrated Development of Economy and Resources Avgerinopoulos, Georgios; Research Engineer, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Sweden, [email protected]


Defining the overall, net profitability of investments is an intricate task since several factors need to be taken into account both on the cost side as well as on the gross profitability side. In developing countries -where the need for investments is imperative- the economy depends heavily on the primary and secondary sector and the existence or future development of infrastructure. More specifically, investments in the agro-industry and the mining sector (which still consist the cornerstones of the economy in Sub-Saharan Africa and they are both energy and resource intensive industries) can provide great returns but that depends on the availability and the cost of resource input (mainly energy, water and soil productivity) and the potential selling prices of produced goods which depend on proximity to buyers, current global conditions etc. This study will attempt to take all the aforementioned factors into account and calculate the net profitability of each investment decision (considering agro-industry and mining sector) for each region in Sub-Saharan Africa. More specifically, it will first calculate the overall cost to produce a commodity, subsequently the calculation of the gross profitability for each good will follow and finally, the maximisation of the difference between the cost and the gross profitability will be computed in order to define what is the investment with the highest net returns. To accomplish that, both linear programming tools as well as GIS models will be deployed in order to visualize the results. Having accomplished the aforementioned steps, a sensitivity analysis will be carried out in order to examine how the results could be affected in different possible scenarios. Typical examples could be an increase in the efficiency/drop in the cost of renewables, improved infrastructure which could lead to easier transportation of goods as well as higher commodity prices. This would give useful insights into long-term investment optimization. The outcome of the study could be useful to the sustainable development of Africa in three ways. Private investors would get hold of an insightful tool that could provide guidance with regards to which sectors would provide the highest returns in one particular location or -looking at it from another point of view- which are the optimal locations for companies that focus on a particular type of investment. However, the most profitable investment for a private actor is not necessarily the ideal one from a national point of view. A computable general equilibrium (CGE) model using the same geospatial pattern could calculate the multipliers for each sector and consequently define the optimal investment from top down point of view, measuring the impacts on GDP and job creation. Based on this, governments could then define the level of subsidies for particular investments which are the most beneficial for the society. More specifically, the model could compare the most profitable investment to the most desirable one in terms of social inclusion, calculate the difference in profit and then this figure could be the appropriate level of subsidy for the targeted investment. Finally, global (or national) organizations that provide funding to developing countries


could define what are the ideal sectors to finance depending on the country and the particular objectives. “Doing” Socially Inclusive Sustainable Development Through Transdisciplinary Knowledge Dynamics: The Case of Paper Province 2.0 Dahlström, Margareta; Professor, Karlstad University, Sweden, [email protected] How can we “do” sustainable development? This paper addresses the tall order of making a transition to a sustainable development, through focusing on knowledge dynamics in the bio economy. The paper is based in the ten-year initiative ‘Paper Province 2.0 - an innovation system for a bio based economy’. This 13M-initiative is co-funded by the Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems and a triple helix consortium of partners including member firms of the cluster organisation Paper Province, the authorities Region Värmland and the County Administrative Board of Värmland, local authorities, the Swedish Forest Agency and Karlstad University. To realise the bioeconomy innovation of goods, services, processes, business models are needed as well as development of new organisational systems and behavioural changes that contribute to sustainable development. Key aspects of such multi-faceted innovation processes include the understanding of knowledge dynamics. That is to say, to understand the development of knowledge and learning as processes involving relations and interactions between people. Knowledge dynamics that can contribute to a transition to a sustainable bioeconomy needs to be cross-sectoral, i.e. interactions drawing on different disciplines, industries and expertise. It also needs to involve different actors e.g. researchers, firms, public authorities and the civil society, i.e. it needs to be socially inclusive. To be able to “do” sustainable development and contribute towards solutions to the transition to sustainability, transdisciplinary research and development projects involving stake holders need to be developed. This paper reports back on activities related to the initiative “Paper Province 2.0” that have started to develop methods for transdisciplinary research and development aiming at contributing to sustainable development through the bioeconomy. One such activity was a workshop with partners from Sweden, Finland and Estonia. The workshop addressed the overarching question “How do we make the transition to a sustainable regional development based in the bioeconomy”. The workshop was cross-sectoral and multi-actor involving researchers from different disciplines, different types of public actors, and partners from industry. The result of the workshop was promising since it identified key themes to focus


as well as preliminary research questions and development issues that formed a good platform to cultivate in joint research applications as well as different development actions among the various partners. The workshop also provided valuable experiences in relation to the development of methods for transdisciplinary research. One of the themes that was identified in the workshop as important for realising the bioeconomy was the so called ‘quadruple helix’. Broadly speaking this means that in addition to the triple helix innovation model that is commonly used within innovation research and policy, further actors are increasingly needed to generate new knowledge and innovations. Such actors may include voluntary organisations and associations, trade unions, customers, clients and others, and are often labeled “civil society”. As a result of the workshop further research and activities into this, the fourth helix, and its role in relation to “doing” sustainable devleopment have started. Civil society carries experiences and knowledge about everyday practices, lifestyles and consumption patterns that are highly relevant in the transformation into a more sustainable society. Developing an understanding for the role of civil society in “doing” sustainable development and the elaboration of methods for socially inclusive processes are important to be able to harness the broad range of knowledge that are necessary to reach the sustainable development goals. In a quadruple helix workshop including actors from public authorities, firms, academia and civil society ways in which to develop new knowldege adressing a transition to sustainable development was explored. Measuring the Impact of Multinational Corporations on SDG Implementation Hardi, Peter; Professor of Business Ethics and CSR Director, Center for Business and Society, Central European University Business School, Hungary, [email protected] Scientific analyses of the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals during the past fifteen years attest that more negative than positive impact of multinational corporations on sustainable development can be observed and integrating sustainability issues is in most cases perceived as a constraint to generate profit. Taking responsibility for societal impacts requires a deliberate commitment by companies. Only then can they effectively address impacts, manage risks and seize opportunities for helping social development.. Expert interviews showed that corporate impact assessment tools currently play an external role, focused on reporting of positive impacts with the objective of reputation management. A foundation for sound impact assessment based on meaningful indicators and adapted to the respective context has to be provided by researchers. Consequently, our research focuses attention on those areas where a company can induce substantive social change. Strategic options for


enhancing positive and reducing negative impacts can now be prioritized along the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Understanding the mechanisms by which business activities cause impacts informs indicator selection and data collection. The results of data analysis may imply a broad spectrum of areas for improvement. To help this process we are developing a tool navigator for managing impact, align business activities and official development assistance, improve governance for responsible business conduct and provide a base for multi-stakeholder partnerships to tackle development challenges. In order to understand the complexity and the context of the variety of tools, different clusters were constructed. The methodology applied followed an ‘empirically-grounded cluster analysis’. By clustering the variety of tools into a few types, complexity with regard to the number of objects can be reduced. Further, an assessment of classes instead of cases is possible and an understanding of why attributes concentrate in special types enables learning from the specifics of the types and deriving of conclusions for the tool navigator. One of the results is to expand the focus from corporate performance to outcomes and the impacts arising from the company’s activity to society. Narrative Mapping of Environmental Conflicts and Shark Protection Policy: The Case of Costa Rica Temple, Helen; Professor, Universidad Veritas, Costa Rica, [email protected] A Costa Rican multidisciplinary research team, working from the Bio-molecular Laboratory and associated with the Centre for International Programs (CPI) at the Universidad Veritas is developing a unique and participatory research activity and platform to highlight the environmental conflict and consensus concerning Costa Rica’s shark populations. The team is led by Sebastián Hernández PhD, Helen Temple PhD, and Grettel Navas PhD Candidate (a marine biologist, an environmental sociologist and a political ecologist, respectively). The shark team have identified three major concerns: 1) that environmental conflict mapping systems need to include the multitude of sectors and stakeholders to understand, evaluate and build a balanced version of the shark narrative, 2) that the shark species narrative (the voice of nature / shark species indicators, ecosystems behaviour and interactions) has been marginal which leads to gaps in gathering and understanding vital scientific data necessary for producing appropriate policy, 3) that a conflict plus consensus indicator evaluation approach of the shark situation must be carried out to create appropriate science-policy interfaces and sustainable policy approaches. The team is innovating within the developing areas of environmental conflict mapping and scientific narrative approaches; pushing for more inclusive and integrated systems for understanding the failures of previous policy and indentifying the opportunities for improvement.


Project Justification and aims: While Costa Rica losses 60% of its shark population, environmental NGOs mobilize for their protection and the Costa Rican government advances and retracts shark protection policies. Within a cloudy policy context little ground has been gained for shark protection and their numbers continue to plummet. Much has previously been studied about this problematic, much has been proposed. Despite the oft-favorable political discourse, shark data is fragmented, policy is weak, and consensus building exercises and outcomes have collapsed. Most parties agree on one of the most important issues: that shark numbers should be sustained. However, when we ask why, for whom and how? the stakeholders start departing ways. Our multidisciplinary research team believes that there is a lack of understanding of the multitude of actors, sectors, experiences, occurrences etc. that make up the Costa Rican shark narrative (historical and unraveling) and therefore this presents a major obstacle when it comes to finding solutions; We argue that the finer details within the shark finning industry: the conflict points, (conflicting ideas and actions), and consensus points (prior agreements and mutual ground) need to be thoroughly revisited to identify the intersections/departures needed for building more appropriate and sustainable policy. To do this we propose a system where all the stakeholder narratives involved are traced and present, and where all positions and episodes are open to study and discussion. The details of each conflict point and consensus point will be mapped according to all stakeholder positions. Through carrying out the proposed narrative mapping exercise and its continued development, it is hoped that the stakeholders (involved sectors and interested parties) will be able to understand and interact with the final product: a Costa Rican Shark Narrative Map where they can appreciate shark history, ecosystems, conflict and consensus concerns, policy issues and hopefully help identify shared solutions for shark protection. With this in mind the shark team hopes to share the project design and some of the preliminary findings at the 2016 International Conference on Sustainable Development. Oral Presentations Climate Actions and Sustainable Development Goals at the Local Level in Indonesia Sustainable Business: The Rebuild Program Djojohadikusumo, Hashim; Founder, Arsari Group, United States, [email protected] Arsari Group is a business concern founded by Hashim Djojohadikusumo. The Group is primarily involved in various businesses in Renewable Energy,


Agribusiness, Mining, Forestry, Agro-forestry as well as Trading and Logistics. Arsari Group now primarily focuses on renewable energy including ‘Rebuild Program’ integrating the production of bio ethanol, black pellets, animal husbandry, palm sugar (brown sugar) plantation, cassava (starch), mixed forestry, fresh water and reforestation. The mixed business model that makes it possible to embark upon and sustain a long-term program of bio-diverse reforestation, restore the habitat of endangered wildlife species, produce environmentally friendly energy and food, yet at the same time produce healthy profits and generate employment for large numbers of people with a living wage. There is an exciting future in investing in environmentally friendly business; at the same time restoring and protecting endangered wild life, while making a healthy profit. A sustainable environment can only be possible if it is financially profitable and supported by the local human population. Part of the Rebuild Program activities is to restore the semblance of a rain forest by planting trees in a bio-diverse, poly-cultural manner, including numerous species of fruit trees to enable the sustained return of birds and mammals to the growing forest in which the sugar palm trees (producing bio-ethanol and brown sugar) will thrive. The key is to plant commercially viable trees and plants to enable investors to make a decent profit within a reasonable timeframe while at the same time creating the conditions where humans living in the vicinity of the growing forest are incentivized to protect it by making a dignified living from the proceeds of the forest itself. In other words: Agro Forestry. Rebuild Program will also produce black pellets through new technology called Torrefaction from waste biomass (twigs, branches, leaves, palm oil waste bunches) that can be a substitute for coal and reduce carbon emission. Gas can also be produced by a derived from torrefection that will enable the production of biodegradable plastics that do not compete with food, as do corn bioplastics. This new bio-mass gas technology can also produce jet fuel, LPG, LNG, fertilizers, etc, from a sustainable, perpetual undepleted resource: the palm sugar mixed-forest. A significant feature is that these can be economical at the equivalent price of $40-$50 per barrel of oil. In other words these biomass gas products can be produced at an affordable cost. Another product from these mixed-forests is bio-char, which is a fertilizer medium produced from burning waste wood at certain temperatures. The result is an organic fertilizer, which tests have shown can increase productivity exponentially without the use of chemical fertilizer from fossil fuels.


The palm sugar forest can also absorb huge amounts of carbon from the atmosphere because the roots of the tree extend 12 meters into the soil, potentially enabling giga-tonnes of CO2 to be sequestered deep in the ground. Hashim’s personal interests focus on the preservation and promotion of traditional Indonesian culture and history, education, the environment and wildlife protection. In preserving precious Indonesian traditions and cultural artifacts, Hashim has set five areas of concern: Indonesian history, Javanese aesthetic expression, Indonesian arts, anthropology and paleoanthropology. As a noted philanthropist, Hashim has devoted the past twenty years to a variety of pressing social issues in his country. In order to accomplish his stated mission of supporting and developing education, the welfare of educators, public health and children’s nutrition. Having attended the COP21 in Paris by the invitation of the Indonesian to represent private sector on sustainable and renewable energy business model; has helped in spreading the awareness of ARSARI’s Rebuild Program. The interest has been significant. Hashim channels his passion and concern for those social and environmental issues through the Arsari Djojohadikusumo Foundation (YAD) and the WADAH Foundation. Indonesia Biodiesel Program, More Sustainable Tjakrawan, Paulus; Chair, Indonesia Biofuels Producer Association, [email protected] Indonesia Biofuels Industrialization began in 2005, when the Government was encouraging to have Biofuels Industry with the goal of Energy Security, job opportunity, poverty alleviation, environment and foreign exchange savings. Despite, research on biofuels been done by Universities, Research Centers since the late 70's. Indonesia biofuels program, especially biodiesel has been a massive program which has now reached 20 percent of the diesel fuel sold at the pump station throughout Indonesia. Indonesia consumes fossil fuel around 1.5 million barrels per day, while the production only approximately 800 thousand barrels per day, it means nearly half of Indonesia fuels consumption are imported. Surely, Indonesia it was also import Diesel fuels for the transportation, Industrial, Power Generation, and Marine transportation. The Biofuel-Biodiesel program supported PT Pertamina (Energy State own Company) to stop importing diesel fuels this year. Obviously, B20 program supportive energy security as well as strengthening our foreign exchange savings.


It takes about 220 thousand workers and smallholders to produce about 3 million kilo liters to be used for the purposes of B20 program by 2016. As a comparison, in the Oil and Gas Industry requires only 15,000 workers to produce the same amount of Diesel fuels. Moreover, Smallholder receives a jump in income from about 1,000 rupiah per kilogram of fresh fruit bunches mid last year, to currently receives more than 1,500 rupiah. An increase of 50%. Before 2005, the main of biodiesel feed stock, oil palm, has no integrated sustainable standard qualification except following the Government rules and regulations, but starting in 2005, the RSPO (Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil) Standard began operations, and currently August 2016, 51% of World Palm Oil certified come from Indonesia, the rest coming from four other countries (Malaysia, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Brazil and Columbia. Then, the ISPO (Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil) standard qualification started in 2011 (Approximately 150 Companies and Farmer Cooperative have been certified). The Biodiesel feed stock increasingly sustainable. By the projection of domestic consumption of about 3 million kilo liters Biodiesel this year, the emissions reductions that will be obtained is about 8 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (15% reduction of diesel fuel emissions). Compared to reduction of GHG emission target from energy sector and transportation which is 38 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2020, the contribution of biodiesel is 21%. Figures Biodiesel emissions reductions and contributions will be double if industrial, plant and Sea Transportation diesel fuels also takes Biodiesel 20% The Indonesia Biodiesels program, which is currently B20% are more sustainable in the socio-economic criteria, energy security, and environment also emissions reduction. The Government and all stake holder consistency are needed to promote and support renewable energy program. Change Needed to Achieve Indonesia’s Vision Witoelar, Rachmat; President’s Special Envoy for Climate Change, Indonesia, [email protected] Visions drive change. Visions have helped us achieve many great things in the past, and now can help us grow sustainably for many generations to come. In 2015, through Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Agreement, we have put a very solid foundation to build collective visions to combat climate change, and unleash actions and investment towards a low-carbon, resilient and sustainable future. There is a strong link between 17 goals of SDG and Paris Agreement on climate change. The Sustainable Development Goals not only contain a distinct climate change goal (Goal No. 13), but climate action is also integral to the successful


implementation of most of the other SDGs under the agenda. What we need to do now is to create visions for a better world to become stronger and more alive. Indonesia is joining the world to transform climate change and sustainable development visions into reality. We are in the process of ratifying the Paris Agreement and developing the National Determined Contribution. We remain committed to place sustainable development strategies into our national medium and long term development plan. We envisioned Indonesia to take low-carbon and inclusive development pathways as efforts to alleviate poverty and to reach economic prosperity while maintaining sustainable and resilient future. We believe that to be able to achieve our visions, involvement of all play a key role. We can not do things as we used to do in the past. We need to change by involving non-state actors and stakeholders across sectors. We have to keep asking this question over and over again: do the visions we have inspiring enough to drive the change we need? Data for Agriculture Food Security & Nutrition The Sustainable Development Goals in a NEXUS Perspective Among the Food Trade Market: Focus on Tthe EU Agri-Food Import Dependency Barbosa, Juliana; PhD student, Cense-FCT-NOVA University of Lisbon-ULisboa; Teresa Armada Bras; PhD student, NOVA University of Lisbon, & Julia Seixas, PhD student, NOVA University of Lisbon, [email protected], [email protected] The demand for water, energy and food tends to increase globally, as well as the efforts to access and secure those resources which are threatened by the increasing scale and complexity of the interactions between the human needs and the environment. The Sustainable Development Goals are a valuable opportunity to address this enormous challenge. As the world’s largest food and energy importer, Europe’s food and energy systems depend on increasingly unsustainable imports, namely from the least developing countries and from regions which are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. With this study we intend to understand if EU is performing a sustainable approach among the food trade market. The analysis is focused on the supplier countries for which EU has an import dependency on agri-food products above 20% per supplier, i.e., Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Ghana, United States of America and Viet Nam. For each country and EU, an analysis on the efficiency of the agriculture sector was performed by considering the (a) energy use per hectare, (b) water use per hectare and (c) CO2eq emissions per hectare. Data was obtained from 2000 to 2012 and was acquired through FAOSTAT. Results show that EU food trade market is contributing, at a certain extent, to continue with the unsustainability in a group of supplier countries for which the production of agri-food products is less inefficient than in EU in terms


of CO2eq emissions, water and energy use per hectare. In the last instance, EU is promoting an unsustainable agriculture practice among imports, when action towards (a) an affordable and clean energy, (b) water use efficiency and (c) climate mitigation should be implemented. Nevertheless, results also give a positive indication when considering a group of supplier countries for which EU is not transferring its unsustainability in terms of agriculture production. The conclusion is that, for the future, EU could consider the impacts in terms of water, GHG emissions and energy consumption in the food supplier countries in a holistic perspective of sustainable development. Sustainability Assessment of Water Resources Through the ‘Water, Energy and Food Nexus’ Giupponi, Carlo; Dean, Venice International University, Venice Centre for Climate Studies (VICCS), Department of Economics, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy, [email protected] Water is considered the bloodstream of the biosphere, but its management is one of the most important challenges for human development. In view of the sustainable water management, several approaches have been proposed: Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), Adaptive Management (AM) and, more recently, Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus. Considering these approaches, over the last few decades extensive efforts have been made to develop assessment methods and tools framed within the paradigm of sustainable development. As part of a holistic assessment of water resources, the recent approach based upon the WEF Nexus narrows down the consideration of intersectoral linkages to three dimensions that are of prominent interest, in particular in developing countries. This study presents a comprehensive indicator- based approach for the assessment of water, energy and food securities, with reference to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. The main ambition of the proposed approach is to provide a tool to monitor progresses, compare different geographical areas, highlight synergies and conflicts amongst and within the three dimensions of the WEF Nexus, and provide support for improved - more effective - management strategies to meet the goals. The proposed approach is demonstrated in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) River Basin in Asia and to the Po River Basin in Europe. The comparative analysis suggest that WEF security is currently rather low in the GBM basin compared to the other case study and other parts of the world, and allows the identification of which dimensions (indicators) require special attention on the part of local and global policy makers. Keywords: Water, Energy and Food Nexus; Sustainable Development Goals; indicators; security index; assessment.


Can Smallholder Drip Irrigation Improve Food Security at the Household Level? Evidence from Mutasa and Mutoko Districts in Zimbabwe Marembo, Miriam; Research Fellow, ISCRR; and Inder, Brett; Professor, Monash University, Australia, [email protected] Over the years, various efforts have been implemented in the hope of attaining food security, and yet there are still 795 million people who are food insecure (FAO, 2015). This begs the question: who are the food insecure? These have been identified as the vulnerable population, including the poor as well as small scale farming households. They rely mostly on farming, but have inadequate resources to grow or purchase enough food for their own consumption. Efforts to target the vulnerable population will go a long way in eradicating hunger, achieving food security and promoting sustainable, as highlighted by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of September, 2015 (UN,2015). Extension of effective farming technologies such as drip irrigation, which have the capacity to increase food production whilst using less water, to smallholder households, present a reasonable option to improving household food security. Using data from the 2013 Smallholder Drip Irrigation survey conducted by the author in 2 districts of Zimbabwe, this research aims to establish whether the main goal of the drip irrigation project of improving household food security was attained. The survey was carried out among beneficiaries of the Smallholder Drip Irrigation Project, implemented by Plan International. Using various proxies for household food security (number of coping strategies, the coping strategies index and the dietary diversity score), the relationship between household food security and drip irrigation is explored. Other drip irrigation, food, beneficiary and household related factors are also controlled for in this study. The results indicate that drip irrigation has the potential to improve household food security. Specifically, the results suggest that the benefits of smallholder drip irrigation in these two districts are evident in the long term, as household food security worsened for those who dropped out early (within the first 3 years of using drip irrigation). The impact was mainly evident through a reduction in the number of coping strategies a household uses. Although the project aimed at increasing food diversity in the household, the findings show that dropping out of the drip irrigation program did not have a significant effect on the dietary diversity scores. Other factors including who decides how much of the garden produce to sell, a beneficiary’s perception on how much they know about drip irrigation, the beneficiary’s age and the number of household members are also important in improving household food security. Households where the male adults are the sole decision makers on how much garden produce to sell are more likely to be food insecure compared to households where adult females or spouses make the decision. This is consistent with available literature. Of interest is the result


that households where the beneficiaries believe that they have below average knowledge of drip irrigation are more likely to be food insecure compared to households where beneficiaries think they have above average knowledge in drip irrigation. The household’s socioeconomic status and belonging to a farming or business related group also proved to be important for food security. Smallholder Drip Irrigation: The Hope for Home Nutritional Gardens and Food Security Marembo, Miriam; Research Fellow, ISCRR; and Inder, Brett; Professor, Monash University, Australia, [email protected] Moving on from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of 2015, the quest to end hunger, achieve food security and promote sustainable agriculture still remains a key target area in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved by 2030. In particular, focus is centred on poor and vulnerable people as well as small-scale farm producers such as women and family farmers. Sustainable agricultural practices are also of great importance, in light of the effects of climate change. Smallholder drip irrigation thus appears to be a more feasible option for improving food security and promoting sustainable agriculture at the household level, in an environment of continual and worsening water supplies. In Asia, this has proven to be the case (Postel et al., 2001). In Zimbabwe, smallholder drip irrigation has been and is still being promoted by various organisations, under the Linkages for the Economic Advantage of the Disadvantaged (LEAD) program. However evaluations of the program have revealed that drop outs rates from the project have been very high especially during the project implementation phase (Belder et al. 2007; Merrey et al. 2008). The current challenge is to identify avenues that can be used to encourage smallholder farmers to stay in the project long enough to realise the full benefits. To this effect, this paper using data from the 2013 Smallholder Drip Irrigation survey conducted by the author in Zimbabwe, seeks to identify the determinants of dropout rates and of the duration a beneficiary lasts in the drip irrigation project. Binary response models and duration analyses are employed to analyse the data. Results obtained show that experiencing water related problems and the presence of a chronically ill household member significantly increase chances of dropping out in beneficiaries. On the contrary, early adoption of drip irrigation, realising yield increases in leafy vegetables during the drip irrigation phase and household wealth status (rich household) significantly reduce a beneficiary’s chances of dropping out. Yield increases in rain-fed field crops also matter with


an increase in the yield of high value field crops such as groundnuts significantly increasing chances of a beneficiary dropping out of the project. The same factors, with the exception of the presence of a chronically ill household member also influence the duration a beneficiary lasts in the project. Early adoption of the project, realising leafy vegetable yield increases and household wealth status significantly increase the duration beneficiaries use drip irrigation. Conversely, experiencing water problem and realising a yield increase in groundnuts reduces the length of time farmers use drip irrigation. Addressing these issues can perhaps result in better uptake rates for the project in the future and this will in turn lead to improvements in household food security for smallholder farmers. The SDgs in Practice: Measuring and Managing Sustainable Development Water Targets Rebelo, Lisa-Maria Rebelo; Senior Researcher, International Water Management Institute, Lao People's Democratic Republic, [email protected] A framework and associated suite of indicators that reflect the use by different sectors in an integrated and policy-relevant way is needed to measure progress towards water-related targets of the Sustainable Development Goals. This paper presents a framework and approach to cost-effectively develop baselines, strengthen national reporting systems, and monitor national progress towards achieving SDG targets 6.4 and 6.6. The challenge in progressing towards the water-related targets is to ensure that a balance is achieved between the competing uses and users of water for various purposes, meeting both human needs while maintaining ecosystem health. It is not feasible to express the use of water in complex river basins by a handful of indicators - a suite of indicators, rather than a single indicator should be used for monitoring the progress towards the water SDG for all users, while also maintaining healthy ecosystems; these need to be designed to reflect the variety of water situations within a country. While the indicators will have to rely on national data, their quantification can be complemented with advanced data sources and new cost-effective ways for data collection. Currently, water resource monitoring is well below the levels needed to measure progress across much of the world. Many countries have let their water monitoring networks decline for decades due to under-funding and low priorities; there are only scattered examples of water quality monitoring; and few countries have adopted sound and conceptually valid water accounting mechanisms. Remote sensing measurements, smart field sensors, ICT technologies and open access databases create complementary opportunities to express water resources quantitatively. Recent advances in data measurements and water


accounting science have contributed to new opportunities to make use of these concepts in the context of the water related SDGs. Water accounting is a means to provide a water resources assessment report on a regular time interval (months, seasons, years), essential for the identification of the major water related processes (such as water availability and withdrawals), thus providing an improved understanding of which water resources are exploitable, available and utilizable at the national level. Quantified water accounts can be used to set management targets, and subsequently to monitor these targets. A good water accounting system should be accessible to policy makers in different institutions and across sectors; it should be based on standard data acquisition methodologies and be verifiable; input measurements should be reliable and obtained with minimal effort; and reporting should be in formats which are understandable for managers and policy makers across sectors. In addition the costs of implementation should be affordable for developing countries. One of the main challenges in developing these new sources of information will be to ensure their ownership and full integration within the national water monitoring and reporting mechanisms. Data for Disaster Resiliency & Adaptation Sustainability in Times of Crisis: Planning Disaster Responses Based on Scientific Data Karadag Caman, Ozge; Assistant Professor, Hacettepe University, Institute of Public Health, Turkey, [email protected] Sustainability is important in all aspects of human development and at all times, even in times of crisis. Therefore, countries need to make every effort to continue following Sustainable Development Goals even in times of disasters. It is well known that sustainability can only be achieved if policies and interventions are based on scientific data. In this aspect, countries affected by any kind of disaster need to rely on scientific data for an effective and sustainable response, which should stand side by side with continuous developmental efforts. Disaster responses need to be based on real needs of affected populations and real needs can only be assessed by collecting data, using the most convenient scientific methods. In doing this, combining quantitative data with qualitative data often gives the best picture. Forced migration has been one of the most significant result of man-made disasters throughout history. Refugees and asylum seekers, who are are among the most vulnerable populations, face challenges with respect to healthy living conditions, access to health care, social care, education and employment opportunities. The civil war in Syria, which started in 2011, have caused one of the biggest humanitarian crisis in the World and Turkey, as one of affected


countries, hosts the largest number of refugees in the World. The response of Turkey combines governmental efforts with efforts of the universities, national and international NGOs as well as other international support. As part of the non-governmental response, a needs assessment study was conducted by collaboration of national NGOs (Community Volunteers Foundation and Yuva Assocation), UNFPA and academia. This mixed methods study was conducted in 2015-2016 in Hatay, which is one of the provinces with the highest per capita concentration of refugees in Turkey, and aimed to assess the current situation of young refugees for planning evidence based interventions with respect to health, education, employment and gender issues. The quantitative needs assessment included a household survey of 251 young refugees between the ages of 18-30 years and the quantitative part was combined with a qualitative photovoice study to have a more detailed picture of living as a young refugee in Turkey. The findings of the study indicated that young refugees in Turkey are in need of multidimensional and multisectorial interventions regarding health, education, employment and gender issues. In this respect, health education and health promotion interventions on health and wellbeing, raising awareness on available health services, increasing access to essential medicines, interventions to reduce poverty related problems, increase access to healthy housing conditions, regulate working conditions and prevent unhealthy work environments, increase awareness on gender issues, decrease gender inequities and interventions aiming to decrease stigma and discrimination against migrants seem to be especially important for young migrants in Turkey. The scientific data driven from the study were used to develop specific interventions, that are tailored to the real needs of refugees, that harmonize local youth with refugee youth, and aim to combine the current disaster response with the long-term sustainable development in the region. Kiribati's Plight: Balancing Adaptation and Resilience Needs for Small-Island Developing States Nair, Vidya; Masters Candidate, University of Waterloo, Canada, [email protected] The accelerating rate of climate change has led to the hope that both developing and developed nations will address the challenge collaboratively with a comprehensive response. In doing so, the relationship between adaptation and disaster resiliency within the climate narrative has been investigated by many researchers. The Republic of Kiribati (also recognized and will be referred to as Kiribati), a small atoll nation in the South Pacific experiences an increase in environmental stress symptoms such as depleted costal zones, coral reefs, fisheries, fresh groundwater and biodiversity deterioration within its islands (Government of Kiribati, 2007). For example, Kiribati’s fresh water reserves are in jeopardy due to strong king tides and salt water contamination making the island


highly susceptible to wave damage, which affects the livelihoods of its people (Barnett, 2001). This is especially challenging with the nation’s small population of 110,000 (World Bank, 2014). While climate change issues continue to be investigated in depth for the South Pacific, its links to economic, social, environmental and political circumstances in relation to disaster resiliency have yet to be explored on a national basis. For example, disaster resiliency in Kiribati inherently requires adapting current lifestyles as if the islands continue to submerge under water, its people will have to leave their homelands and loose a part of their cultural identity (Tschakert & Dietrich, 2010). By using Kiribati as a case study, through both primary and secondary data, this paper aims to examine the tensions between adaptation and resilience while raising the issues of vulnerabilities for the nation. In particular, the tensions between staying on their island and building resilience to be able to confront the changes in climate with the possible uprooting of the only homes they have ever known. This is furthered with tensions in accessing financial resources allocated by various international agencies to address visible problems within Kiribati (Government of Kiribati, 2013). Through interviews conducted with the Kiribati’s Ministry of Environment, participation at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s 21st Conference of Parties and an analysis of the climatic and governance pressures facing small-island developing states in relation to climate change, this paper outlines the journey of Kiribati and its call on the international community for climate justice. Climate change is inevitable, and the effects on small-island developing states like Kiribati are adverse. Thus, the approach to dealing with the issue must be feasible for the Kiribati government to implement and move forward without surpassing the environmental threshold of the island. Data for Low-Carbon Urban Development Cooling Urban Noise Pollution in 3D: Data-Driven, Community-Driven, Art-Driven Park, Tae Hong; Associate Professor, New York University, United States, [email protected] Vladislav Boguinia, Johannes Moenius, Charles Shamoon, & Min-Joon Yoo In this paper we report on developments in the Citygram project, which collects, maps, quantifies, and analyzes urban noise. The urgency and need for such a system is demonstrated when we consider: (1) noise is quantified as urban residents’ #1 complaint in megacities like NYC; (2) more than 50% of the entire population now lives in cities; and (3) 68% of the world is projected to live in such megacities by 2050. This urgency is further escalated when taking into account health implications, including children’s education, workplace performance, and


livability factors integral to sustaining city life. Cities’ policies towards noise has been to create noise ordinances that are difficult to enforce: a typical noise complaint response starts with a 311 call that is sent to the NYPD or the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP); the NYPD rarely responds as noise is categorized as a non-emergency event; the DEP only has 50 inspectors available for both air and noise making response to noise extremely problematic. Furthermore, noise may no longer be present upon arrival of inspectors. Finally, quantifying noise is nontrivial: 90 dB rainfall, wailing sirens, and blackboard-fingernail scratches are perceived substantially differently. Citygram’s hybrid sensor network design - geostationary (e.g. NYC’s public LinkNYC payphone/WiFi system) and community-driven (any device with a web-browser and microphone) - enables creating a real-time sound-mapping system that can be built in any city to help determine what kind, when, and where noise is generated. Since “you can’t fix what you can’t measure,” we focus on Big Data analytics and visualization as “seeing is believing.” NYC and LA serve as our primary labs. Citygram is currently developing technologies to automatically classify, geo-tag, and time-stamp noise such as traffic, construction, or music signals, which can then be visualized and made available to noise code enforcement agencies and the general public. Such noise data can also be combined with other data sets (e.g. locative health records, standardized educational test results, and census statistics) that may shed light on micro-level noise effects. As such, it can help protect populations negatively affected by the side effects of economic growth. Citygram can also be put in place to make practicable programs like NYC Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Off-Hour-Delivery Program (OHDP) which has the potential to augment quality-of-life, foster economic competitiveness and efficiency, and enhance environmental justice: pilot studies conducted between 2009 and 2010 show evidence of enormous advantages in implementing a robust OHDP program for large cities, including reduction of delivery times by half, reduction of service time by 1/3, potential for 149.86 PM10 (kg) annual environmental pollution reduction, and $100 - $200 million/year in travel time and pollution cutback in Manhattan. Currently, OHDP is still a double-edged sword as, on one hand, it significantly reduces energy usage and environmental pollution for megacities like NYC and on the other, contributes to noise pollution and disruption to residents: during off-hour delivery periods background noise is low, rendering any sound that would have been masked during the day, acutely amplified during “off-hours.” Using Citygram’s noise sensing system, vehicular delivery noise could be sensed, actionable solutions developed (e.g. noise absorption materials for delivery tools), and OHDP program put into practice. Finally, we also use our noise data streams for data-driven art to bring awareness to urban environmental pollution. We are thus partnering with organizations such as the United Nation Sustainable Development Solutions Network and have produced a number of data-driven artworks for galleries,


international conferences, and art festivals. This fall, we are organizing panel discussions and a concert at Carnegie Hall in September 2016 focusing on urban noise pollution. Data for Socially Inclusive Economic Growth Giving Lights, Changing Lives: Data Collection, Social Inclusion and Local Progress in Uganda Baird, Sarah; Executive Director, Let There Be Light International, United States, [email protected] This paper describes how pico solar light education and distribution in Uganda is positively impacting indicators of SDGs 3, 7, 13, and 17. Results of a follow-up assessment of 800 households conducted in early 2016 will be discussed. Achievement of the SDGs necessitates increased public, private, and charitable investments. The international community is in agreement that aid will play a role in achieving the SDGs by 2030. In the energy sector, however, there is a disproportional focus on market-based solutions as the sole input in achieving SDG 7. Whereas market-based solutions and government infrastructure projects will be key to long-term universal Tier 5 energy access, existing social service delivery channels can be used immediately to provide low-cost, high-impact entry level lighting to the extreme poor. As will be explored in this paper, access to clean, safe pico products impacts multiple SDGs, including SDGs 3, 7, 13, and 17. Replacing dirty, dangerous and expensive open flamed kerosene lights with pico solar lights among the extreme poor in off-grid areas of sub-Saharan Africa can promote health and wellbeing, increase access to affordable and clean energy, catalyze climate action, and build professional partnerships and capacity. Since 2014, Let There Be Light International (LTBLI) and Kyosiga Community Christian Association for Development (KACCAD) have partnered to demonstrate how a solar light donation program can enhance socially inclusive development through a replicable, basic energy access intervention. Results of a follow-up household survey indicate that programs utilizing existing commercial supply chain and social service delivery channels to purchase and distribute entry-level low-cost solar lights are well-positioned to impact multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Let There Be Light International is a US-based nonprofit that raises awareness about Global Energy Poverty and raises funds for the in-country purchase and distribution of solar lights to highly vulnerable and impoverished off-grid families, elders, and valued community resources in sub-Saharan Africa. Let There Be Light International’s programming engages local community development organizations as distribution partners and utilizes established social service


delivery channels to identify and target solar light recipients, creating practical solutions for getting started on achieving SDGs 3, 7, 13, and 17. To refine programming and inform donors, Let There Be Light International and distribution partners use pre- and post- solar light distribution data including: individual and community lighting need; demographic information; health, safety, economic, and wellbeing indicators; knowledge about renewable energy in general and solar lights in particular; and satisfaction levels relevant to lighting. Kyosiga Community Christian Association for Development is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) registered in Uganda. KACCAD works to improve the standard of living of community members through supporting income generating activities, skill development, primary and secondary education for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), HIV/AIDS/health support, and the expanded adoption of clean energy solutions. In 2016, LTBLI and KACCAD conducted a follow-up lighting impact survey in two districts of Uganda, home to 800 solar light recipients. Respondents reported a decrease in health and safety concerns related to lighting after replacing their kerosene or wax candles with solar lights, as well as a sharp decrease in expenditure on lighting. The self-reports suggest nearly universal improvements in targeted areas. The greatest reported benefits of using the solar light by solar light recipients are: improved health, improved safety, increased educational indicators, improved air quality, and increased knowledge about renewable energy. 98.8% of solar light recipients report that their homes now are at a decreased risk of fire. 97.7% report noticeable health benefits including improved eye health (95.4%) and better respiratory health (94.3%). 97.8% report an increase in school performance as measured by test scores and/or grades of school-aged minors living in the home. More than 95% of recipients report saving money on lighting, and 66.5% now spend nothing on lighting. Only 2% of recipients, however, report using money saved to purchase another light or for business purposes, and only 3.5% use the solar light for income generating activities. The majority of the money saved is being used for basic needs such as food, medicine, school fees, and soap. In addition to meeting basic entry-level lighting need in the short-term, providing solar lights to the extreme poor living in off-grid areas may have a multiplier effect. Community awareness of renewables beyond the individual household level may spur greater uptake and acceptance of other and broader renewable energy solutions. As part of the Follow-up Assessment, LTBLI asked solar light recipients the following questions: Have you explained the benefits of your solar light to others in your community? And: Would you recommend the purchase of a solar light to a friend or family


member based on your experience? 98.4% and 99.7% (respectively) of the 800 respondents answered “yes” to the above questions. LTBLI argues that the outreach and educational components of pico distributions are undervalued as preliminary steps on the local level toward achieving the SDGs in impoverished off-grid areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Furthermore, LTBLI advocates leveraging existing social service delivery channels to target and distribute solar lighting products to highly vulnerable, off-grid populations as an interim anti-poverty measure, as the global community mobilizes to achieve the full range of SDGs by 2030. While there are clear methodological limitations, the high rate of self reported improvement is both common-sense and compelling. Additional pilots with well controlled comparisons contrasting alternative investment approaches could help to identify the best path to alleviate energy poverty, as efforts to achieve the SDGs move forward. Further data collection refinements to inform socially inclusive development programming include the expanded training of local partners and the launch in late 2016 of tablet computers to be used by field workers for data collection in remote off-grid areas. Measuring Natural Capital in Practice for Sustainable and Socially Inclusive Growth Bertrand, Pierre; Senior Program Associate, Global Development Network, India, [email protected] Implementing the SDGs calls for a holistic understanding of the interactions between socio-economic activities and the environment, and hence requires the systematic integration of environmental and related data into mainstream socio-economic policymaking, in particular through the development of new accounting methods such as natural capital accounting (NCA). For developing countries especially the task is as daunting as the need is urgent. There is already a rich literature on the nature and conception of such methods, and several initiatives have been launched. However, little work has been done so far to better understand the political economy of actually introducing these new methods. We propose here to analyze practical impediments to the implementation of NCA and to understand, through a proof-of-concept case study conducted in Madagascar, how an action research program to experiment NCA using geocoded natural wealth data can provide practical means to facilitate the introduction of these accounts to inform policies toward a sustainable and socially inclusive growth. The paper starts with a discussion on the main barriers to the implementation of NCA. The ongoing research agenda on NCA does not provide recipes but signals scientific and policy uncertainty about interpretations and outcomes, and consequently generates reluctance to engage into NCA from some policy circles. Second, environmental data are most of the time disparate: they are discipline


specific without interlinkages, scattered in different institutional repositories, and rarely presented in reference to socio-economic activities. In this context, the urgency, for developing country, to shape a sustainable and inclusive development path has led to several global initiatives proposing support in building natural capital accounts. However, the multiplicity of approaches can create some confusion for their respective governments and may leave little space for an approach that has a practical and immediate application while allowing for self-experimentation and ownership to address local realities. Furthermore, policy-makers are usually involved but the local research community can be left aside which contributes to incomplete ownership and may affect the sustainability of building and using the new accounts. Based on these observations, the paper describes how an action research program can allow practical implementation and complement existing initiatives. The aim of this program is both to advance the research agenda on ecosystem services and their valuation and to implement ecosystem natural capital accounts in a cost effective way, through a structured organization of environmental data in reference to economic activities. The first feature of such a project is to collate existing data, especially through the utilization of GIS coupled with in situ observations and data stored in the different institutions. The paper then explains how experimentation, with the mobilization of the local research community and policy-makers, and through the data collection process and its multi-disciplinary aspect, can holistically enable the creation of a new knowledge-to-policy pathway. This experimentation process, because it provides evidence on the interactions between socio-economic processes and the environment, generates a dialogue between the different local stakeholders to assess the sustainability and the inclusiveness of the growth path. Moving forward, we propose to investigate the factors that can facilitate expanding the program nationally and internationally. More specifically, such accounts could then evolve into an integrated and reliable source of information across scales and different levels of governance and, beyond the SDGs, can facilitate the implementation of international conventions such as the ones on climate, biodiversity or desertification. This approach can help build a global corpus of evidence on the interactions between the socio-economic activities and the environment and facilitate a comparison of the policies in place to achieve sustainable and inclusive economic growth. Gauging Access to Electricity: How do Multi-Tiered Frameworks Address the Shortcomings of Binary Variables When Measuring Rural Communities Access to Modern Electricity? Day, Matthew; MSc. Development Practice Student, Co-Founder SSA Technical, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, [email protected]


Access to electricity can have tremendous effects on the day to day lives of the world’s billions of people living in poverty. This paper will discuss this in detail the need to redefine how we measure access to electricity. It calls on documentation and data from academics and policy makers, along with surveys done by the author in two regions in Tanzania. The International Energy Agency has recognized that access to electricity is essential for basic human needs and economic activity (IEA, 2014). The United Nations has also recognized the significant role that electricity has in achieving a world without poverty through the implementation of goal 7 of the sustainable development goals (SDG), “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.” However, according to the International Energy Agency, approximately 1.2 billion people did not have access to electricity in 2013. Statistics show that 88% of those living without electricity are located in Sub-Saharan Africa and developing Asia (GTF, 2015). Furthermore, the rural electrification rate in rural Sub-Saharan Africa is only 14% (Tenenbaum et al., 2014.) Despite the already low levels of access, there appears to be a fundamental flaw in how academics and policymakers measure household and economic institution’s access to energy. The use of a binary measurement or similar approaches, such as village electrification rate or LPG connections, vastly overestimate the true level of access to electricity. In fact, if policy makers and academics were to follow the traditional measurement of electricity, India would stand at a village electrification rate of 96.7 percent and an LPG connection high enough to cover 60% of its population. While other complex indices have been developed, such as The Multidimensional Energy Poverty Index (MEPI) and the Total Energy Access Standard, each one still fails to gauge energy access on a multi-tiered level. For example, the MEPI uses assets as a proxy for quality of energy access, however, merely possessing an electrical appliance does not imply that the household or economic institution has a reliable supply of electricity to truly benefit from it. . To capture an electrification rate that reflects true access, we need to redefine how we measure the electrification rate by taking into account the many factors which affect a households ‘access to energy’. The framework used in this paper is derived from the Global Tracking Framework (GTF) presented by the World Bank and the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program in February 2014. The GTF attempts to strike a balance better than an ideal metric that best captures progress in the energy sector, and the real limitation of the data sets already available in throughout the world (GTF, 2015). However, due to data constraints, the GTF has recognized that the framework still overly relies on binary metrics for measuring energy access (GTF, 2015). Adjusting for potential flaws in the GTF, a series of 198 surveys and interviews were carried around across two regions in Tanzania, Arusha and Shinyanga. The surveys focused on access to electricity for rural households, businesses, schools, and clinics in the region, and were broken into five dimensions and three tiers, Capacity, Duration, Reliability, Quality, and


Affordability. The data provides insight into differences between the traditional measure of access and the true level of access to electricity. Expanding on this suggest there is significant evidence that a simple binary system over estimates the rate of electrification in rural communities. Additionally, the high frequency of complete blackout days, low level of support from national providers, and relatively high levels of energy expenditure for grid connected locations, further distorts the true effectiveness of rural energy policies. Developing a multi-dimension, multi-tiered energy access measurement will assist academics and governments in constructing effective policies. Through this measurement; data can be disaggregated and aggregated together to better facilitate planning and strategy, project design, progress monitoring, impact evaluation, and comparisons access areas and over time (GTF, 2015). Multi-tiered datasets will allow for governments and key stakeholders can clearly identify bottlenecks and target policy interventions. Large-Scale Longitudinal Household Data on Social Inclusiveness and Economic Dynamism in South-East Asia Deng, Yongheng; Professor and Director of the Institute of Real Estate Studies, National University of Singapore, Singapore, [email protected] The mission of this project is to generate high-quality microeconomic survey data which allow policy institutions, NGOs and academic researchers to explore the way in which South-East Asian households use residential real estate, human capital and financial instruments to attain their objectives and contribute to the sustainable development of society. We propose a holistic approach, distinguished by a unique research focus on socially inclusive growth, human development and entrepreneurship, and driven by newly available technical solutions. We plan to pilot our project in Singapore and to subsequently extend it to cover Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam. We build on a modular survey structure that has become popular around the world during the recent years. This is based on three components, capturing (a) the household balance sheet and economic activity, (b) the characteristics of the residential property and living conditions, as well as (c) the household’s aspirations, behaviour and social network. In addition, we propose an intensive use of new technical solutions that will allow us to survey households more frequently and more thoroughly. We seek to link households, the urban environment and the local economy, to enable more powerful analysis of economic and urban challenges. Previous comparable surveys do not cover South-East Asia and face difficult technical


trade-offs between study depth and population coverage. Moreover, even when they have already been implemented around the world, similar exercises miss the large informal sector and ignore the links between financial decisions, characteristics of the urban environment, the residential property, the supply of labour and the use of time as a scarce resource. Especially concerning entrepreneurship, we want to consider not only realized projects, but also private fringe initiatives (e.g. short-term rental activities such as Uber, Grab, Airbnb). We expect informal arrangements to be very relevant in South- and South-East Asia and to become even more important in the coming years. In terms of subject response, we note the promising possibility to influence personal habits through the very act of surveying or engaging people with the app (the Hawthorne effect). Once households actively participate in the study, we can use the platform to do random assignments and controlled treatments. This can be an additional benefit of the project, beyond the actually retrieved data. Phase 1 consists of traditional survey methods. We can hereby draw upon a significant pool of experience in survey design and implementation, leading to international comparability and reduced initial costs. Households are selected to be representative of the overall resident population. They are interviewed by trained personnel (e.g. university students), who check the relevant documentation (e.g. property deeds, bank account statements, company records), assess the reliability of responses and enforce consistency across questions. Phase 2 consists of an app-based mobile solution, which households are trained to use during the initial survey interview. The advantages of such a solution include:

• Convenience for the respondents to record their activities in any occasion. • A lower attrition rate compared with paper-based survey due to better

tractability. • Possibilities to synchronise information from other apps with permission

from the respondents. • Opportunities to generate randomized information to serve as treatments

for which we observe behavioural responses. The post-interview interaction with the app should have both a dimension of regularity –recording changes in different elements of the survey modules every month or quarter, and a degree of trigger-based activation – recording significant events (either private or environmental, e.g. employment status, health conditions, traffic disruptions, or impairment due to haze).


The project is also expected to generate significant benefits to the broader business environment, NGOS and global academic community, by enabling researchers to address new questions and by generating cross-discipline positive externalities. In the initial phase of exploring the new data sets, we plan for our research team to investigate the following research areas:

• Sustainable development and economic dynamism. Previous empirical evidence remains ambiguous as to the effects of cultural norms and financial literacy on household financial planning. This raises the question of which alternative mechanisms are most effective in cultivating economic dynamism and inclusive growth.

• Cultural identity, aspirations and entrepreneurship. We plan to explicitly identify social networks and cultural ties. Evidence from other developed economies shows that social capital affects risk preferences and raises entrepreneurship. Nonetheless, these issues are little understood in South-East Asia.

• Behavioural patterns and economic resilience. In terms of household financial decisions, we are particularly interested in the way in which institutions and behavioural patterns shape outcomes across the life cycle. Do households take on excessive amounts of debt because they are unable to exercise self-control or because the environment is conducive to excessive risk-taking? How well are households prepared for retirement? What are their sources of income and how do they use informal financial networks to engage in entrepreneurial activity?

How Productive Countries Must Become to Achieve Their Goals INDCs on Climate Change? Gonzales C., Luis Edwin; Economist Researcher, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile - CLAPESUC, Chile, [email protected] In Paris on December 2015, the agreement on climate change aims to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above the pre-industrial levels and enhance efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels both mainly through the reduction of CO2 emissions. In parallel, one of the targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. One of the ways to achieve these goals is promoting and following the submissions of the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) where each country determine CO2 emission reductions in the context of their national priorities, circumstances and capabilities in a global framework that drives to collective actions toward a low carbon future.


On the other hand, INDCs imply meaningful economic challenges for countries, especially for middle income countries that are facing their goals reducing their emissions and looking to increase their production. In this context, the measurement of productive performance are a key tool in order to design future economic and public policies in order to achieve both objectives: the reduction in emissions and the well economic performance for the wellness of their citizens. The objective of this paper is to generate novel data on total factor productivity (TFP) related to emissions and the accomplishment of INDCs for 40 countries . For this purpose I am planning to follow three steps: First, using the framework of growth accounting methodology I will estimate a data panel showing the statistical significance of emissions contribution to the output growth. Second, I will estimate two TFP indicators. a) Traditional TFP indicator and b) the total factor productivity with emissions (TFP-E) indicator in order to measure productivity associate with CO2 emissions by country. Third, I will estimate the required rate of growth of TFP and TFP-E for the accomplishments of INDC goals until 2030 year stablished by Paris agreement like the peak of emissions. These two new indicators would be estimated using the following databases in the range of 1960 to 2012: i) for INDC goals I will use the repository of United Nations; ii) total emissions of CO2 would be obtained from World Bank statistics and iii) economic statistics like output, labor and capital would be obtained from the Penn World Table database. Preliminary results show two group of countries in the sample: 1) countries with historical rates of productivity below from the required rate to achieve their own INDC-goals and 2) Countries that based in its historical rate of productivity will achieve their INDC-goals. In average for the first group, growth rate of productivity is 1.03% by year until 2030, these means 0.32 percent points yearly greater than the historical average growth (0.71%). These is a significant effort to introduce new technology and innovation for those countries at the same time of limiting or reducing emissions. This research would contribute data though indicators for monitoring the implementation of SDGs in the public policy agenda of the countries in the context of social inclusive economic growth. Furthermore, an application of economic theory and empirical evidence regarding the INDC commitment of the countries and productivity performance would constitute a key input for public policy design. First Thing First, Arguing the Case for the Inclusion of Women in Energy Decision Making Process towards Achieving Sustainable Rural Development in Practice: The Nigerian case Ijoma, Uchenna; PhD Candidate, University of Ottawa, Canada, [email protected]


With increasing globalization, a major concern affecting the standard of living and productivity in rural areas is the issue of available, accessible and affordable modern energy service. Nigerian women are specifically at the receiving end of this issue as they are responsible for providing food for the family while relying on energy for household tasks as well as productive/commercial activities. However, the substandard quality fuel used by these women contributes to economic problems caused by environmental degradation, increased workload, ill health etc. In spite of these burdens energy policies and strategies are perceived to be gender-neutral. Nigerian rural women, therefore, continue to be underrepresented in the decision-making process. Premised on existing studies, this paper investigates the disparities faced by rural women in the energy decision-making process in Nigeria. Guided by the feminist legal method, an approach founded on women’s experience of exclusion and postulated by renowned feminist scholars (Katharine T. Bartlett, Patricia A. Cain, Martha Albertson Fineman, etc.), the paper makes a case for the adoption of a gender analysis tool. Hence, it argues that making gender analysis the first step and an integral part of decision-making process can bring about sustainable energy laws, policies, as well as practices that address the socio-economic challenges experienced by rural women in Nigeria. Preliminary findings reveal, first, “No data, no visibility; no visibility, no interest.” Second, international framework namely, the United Nations, Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BDPfA) recognizes that achieving sustainable development requires for the national government to treat men and women equally as well as analyze and integrate the practice, experience and standpoint of rural women in the decision-making process (including energy). Third, giving rural women a voice in energy decision making can aid in shaping the contents of energy policies and strategies that can translate into sustainable rural development and ultimately national economic growth. Perhaps, the reason why various energy programmes created by the Federal Government of Nigeria are yet to bring about visible developmental changes is because there are no gender analytic tools adopted by energy decision-makers. Fourth, not to integrate the perspective of rural women into energy decision-making process implies that any progress towards attaining “sustainable development will remain incomplete.” The paper, therefore, makes a case for the adoption and utilization of a gender analysis tool by the Nigerian government as the first step to formulating energy policies and strategies. Notwithstanding, there are obstacles to adopting a gender analysis tool. How Far Are the Brazilian Amazon Cities to Achieve SDgs? An Analysis Based on SDgs and Social Progress Index Indicators Silva Martinelli, Fernanda; Project Coordinator - CI-Brazil


Alumni MDP; Leite Lucas, Isabella; MDP Student; and Callado Pinto Neta, Luiza; MDP Student, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Brazil, [email protected] Fernanda Martinelli; Isabella Leite Lucas & Luiza Callado Pinto Neta The Brazilian Amazon is one of the world’s most richness region in biodiversity, water, minerals and other natural resources. However it is also the region who has presented the worst socioeconomic indices in Brazil for its more than 24 million inhabitants in 772 municipalities. Until recently, the Amazon’s social performance was assessed only by indexes which are themselves highly influenced by economic indicators, such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP). On the other hand, the Social Progress Index (SPI) for Amazon allows measurement of social welfare, regardless of economic growth and using indicators which better represent the reality of the region. Today the world is discussing the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a guide and measurement of the socioeconomic and environmental conditions in poor regions, as is the case of Amazon region in Brazil. This study aims to i) verify which of the poorest municipalities in the Amazon are closer to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, based on the Amazon SPI indicators; and ii) to map in which issues are the main challenges to achieve the SDGs in order to support valuable and useful suggestions for each municipality. First, we identified the similar indicators between both index (SPI and SDGs). From the total 17 SDGs, the SPI has similar indicators with 12 SDGs. The only SDGs not covered were SDG1, 10 and 14. The municipalities were grouped in three levels of social progress (green - good result; yellow - neutral; or red - weak), according to the SPI indicators results. From the 100 poorest municipalities, Colares (PA), São José de Ribamar (MA) and Paço do Lumiar (PA) are the ones who are closer to achieve SDGs. They presented better result on the SDG 4 and challenges on SDG 11 (Colares), 15 and 16 (Ribamar and Lumiar), which are part of SPI component levels “foundations of wellbeing” and “opportunity”. Placas (PA), Lagoa Grande do Maranhão (MA) and Garrafão do Norte (PA) are the ones who are further to achieve the SDGs according to SPI indicators. Their main challenges are at SDGs 3 and 4 which means “human basic needs” and “foundations of wellbeing”. From our results, the richest municipalities are not necessary the ones who have more chance to achieve the SDGs. Amarante do Maranhão (MA) for example has the highest GDP between 100’s poorest but is the 5th municipality further from achieve SDGs. On the other hand, the 5 municipalities’ closer to achieve SDGs (between the 100’s poorest) has lower GDP than most of the municipalities, being at 43th-78th GDP position. Our research is currently on the data analysis phase and this abstract summarize our primary results. According to our timeline, we will have all the 772 Amazon municipalities ranked until August and will allow us to present the Amazon whole scenario at the event.


Health Practitioners’ Perspectives of Treatment of Psychosis in Rwanda: An Exploratory Study McConnell, D Maegan; Executive Director, Peace In Minds, Canada, [email protected] Culturally relevant mental health treatment options are necessary in all countries around the world. This year, the SDGs have included an target specifically directed towards mental health worldwide. While considerable research has been conducted in Rwanda on mental health, the majority of this work has examined depression, anxiety and PTSD. However, few have discussed psychosis or psychotic illnesses. The typical treatment of psychosis varies depending on country and culture. As the literature reveals, certain treatments for psychosis can be harmful to patients and may violate their human rights. The requirement for culturally relevant and culturally understood treatments for these individuals is imminent to improve their quality of life. Additionally, the availability of biomedical treatments for individuals with psychosis is integral to their recovery and development within community. This research explored the typical treatment for symptoms of psychosis in Rwanda by using data collected from 20 in-depth interviews with healthcare practitioners nationwide. While lack of access to treatment and medical facilities was commonly discussed, the most pressing matter for most interviewees was the substandard medications available to patients. Frequently, interviewees cited that medications available are outdated and potentially harmful to patients. Leaving healthcare workers with no choice but to prescribe medication that they know may create more harm for the patient. This paper discusses the limitations identified by healthcare workers in Rwanda as well as their suggestions for improvements moving forward. Mental health is often neglected within the development sphere. However it is becoming clear by research from large international organizations such as the World Bank and World Health Organization that mental illness is putting a significant strain on global economies and communities. Henceforth, more research and knowledge sharing is necessary on mental health in development to allow individuals to be healthy enough to contribute to the growth and success of their communities. SDGs and Culture: Now What? Milanes, Laura; Instructor and PhD. candidate in Sociology, School of Management, University of the Andes and University at Albany, State University of New York, Colombia, [email protected]; and Appe, Susan; Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Public Administration, College of Community and Public Affairs, Binghamton University, [email protected]


Sustainable development is most often recognized by its three pillars: environmental, economic, and equity (social). Over the last several years, advocates in a global campaign have pushed for the recognition of a fourth pillar: culture. For example, the United Cities and Local Governments group published a report entitled "Culture is the fourth pillar of sustainable development," arguing that the original three dimensions of sustainable development do not correspond to contemporary society. Likewise, UNESCO has positioned culture as a ‘facilitator’ in a 2012 report on the post-2015 agenda development. To some extent, culture was integrated into the previous Millennium Development Goals, however UNESCO argues that the relationship between culture and development must continue to be examined and strengthened. According to its advocates, culture contributes not only as an economic and productive sector but also provides a range of non-monetary benefits, such as social inclusion according to its advocates; thus, in some instances promoting socially inclusive economic growth. The global campaign “The Future We Want Includes Culture”, led by several regional and global civil society organizations, started in 2013 during post-2015 debates. In May 2014 the "Declaration on the Inclusion of Culture in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)" was launched and then signed by 900 organizations and more than 2,500 individuals in 120 countries. Advocates for the inclusion of culture in the SDGs proposed that a goal explicitly about culture be included suggesting the wording: “Ensure cultural sustainability for the wellbeing of all”. In the end, a goal about culture was not included in the SDGs adopted in September 2015. Given that culture did not get its own goal, data collection about culture and sustainable development is challenged. So, moving forward-precisely the conference theme-how might we measure culture within the Sustainable Development Goals? Actors of the global campaign have identified specific targets were we should focus the measurement efforts of culture within the post-2015 agenda (e.g., Targets 2.5; 4.7; 8.3; 8.9; 12.b; 11.4; 16.4; 16.10; http://cdc-ccd.org/). As such, this paper seeks to contribute to efforts which articulate culture’s role and its challenges in the sustainable development paradigm. First, the paper addresses the global campaign about culture in sustainable development, including its actors and strategies used during the advocacy efforts. Second, it addresses the next steps related to culture and its indicators within SDG targets. Third, it identifies innovations at national and local levels related to culture and sustainable development under the SDG framework. We contend that culture might be better supported within the sustainable development paradigm through more robust discussions and academic study, as well as the creation of better indicators and monitoring of its inclusion in development.


Closing the Gender Gap: Data to Support Women’s Economic Empowerment Raub, Amy; Principal Research Analyst; and Heymann, Jody; Dean and Distinguished Professor, Founding Director, WORLD Policy Analysis Center, University of California Los Angeles, United States, [email protected], [email protected] The world cannot achieve socially inclusive economic growth if women continue to be left behind. Recent research estimates that if women in every country were to truly be equal to men in labor markets, it would add up to $28 trillion to the global economy by 2025. Yet, legal barriers to women’s economic empowerment continue to persist whether through direct barriers to full participation, legislation than reinforces rather than combats norms around gender inequalities in roles, or legal gaps that disproportionately affect women and girls. SDG 5 includes explicit targets for countries to adopt and strengthen laws and policies that support gender equality at all levels. Further, achieving the sustainable development goals related to economic growth and gender equality requires data on what works at scale to change women’s economic opportunities, where the gaps are, and what has been feasible and effective in other economically and socially similar countries. Regular monitoring of national action of policies, alongside monitoring progress on outcomes will be critical to accountability and accelerating progress on the SDGs. Using legal data from the WORLD Policy Analysis Center at the University of California Los Angeles on all 193 UN member states, supplemented with data from the World Bank’s Women, Business, and the Law, we show how legal data can be used to map and monitor progress in three main areas critical to women’s economic empowerment. First, we will look at guarantees of equality in national constitutions and laws that directly support equality in the workforce. Foundational to gender equality are constitutional guarantees of gender equality and provisions that ensure customary or religious law cannot supersede non-discrimination provisions. Two sets of laws and policies are critical to ensuring gender equality: protection from discrimination based on gender at work and gender equitable policies to balance work and caregiving needs. We will examine where countries stand in these areas, as well as looking at whether laws cover women working in the informal economy. Second, we will examine policies that enable girls to complete their secondary education. While there are many pieces that lay the groundwork to women’s economic opportunities, in today’s economy, the single most important driver is whether girls have the opportunity to complete a quality secondary education. To enable girls to be able to complete a quality secondary education, education


must be affordable and work and family opportunities should not interfere with attendance. We will examine policies that ensure education is tuition-free through completion of secondary. We will also investigate whether child labor laws effectively address the types of work that girls are more likely to be engaged in and whether there are legal loopholes that undermine protections from early marriage, making it more likely that family obligations will require girls to drop out of school before completing a secondary education. Third, threats of violence significantly limit women’s ability to claim their economic rights and participate fully at work. Eliminating violence against women requires changes in workplaces, schools, homes, and communities. Initiatives at each of these levels has a critical role to play, but is only likely to succeed where national laws support these efforts, setting both norms and rules against all forms of violence against women. While effective implementation is critical and behavioral and cultural change a foundational element, ensuring that the laws make clear that violence is prohibited is a crucial beginning. We will map where legal gaps persist in protecting women from violence and highlight the critical need for more data to monitor progress in this area. The Challenge of Implementation: Early Lessons from Australia Reid, Michael; Director, Total Research; and O’Neill, Mary; Senior Manager, Office of Environment and Heritage, NSW, Australia, [email protected], [email protected] The New South Wales (NSW) Government’s Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) in Australia has been working with Databuild Research and Solutions to develop and implement a monitoring framework to measure the non-energy outcomes of their residential and community energy efficiency programs. Through the project, the NSW Government aimed to develop a set of high-level indicators that can be used to monitor and communicate transformational changes caused by their interventions. The project also had the explicit aim of aligning indicator development with the UN SDGs as and where possible. At the same time, Databuild and OEH have been working with the Australia/Pacific Regional Network of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) on a National framework for implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals in Australia. This initiative had some marked similarities with the multiple-benefits project. In particular: the need for a cohesive narrative; the establishment of common and shared indicators; and need for a systems approach to ‘join up’ the current fragmentation across sectors. By way of illustration, the following statement was developed at the National workshop on implementing the Sustainable Development Goals in Australia:


“Show me an educated person living in a healthy environment and a growing economy and I’ll show you someone who has a genuine chance of getting the most out of life - a healthy person, who is NOT living in poverty, is NOT oppressed and has HOPE for their children and their future” http://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/294000/implementingsdgsaust_workshop-statement_final.pdf Whilst developed for articulating the SDGs, this statement is equally relevant to multiple-benefits of energy efficiency. In the same way, the early experience of implementing the multiple benefits framework may also provide some key learning for the implementation of the SDGs. OEH requested that we consider and put forward methods which will provide useful and reasonably robust data on which policy and program decisions can be made, and that are as cost effective to apply as possible. Whilst this sounds simple, implementing a multiple benefits approach is inherently uncomfortable. It forces a view of the whole and cuts across silos. This is a challenging context where innovative ideas and a high degree of motivation are needed. Although participants broadly agreed with the concept of a multiple benefits framework, it has been challenging to implement. Refining tools and metrics has assisted greatly, but engaging in a wider story of social, economic and environmental development took participants outside ‘business as usual’ practices. They did not necessarily have the mandate to work in such a way. The role of leadership in creating a holding environment for this work has been critical. The term multiple benefits (also referred to as non-energy benefits, social benefits and social indicators) was interpreted in varying ways by stakeholders. It is critical that time is taken to: agree on terms; explain the meaning of a framework; and to explain how it will be used and why. Some stakeholders, both internal and external, misunderstood the concept of the research. We learnt that sufficient background information and context should be given to participants, with direct links to their specific programs outlined. The most effective recruitment and participation occurred where participants could see the value of taking a more holistic approach. Interviews with external program partners offered multiple perspectives that enhanced understanding about the barriers and enablers to data collection in different settings. This understanding was instrumental in enabling the framework to be useful across different programs, populations and contexts, and in assessing common outcomes. This prompts a consideration of all stakeholders early and often, and an engagement framework that embeds them in the process. The level of collaboration required to enable a multiple benefit project should not be underestimated. Where interdisciplinary cross-sector collaboration is required an understanding of the interdependence of all partners is required for success with each partner clearly understanding their role.


Establishing a baseline across many programs is difficult. Consultation and collaboration with program leaders is crucial to select optimum baseline measures that would be transferrable across programs. Using program logic frameworks for individual programs and developing an overall program logic for collective programs was useful in identifying key indicators for baseline measurement. It was challenging to develop measures based on existing approaches. Many approaches in the international literature were not applicable to NSW programs due to the differences in local concerns and climatic conditions. This highlights the importance of ensuring that approaches are locally meaningful and feasible. Attributing benefits to specific programs will be an on-going challenge. The question of how much a program contributes to change in any benefit measure must be consistently present. More work needs to be done to fully understand the complex interactions that take place. Beyond the technical aspects discussed above, implementation has prompted an exploration of an adaptive challenge. It has become clear that there is a critical role in creating an emotional connection with the work. This emotional connection, added to the creation of an evidence base, can enable those involved to commit to taking a systems view, however challenging that may be, in order to work more effectively with entrenched social, economic and environmental challenges. Using Evidence to Achieve Impact in SME Development Sanchez, Lucia; Director, SME Program; and Koshy, Elizabeth; Program Manager, Innovations for Poverty Action, United States, [email protected], [email protected] Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of most economies and have a key role in the path towards socially inclusive economic growth. They are crucial to the development of strong, dynamic economies, and a significant source of job creation and social mobility. SMEs generate opportunities across geographic areas (i.e. urban and rural, large and small cities, etc) and sectors, and employ broad and diverse segments of the labor force. They also act as market aggregators, connecting smaller suppliers with customers farther up in the value chain. Moreover, they have a huge multiplier effect: as they grow, they benefit employees, suppliers, and customers, as well as local government and overall community (through tax contributions and donations). However, small businesses in developing countries face important barriers to growth, such as limited access to finance, low levels of human capital, and


inefficient markets. In an effort to unlock the SME sector’s potential, governments, nonprofits, and other institutions spend billions of dollars every year on programs aimed at reducing the barriers to growth for SMEs. However, high-quality research on “what works” to promote SME development is very limited, leaving decision makers without clear guidance on which programs and policies to support. There is a pressing need to identify effective solutions in order to help steer investments to the areas where they will have the greatest impact. To achieve this, a closer collaboration between the worlds of research and policy is necessary. The Small & Medium Enterprise Program at Innovations for Poverty Action is a coordinated research effort that brings together policymakers and researchers to rigorously test innovative solutions to the most binding constraints to SME growth in developing countries. By working with governments, non-profits, donors, multilateral organizations, and the private sector, the SME Program promotes the use of evidence in the design of SME development programs and policies. In this talk, we propose to share IPA’s experience partnering with financial institutions, governments and nonprofits in the design and rigorous testing of innovative solutions to the constraints faced by SMEs in developing countries. We will provide an overview of the key problems around access to finance, human capital and markets, and present a series of interrelated research projects aimed at testing effective solutions to those problems. The selected projects cover a variety of countries from different regions and include partners from the private sector as well the public and nonprofit sectors. The presentation will be targeted to a broad audience and have a special focus on how these institutions can use randomized evaluations to develop innovative solutions and learn the most effective ways to bring them to practice. Tracking Socio-Economic-Environmental Outcomes in Families Living with HIV/AIDS: Evidence from the EARNEST Trail Walsh, Patrick; Professor of International Development, University College Dublin, Ireland, [email protected] The Europe - Africa Research Network for Evaluation of Second-line Therapy (EARNEST) is a partnership between 14 African clinical research sites and 6 European organisations. It is funded by the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Programme (EDCTP) and European national research funding agencies. The network conducts the EARNEST trial, the definitive clinical trial which aims to identify the best antiretroviral therapy for HIV positive individuals who need to switch antiretroviral therapy in a resource-limited setting. The trial commenced in October 2009 and enrolled 1277 patients in 5 African countries - Malawi, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Zambia.


The trial track clinical health outcomes for 144 weeks across three arms of different drug therapies. One innovation of the trial was to randomise and track socio-economic-environmental status of HIV/AIDS families alongside their health status over the course of the trail. While one can evaluate the effectives of the treatments on health outcomes we can also track changes in socio-economic-environmental status of HIV/AIDS families. While the therapies tend to work in terms of health there is no guarantee of a return to work, schooling with access to clean water and good food for HIV/AIDS families. This is captured using a difference in difference empirical model of the changes in socio-economic-environmental- health status over the course of the Randomised Control Trial across three arms of drug therapies. We also summarize our results using household SDG indices to show the dynamics of change in socio-economic-environmental conditions within families over the 144 weeks of the trial. Our paper demonstrates the importance of collecting data across the main pillars of sustainable development (the social, economic and environmental pillars), to have a holistic understanding of public policy interventions. The drugs should only be deemed to work if families, not just the patient, can regain their pre HIV/AIDS socio-economic-environmental status, as well as health. Education and Training for Agriculture Food Security & Nutrition Food Security and Food Safety: A New Human Approach in the SDGs Perspective Carletti, Cristiana; Associate Professor, Roma Tre University, Italy, [email protected] The definition of the international law framework concerning the promotion and protection of the right to food and water, also in connection with high standards of food nutrition, has been elaborated within the United Nations system since the ‘70s and throughout the following decades until the beginning of the 21st century. The main legal reference of the right to food as human right is provided for in Article 11 of the UN Covenant on economic, social and cultural rights: it encompasses the typical features of the second generation of human rights i.e. the individual right to life well-being standards - included the right to food, and the right to be free from hunger, taking in food production, conservation and distribution in respect of basic nutrition principles. This kind of right demands on the part of ICESCR Contracting Parties the obligation to be committed to promote all the necessary conditions to achieve it.


Along these lines the ICESCR Treaty Body (TB) adopted in 1999 its General Comment No. 12 on the right to adequate food, assuming that poverty conditions related to hunger, malnutrition and under-nutrition in Developing and Developed Countries are determined not only by effective lack of food but also by scarce access to available food. Thus the TB formulated two basic concepts to differentiate food security from food safety. From one side it referred to adequacy, linked with availability and accessibility, i.e. the establishment of core parameters - economic, social, cultural and environmental - to grant adequate quantitative and qualitative access to food; it means that the realization of the right to food occurs when individuals or groups of individuals have progressively «physical and economic access at all times to adequate food or means for its procurement». In this sense the safety component is represented by the determination of minimum standards in terms of accomplishment of quantitative and qualitative healthy dietary needs: the food regime entails a sufficient «mix of nutrients to sustain physical and mental growth, development and maintenance» which could be preserved or adapted or reinforced according to human physiological needs. The second basic concept that differentiates food security from food safety is the sustainability, i.e. the opportunity to have permanent access to food for present and future generations. It is mainly linked with the notion of food security, incorporating the long-term perspective of food availability and accessibility. All the above mentioned parameters to determinate adequate, available, accessible and sustainable food security and safety call for different levels of obligations from State authorities in respect of their own populations: the duty to respect, protect and fulfil. A targeted analysis about the issue under consideration was proposed by the United Nations Organization on Food and Agriculture (FAO). Since on the occasion of the World Food Summit held in 1974, food security has been conceptually defined as follows: «availability at all times of adequate world food supplies of basic foodstuffs to sustain a steady expansion of food consumption and to offset fluctuations in production and prices». It is clear that this preliminary definition contains a reference to food safety, that has been further developed in the 1996 Second World Food Summit: «Food security, at the individual, household, national, regional and global levels [is achieved] when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life». The evolution of the two legal concepts under consideration, their mutual and interrelated theoretical linkages, the basics for the compilation and practical implementation of cooperation projects impacting on the effective access to food and water in Developing and Developed Countries, was confirmed on the occasion of the Millennium Summit in 2000.


The idea to sum up the conceptual elements at the core of the definition of the essentials of the international development cooperation in the 21st century by using the word ‘sustainable’ in a double meaning, not only to mention the environmental component but also the economic and the social ones due to their interconnection and mutual interrelation, has been the new challenge for UN Member States and other relevant stakeholders convened in the Rio+12 Summit on Sustainable Development in June 2012. The formulation of some targets to be achieved in a short term perspective have been at the core of the definition of the most recent parameters debated at the UN in New York and Geneva within the 2030 Development Agenda framework. This approach reiterates the original interrelation between the two concepts under exam but also reinforces the sustainable development cooperation at large leading to the new comprehensive formulation of SDG 2, its targets and sub-targets: ‘End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture’. Indeed SDG 2 encompasses the linkages among supporting sustainable agriculture, empowering small farmers, promoting gender equality, ending rural poverty, ensuring healthy lifestyles, tackling climate change. For this reason an ad hoc comprehensive analysis of the SDG 2 is needed at this stage to evaluate if it not only takes in previous traditional conceptual components concerning the definition of the right to food in terms of security and safety but also could be properly achieved in the new international development cooperation vision towards the 2030 time limit. The UNGA Resolution 70/1 adopted on 21 October 2015 and titled ‘Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ makes an explicit and appropriate reference to food security in the UN and Member States «ambitious and transformational vision»: our future world is «A world where we reaffirm our commitments regarding the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation and where there is improved hygiene; and where food is sufficient, safe, affordable and nutritious» (para. 7), so far setting food security and nutrition among the development priorities (para. 17) and working hardly «to end hunger and to achieve food security as a matter of priority and to end all forms of malnutrition» (para. 24). Having this in mind, the elaboration of SDG 2, comprising ad hoc targets and sub-targets, has been very clear and definite, further linked to SDG 12. Community-Based Solutions to Locally-Sourced Food Production Systems Featuring the Revival of Indigenous Knowledge East, May; UNITAR Fellow, Gaia Education; and Mare, Christopher; PhD [email protected], [email protected]


Gaia Education (GE) has been pioneering community-based educational approaches to sustainable design and development. Founded simultaneously with the launching of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (UN DESD) 2005-2014, GE has been developing unique curricula and pedagogy drawn from the precedent of the educational experiences of ecovillage models around the world. With a ten year track-record in forty-one countries on five continents, GE programmes are conducted in settings ranging from tribal and traditional communities to intentional ecovillages, from urban slums to universities and R&D centers. GE educational programmes equip students of all ages and cultural backgrounds with the appropriate knowledge, skills, and analytic tools necessary to design a society which uses energy and materials with greater efficiency, distributes wealth fairly and strives to eliminate the concept of waste. Learners become change agents who will play active roles in transitioning their existing communities and neighbourhoods to sustainable and regenerative practices, lifestyles and infrastructures. The starting-point for this paper is a growing concern about the effects of conventional food systems, based on large-scale, resource-intensive, agribusiness enterprises operating globally. In this context this paper introduces and analyses a series of regional Project-Based learning activities taking place in the Global South, developed within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals that address the three dimensions of sustainability- environment, society, and economy, with culture added as a fourth dimension. These capacity building projects conducted by GE with partners in Bangladesh, Senegal and India support communities to transition from the input-intensive agriculture introduced by forces of globalisation to locally-sourced food production systems featuring the revival of indigenous knowledge and cultural traditions. In this process, whole systems design practices developed in the North are introduced to villagers in the South to complement and augment indigenous knowledge and cultural traditions in an effort to ameliorate the damage done to ecosystems by climate change. The GE model engages local communities in the spirit of participatory action research, working together to find low energy, low cost, creative and innovative solutions to local problems. The GE model also uses a holistic, non-reductionist approach to food security issues, weaving together social, ecological, economic, and cultural dynamics to produce a living synthesis that can result in long-term ecosystem and community health and well-being. In Northern Senegal, GE is working to reverse the desertification trend, reduce soil erosion, harvest and conserve rainfall runoff and improve groundwater recharge. The four villages of the Podor region are utilising the traditional vetiver grass system, combined with agroforestry and permaculture approaches to generate significantly higher yields compared to previous years using agrochemicals. In the Khulna and Bagerhat coastal areas of Bangladesh, considered to be one of the most climate-vulnerable regions of the world, GE is


working with forty-two communities to tackle the increasing intensity of soil salinity through raised beds and floating vegetable cultivation, together with a repertoire of natural techniques for improving soil fertility such as vermi-composting, fish tonic and green manures. In Orissa, India the project aims to break the cycle of food insecurity, strengthen social linkages and improve the status of tribal women. The heart of the project is the campaign ‘Grow Your Own Food’ to counteract so called ‘Climate-Smart Agriculture’ (CSA) techniques. CSA encourages the use of modified seeds, chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, as well as high-risk technologies such as synthetic biology, nano-technology and geo-engineering, all of which only serve to perpetuate dependency on external sources. The paper concludes by examining how GE programmes create learning environments for villagers in climate-vulnerable regions to develop meaningful, actionable knowledge that promotes food security through the sustainable potential of community-based, locally-sourced food production systems. On-The-Line Radio Programme as a Conduit for Sustainable Agricultural Communication: An Example from Benue State Odiaka, Emmanuel; Associate Professor, Federal University Of Agriculture, Makurdi; and Onuh, Janet; Benue State University Makurdi, Nigeria, [email protected] Agriculture was an important sector of the Nigerian economy with high potentials for employment generation, food security and poverty reduction, and the sector accounted for over 80 percent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, the discovery of crude oil in the late 1960s and the huge financial gains made the government to shift its priority from agriculture to crude oil and relied on food importation as a means of feeding her citizens. Consequently, this development affected extension services, which was the main channel of disseminating farm information, and most rural farmers no longer have access to productive information. Development in technology has made it possible for mobile phone owners to interact with radio stations and since radio has the capacity to reach several people at different locations almost at the same time, this study was designed to know the effectiveness and level of interaction of participation on Radio Benue FM on-the-line programme to determine its suitability for educating practicing and potential farmers for sustainable agricultural development. The study was anchored on the Uses and Gratification theory, which centers on what uses we make of the media and what gratification we gain from exposing ourselves to the media, and the Instinctive Stimulus Response theory, which assumes that the mass media are supremely effective mind controlling agents and that all human beings respond inescapably and uniformly to powerful stimuli


from the media. The study used the survey research method and the questionnaire as instrument for data collection. Data collected from 250 randomly selected respondents from Makurdi and Otukpo Local Government Areas of Benue State, who participate in the phone-in radio programme, using a structured questionnaire showed 86% have farms, 55.6% participate regularly, 66.8% get required feedbacks, 79.6% increased their knowledge and 74.8% find the level of interaction high. Issues mostly discussed are social (48.8%), political (29.6%), economic (8.4%), and religious (5.2%). Ï^2 test showed the programme provided required feedbacks (P. value = 0.000, R2. 137.096) and the Mann-Whitney test showed no significant difference in interaction amongst male and female participants (P-value =0.800, Z = -0.254, W = 9415.500). Logit Regression showed age and education have significant effects on knowledge (P-values = 0.006 and 0.001). The study recommends agriculture communicators partner with On-the-line radio producers to enhance greater public participation in farm activities, strengthen knowledge base and participation level of farmers for sustainable agricultural development. Fleet Farming Stampar, Nicholas; United Nations Director, IDEAS for Us, United States, [email protected] Fleet Farming is an urban farming program that converts lawns into organic farms and uses bicycles to distribute fresh produce to local venues. This grassroots, self-sustaining solution was created and sponsored by IDEAS For Us, and targets activating communities to diversify local food production, promoting healthy lifestyles, and reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions associated with the production and distribution of our food. In order to achieve these ends, Fleet Farming empowers, educates, and engages community members in the sustainable reallocation of their property for food growth. Specifically, community members partner with Fleet Farming and donate front, side, or back lawns on their property to be devoted to an urban farm. Subsequently, the food grown through this small-plot sustainable agricultural initiative is shared with the homeowner and sold throughout the community in local restaurants and farmers’ markets -- effectively creating a community-driven and locally sourced sustainable food system. Additionally, in the interest of minimizing carbon output from our production and transportation, Fleet Farming is bike-powered - transporting workers, input resources, and final products to and from farms and market exclusively by bicycle. Most directly, Fleet Farming targets Conference Sub-Theme Number Four: Education and Training. Central to Fleet Farming’s mission and activities is the involvement and education of community members whose knowledge and dedication fuel the project and productivity itself. In the interest of fueling this educational component, Fleet Farming provides a series of educational programs


to engage the community audience in the urban farming movement and teach functional knowledge and skills to help advance their capacity and involvement. These initiatives include an hour-long Fleet Farming presentation and discussion with Fleet employees, available for purchase by any individual or group, hands-on seed planting workshops, team building work-days where groups can learn to construct a small-plot “Farmlette”, and Swarm Rides where interested individuals can ride along with Fleet employees, learn how to farm, and help in the transportation of goods to market as well. Through these initiatives, Fleet Farming is capable of not only effectively impacting local food systems, but also educating and proliferating sustainable practices through the community. Subsequently, while Fleet Farming does involve socially inclusive economic growth by making sustainable economic production available and effective on small and affordable scales, this food solution is directly relevant to Conference Topic Number Three: Agriculture, Food Security, and Nutrition. At the most basic level, Fleet Farming is a community driven and easily replicable solution to an array of agricultural issues, not only involving issues of food security and nutrition, but also in the social and environmental sustainability of food systems themselves. Where centralized food systems create large scale GHG emissions issues, generate socially stratified food insecurity, and risk sufficient nutrient consumption, Fleet Farming provides a system for communities to personally and sustainable face these issues and effectively assuage these concerns. To date, Fleet Farming maintains a network of 11 Farmlettes in the Orlando area, with roughly 6000 total square feet dedicated to small-plot sustainable agriculture, actively grows over 40 crop varieties, and sells products to several local partnered restaurants. Additionally, a Fleet Farming location in Oakland, California is currently in the process of establishing its initial partners and property donors for production. Ultimately, with roughly one third of global GHG emissions sourced in food systems, Fleet Farming represents not only an active recognition of this fact, but a functional and growing attempt to mitigate this trend through the kind of grassroots activism that remains the centerpiece of all of our work at IDEAS For Us. Soil Quality in the Volta Region Of Ghana: Reconciling Rice Farmers’ Perception With Scientific Evidence Zinsu, Emmanuel Kofi; Student M.Sc Agricultural Economics; and Gerster - Bentaya, Dr. Maria; Lecturer Institute of Rural Sociology, University of Hohenheim, Germany, [email protected] The Volta Region of Ghana is the third largest producer of rice in the country, producing about 83,936MT per annum which is about 17% of total national production. The government of Ghana has also identified rice as a priority crop in the region for poverty reduction and ensuring food security, and has formulated


policies to boost production. Intense rice production however, needs appropriate soil fertility management strategies. The farmers’ perceptions and their ability to evaluate soil quality are key competences and their local soil knowledge often forms a much better starting point for communication than scientific soil classifications. However little is known about farmers’ perception of soil fertility and its management and thus the need for the development of extension contents. To address this need, this study explored and identified the most important soil quality indicators known and used by farmers in the classification of their soils. Farmers’ relations and concepts towards the identified indicators were also assessed. Finally, the research investigated how farmers’ perception about soil quality indicators matches with scientific measurements. The mixed method approach was the main study design employed in conducting this study. Participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools such as focused group discussions, individual interviews, transect walks and pair wise rankings were the main methods used to collect data from 124 rice farmers in three rice growing districts in the northern Volta Region of Ghana. Soil samples from selected rice fields were also collected at plough depth of 0-20cm for laboratory analysis and for subsequent comparisons with farmer opinions. Qualitative content analysis was the main method used for data analysis of all transcribed interviews. The most important farmer soil quality indicators were obtained by the use of Kendall’s coefficient of concordance and finally collected soil samples were also analyzed using standardized laboratory procedures. Research findings revealed that in all farmers were able to name and identify 20 major soil quality indicators out of which five (vegetation cover, soil color, earthworms, soil structure and texture) turned out to be the most important used by the farmers to evaluate and classify their soils. Based on these indicators five major local soil types (tordor, ntaariÎµÎµ, ojeka, apibour and montro) were also named and classified by the farmers. Farmers have locally created terms for fertility management and strategies which matches well with scientific terms. With respect to soil physico-chemical analysis, it was revealed that on the whole farmers’ assessment merges well with the measured soil chemical parameters but the farmers missed the fact that the main limiting nutrients of their soils were nitrogen (N) and Phosphorous (P). The study concludes that indeed farmers have a relatively good and ‘holistic’ knowledge of soil fertility and its’ management and their classification of soils is more utilitarian focusing on top soil features rather than sub soil characteristics as compared to scientists. Also, despite the deep knowledge of farmers about their soils, they do not trust in what they know but instead they rely heavily on subsidized mineral fertilizer as their main methods of fertility improvement. The study therefore recommends the development of extension contents to train farmers on innovative ways of maintaining soil fertility. The focus of the extension content should be more of motivation and reinforcement of farmer knowledge as it is evident farmers already possess a considerable amount of soil knowledge.


Education and Training for Disaster Resiliency & Adaptation Arts and Culture: The Fourth Pillar of Sustainable Development / An Experience from Humanitarian Aid Quijano, Lucia; Student, Universidad de los Andes / Ministerio de Cultura de Colombia / Secretaria de Cultura, Recreación y Deporte de Bogotá, Colombia, [email protected] There is a basic premise that cultural activity has positive effects on the quality of life of citizenship and plays positively for important economic, social and environmental developments. Between 2011 and 2013, the Ministry of Culture of Colombia -supported by Colombia Humanitaria (1)- developed the project "Culture in Hostels: my time is your time" as a comprehensive strategy from art and culture to support rebuilding the social fabric of about three million Colombians affected by the emergency of rains generated by the La NiÃ±a phenomenon, from 2010 to 2011. This project proposed and developed a methodology where artistic and cultural practices, in conjunction with the principles of action-reflection-action, played the leading role. Thus, recognition and strengthening of own knowledge, and building collective proposals that contributed to the exit of the crisis and a better future for communities were allowed. The strategy was developed in several stages and positively contributed not only to the set of actions of emergency response and risk mitigation, but to the sociocultural rehabilitation and recovery from the voice of each participant. The model of intervention was so successful that from 2014 its implementation was replicated through the project "Community-it's art, culture and libraries: scenarios for peace." This time the model was set as an articulated strategy of multi-entity cooperation to fully meet the beneficiary communities of the national government’s program of 100,000 houses 100% free (2). The team in charge promoted the recognition of knowledge and needs in order to build a proposal by the communities, including artistic, cultural and recreational practices, and promote reading and writing, with a psychosocial approach. In two years of work they were enhanced 71 districts in 18 departments of the country; more than 87,000 people recognized the other as a "neighbor"; social interaction and the redefinition of resettlement sites as new standards of territoriality, building close relationships, neighborhood and exchange were promoted; friendly and safe environments were generated; hundreds of artistic and cultural groups were created and strengthened; important local leaders were identified and empowered; and new intergenerational and intercultural relations emerged, expressing the desire of communities through agreements. Today, the city government of BogotÃ¡, from the Secretary of Culture, Recreation and Sports, transfers and empowers the main elements of this model through the


urban renewal strategy in priority territories for their high level of vulnerability. This, as a public policy that proposes to advance the cultural transformation for living and building community, from the impulse to sociocultural processes. The results of these experiences confirm the powerful impact of the art and the culture from its contribution to the recovery of vulnerable communities to crisis situations and as an essential factor for the social construction by promoting the human development and the principles of freedom, related to environmental, social and economic sustainable development.

• Colombian government strategy to avert the crisis, in charge of the phases of relief and rehabilitation to a temporary subaccount.

• This project benefit the above mentioned victims of the natural disaster

with housing, as well as victims of armed conflict and/or families living in extreme poverty.

Indigenous Innovations for Education and Training Partners for Engagement and Knowledge Exchange McNab, Wendy; Partners for Engagement and Knowledge Exchange Coordinator, Nanaandawewigamig, Canada, [email protected] Whose voice gets heard in international development policy makings and why? What influence do the production and consumption of knowledge have on the socio-economic development of the Global South? This paper aims to answer these questions by tracing the digital fingerprints of development research on policy documents, focusing on well-known social protection policies, cash transfer programs (CTs). What makes cash transfer an ideal case study concerns its coverage and popularity both as development programs and research topics across the globe. The growth of non-traditional bibliometrics opens a valuable window to view a richer map of scholarly engagement. Beyond journal-to-journal citation counting, the impact of research is now drawn from hyperlinks (Webometrics) or social media (Altermetirics) However, a method that uses reference sections of policy documents as a source for measuring research impact has largely been unexplored. Rigorous characterization of citations in “grey literature” that falls outside the mainstream of published journal fills the gap between citation metrics and real-world impact. Policy reports can captures specific and up-to-date usage of research as a policy supportive tool. The process of the research suggests a standardized way of retrieving and classifying references of policy documents on a large scale. It departs from an existing narrative review on the research-policy


nexus by developing the bibliometric dataset comprehensive enough to detect patterns of policy citations. The outcome of the project offers insights into the contributions of international development research on the decision making in the field. In detail, this study addresses three questions. First, is cash transfer research reflected in policy documents of international development agencies? Second, is there a selection bias with a policy citation network and if so then what kind of articles are more likely to be referenced by policy documents of different development agencies? Third, is the quantity and quality of cash transfer research associated with the amount of development assistance to cash transfer programs? Under the systematic review protocols and automated data mining processes, this project builds an original database of cash transfer policy and research. Citations of policy documents are collected using a python-based scraper, and key elements of bibliographic records for policy documents and research articles are stored in a relational database. The policy and research database will be aligned with domestic and foreign aid budget data earmarked for CTs and social protections. The project uses text analysis, classification/network analysis, and time series analysis to understand the connections between research, policy and aid investment. To address whether cash transfer research find a resonance in government documents in policy documents, the project explores the volume of peer-reviewed journal articles referred in development agency documentation. An important issue in using citation counts is proper normalization, comparing the actual citation counts to the expected rate. Second, the paper analyzes selection bias in knowledge adoption. A classification analysis is conducted to see if there are any common natural patterns across heavily cited, cited and never-cited research groups, and examine factors behind this classification. Additionally, graphical depiction and mapping is performed by coding the co-authorship nodes by institution, and disciplines to evaluate research practitioners or cross-disciplinary research collaboration. Finally, this project estimates the magnitude of temporal correlations between scholarly articles, policy documents, and support for CTs by fitting dynamic models within and across countries. Longitudinal analysis between research and funding, though not causal, would imply that research is not just being used to legitimize already-made decision but also can lead to scale-up specific intervention.


Participatory Bilingual Education: The Highland Community Program in Cambodia Meakh, Sary; Head of Education Science Department, Royal Academy of Cambodia, Cambodia, [email protected] Cambodia is a kingdom in South-East Asia with a population of approximately 15 million. Ethnic Khmer, predominantly Buddhist, constitute close to 90% of the population. Their language is Khmer, making Cambodia one of the linguistically least diverse nations in the region. About 25 other languages are spoken in the country. City-dwelling Chinese, Cham and Vietnamese living along the waterways make up the largest minority groups, while several ethnic minority groups, often labeled “indigenous peoples” or “highlanders,” are predominately located in the northeastern provinces of Cambodia. Highland Community Program in Cambodia is a participatory community school model of bilingual education that targets Indigenous Highland Children and was established by Government, NGO’s and Civil Society in response for sustainable development and opportunities available to children of remote indigenous ethnic minority communities. Students are taught primarily in their native languages at first, and the Khmer language is progressively introduced. The program is based on community participation: communities establish their own school boards based on traditional decision-making processes; these boards are robustly involved in the development of the books and materials used in the schools; they manage the schools; and they select people from within their communities to be trained as teachers. The teachers and schools need to use bilingual education for indigenous minority group communities to achieve education for sustainable development and CMDG’s. What are the good practices in bilingual education for sustainable development programs could be documented, analyzed, and shared. Bilingual education for sustainable development is defined as all learning activities undertaken throughout time with the aims of improving knowledge, skills and competence, within a personal, civic, social and /or employment-related perspective for indigenous minority group in Cambodia. Developing a Local Framework for Empowerment in KwaMhlanga, South Africa Tucker, Andie; Student, Emory University, United States, [email protected] This summer I will be conducting research with the Manaleni Achievement Center (MAC) in the KwaMhlanga township outside of Pretoria, South Africa. The organization serves school aged youth in the township and offers academic support and enrichment, and personal development classes and instruction. The center is effectively reaching elementary aged children, but has struggled to create lasting relationships with teenagers in the township, especially teenage


girls. The MAC is working to create programming that specifically targets the township’s teenage girls that deals with empowerment. To help the organization create empowerment programming, I will research power and agency in the teen girl population in KwaMhlanga to better understand and contextualize empowerment. Instead of creating programming that reflects a western conceptualization of empowerment, my research will help the MAC design programming that will build upon the strengths, self-esteem, and agency the teen girls already have. To understand the population and context and to make strong recommendations, I am going to use Participatory Action Research as my research approach with teen girls in the community. I will serve as facilitator and teen girls will serve as researchers in their own community, and will guide the design and direction of the research. PAR is uniquely relevant to conducting research with teen girls in KwaMhlanga because it is an empowering pedagogical research process that seeks to elevate the voices of the silenced. Children, and especially female children in patriarchal societies, are silenced. Children are usually not viewed as agents or as affecting as much change in their communities as adults. However, children and teens make decisions and shape their worlds in their own way, and youth can be agents of change. As a facilitator of the research process I will offer guidance and resources to the researchers, but the teen girls will guide the direction of the research and will shape all of its outcomes through an iterative process of reflection and action. Through this process, teen girls in KwaMhlanga will educate and train themselves as researchers, and will act as agents of change and innovation in their community. PAR provides an enabling environment for students to participate in research and equips them make decisions to achieve the goals of that research, which is an empowering process. Through the process of this research, the teen girls of KwaMhlanga will have the opportunity to define and innovate their own empowerment, while engaging in an empowering research process. This will connect both the process and outcome of the research, and offer insights into empowerment and the generation of indigenous frameworks for development. The Virtual Balancing Act: Digital Tools for Decolonization Winter, Jasmin; Graduate Student, Master's in Development Practice, University of Winnipeg, Canada, [email protected] The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) has twice noted officially that, “In the evolution of the information society, particular attention must be given to the special situation of Indigenous peoples, as well as the preservation of their heritage and cultural legacy” (Borerro, 2010). This represents a relatively recent shift in the public conceptualization of Indigenous participation in information and communication technologies. New attention has begun to


challenge historical deficit-based models that limit technological education and training to a means to an end in a market-based economy. Through the lens of decolonization, this allows for the exploration of nuanced perspectives that operate outside of the logic that technological development is necessarily linear. With this theoretical framework in mind, this paper draws on the rise of what has been coined the “gamification of development,” or the spectrum of applications for game elements, mechanics, and thinking to engage actors in development issues and conflicts. More specifically, the scope of this paper focuses on computing technologies and the role of Indigenous participation in video game development. This research involves the unpacking of video gaming as a tool for decolonization by examining its potential as a platform for intergenerational learning and digital storytelling. This paper first presents a literature review that draws on existing video game storytelling initiatives, namely the “Skins” and “Abtec” projects under the Initiative for Indigenous Futures in Montreal, as well as “Love Punks,” a project form the Yijala Yala initiative in Australia. This sets the stage for current and ongoing work in Winnipeg, Manitoba, much of which has been pioneered by Dr. Julie Nagam, a professor at the University of Winnipeg and the supervisor for this research. In this paper, theory meets practice in order to evaluate how video game and similar digital technology projects can succeed in meeting objectives of healing, resilience, and reconciliation for Indigenous communities. This paper concludes that there is a need to normalize the perception of Indigenous peoples as stewards and creators of technology rather than simply consumers, discouraging further questions into what technology can do for Indigenous peoples, but what Indigenous peoples have and can do with technology. As a non-Indigenous researcher I aim to thoroughly acknowledge my biases and strive to challenge Settler-imposed ideas of "authenticity" and the "Imaginary Indian," carving out space instead for narratives of agency, self-determination, and the prioritization of Indigenous imagery of the future of technological development in Canada and internationally. Borrero, R. (2010). Innovation and technology for Indigenous peoples. United Nations International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. (Caribbean Islands). Revitalization of Indigenous Midwifery in Canada to Address Maternal and Child Health and Well-being Wood, Sarah; Master's in Development Practice Student, University of Winnipeg, Canada, [email protected]


Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10 to “reduce inequality within and among countries” presents Canada with an interesting opportunity to address the inequalities that persist in Indigenous communities that have been produced and reproduced by colonial policy (United Nations, 2016). This paper will examine how maternal and child health and well-being among Indigenous people in Canada are being addressed through traditional knowledge transmission and cultural revitalization surrounding Indigenous birthing practice and midwifery. By examining Indigenous midwifery care, that is, midwifery care by and for Indigenous people, this paper will explore the feasibility of supporting Indigenous midwifery as a means of implementing SDG 3, “to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages,” in Indigenous communities. The Indigenous population in Canada is both younger than the non-Indigenous population and faster growing, with a high fertility rate, as well as with comparatively high infant and maternal mortality rates, meaning there is a present need for increased access to culturally appropriate prenatal care. The current standard of care for pregnant Indigenous women on remote reserves is the “evacuation” of these women to Southern hospitals away from their communities and families for several weeks. Indigenous midwifery is proving to be a valuable way to address and avoid the holistic health challenges that Indigenous women with normal pregnancies face in having to travel large distances for extended periods of time to major cities. Presently, there are ten formal Indigenous midwifery practices across Canada, operating on reserves and in urban areas. There are also several emerging initiatives designed to preserve traditional knowledge surrounding birth and educate upcoming Indigenous midwives, birth attendants, and parents. While various expressions of midwifery and birthing practices have existed in Indigenous communities for time immemorial, in the context of colonialism and colonial policy, politics of expert knowledge, and the widespread medicalization of birth of the 20th century, a “return” to Indigenous tradition, knowledge and practice surrounding birth and midwifery is an innovative way to address a pressing health and well-being issue for Indigenous people. Indigenous midwifery has been popularized and revived by Indigenous women themselves, evidencing the need for increased attention to issues of access, impacts and growth of these community-driven services. This paper will also discuss the policy implications for the federal government to consider as it supports maternal and child health in Indigenous communities in tandem with the SDGs. Education and Training for Socially Inclusive Economic Growth Aiming Higher: Why the SDG Target for Increased Higher Education Scholarships by 2020 Misses the Mark in Sustainable Educational Development Planning


Bengtsson, Stephanie; Research Scholar; and Barakat, Dr. Bilal; Research Scholar, Wittgenstein Centre for Demography & Global Human Capital, Austria, [email protected], [email protected] One of the major criticisms of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) agenda has been that, while it led to rapid progress in several key development areas, this progress was far from inclusive, and many segments of global society found themselves left behind (Kite, Roche & Wise, 2014). In recognition of this problem, the ambitious Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) agenda explicitly pledges to leave no one behind and to attempt to “reach the furthest behind first.” The agenda includes a number of ‘means of implementation’ targets, which not only exist as targets to be attained in and of themselves, but also are intended to support local communities and countries in attaining the other targets, and thus the SDGs as a whole. There are three means of implementation targets accompanying SDG 4 to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all: one for improving learning environments (4a), one for higher education scholarships (4b), and one for improving teacher capacity (4c). In this paper, we explore the implications of meeting target 4b, that is, by 2020, to “substantially expand globally the number of scholarships available to developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States and African countries, for enrolment in higher education, including vocational training and information and communications technology, technical, engineering and scientific programmes, in developed countries and other developing countries.” Using data from UNESCO’s Institute for Statistics (UIS), including the World Inequality Database on Education (WIDE), as well as information on existing scholarships targeting disadvantaged students, we demonstrate that target 4b may in fact serve as a barrier to inclusive progress within education. Target 4b has multiple flaws. First, given the expansion in the number of secondary school graduates implied by other SDG education targets, even ‘substantial expansion’ in scholarships will - at best - maintain the relative share of eligible recipients who benefit from scholarships. To actually increase this share would require up to a tenfold increase in the number of scholarships available in SSA, for instance. Second, given that learning inequalities begin early, and are primarily driven by disparities in wealth interacting with other forms of disadvantage (Rose and Alcott, 2015), higher education scholarships would be out of reach for many of the most disadvantaged. Third, absent a stipulation that scholarship recipients would have to ‘give back’, “[p]roviding northern doctorates at a cost of $150,000 a throw is an expensive form of development, if the only beneficiary is the individual” (Kirkland, 2016). Higher education has long been under-prioritised in education budgets, and, given increasing international pressure to achieve universal primary and secondary schooling, it is unlikely to make its way up the funding priority list. Using the limited resources available for higher education to fund scholarships is


thus not a cost-effective way to improve access and quality of provision for students from developing countries. We argue that targets 4a and 4c should be prioritised in educational planning ahead of 4b, as investments in infrastructure and professional development, salaries for academic staff, academic exchange programmes, etc. in developing countries are much more likely to lead to inclusive progress within the sector as a whole. Kirkland, J. (2016). International scholarships and the SDGs. Measuring success? A blog series exploring the outcomes of international scholarship schemes for higher education. https://www.acu.ac.uk/about-us/blog/international-scholarships-the-sdgs References Kite, G., Roche, J.M. & Wise, L. (2014). Building a Post-2015 Framework that Leaves No One Behind: A Proposal to Incentivise Inclusive Progress. Paper presented at International Sustainable Development Conference. http://ic-sd.org/2015/04/19/proceedings-from-icsd-2014/ Rose, P. & Alcott, B. (2015). How can education systems become equitable by 2030? DFID Think Pieces: Learning and Equity. HEART. http://www.heart-resources.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Rose-and-Alcott-2015.pdf Waste Management in the Dominican Republic Brinton, Amanda; Graduate Student, University of Florida, United States, [email protected] I will be conducting my practicum from June through August 2016 in Laguna Salada, Dominican Republic coordinating with the local initiative ADEL Valverde (ADELVA) that is supported by ONAPLAN and the UNDP. ADELVA includes public and private partnerships in the province of Valverde to help support the development of sustainable practices to improve wealth and generate work. One of the focus areas is to improve the municipality’s waste management program. During my practicum, I will be working with this initiative to identify ways the program can strengthen its work in three areas: workshops and courses on general environmental education, ADELVA’s organics program, and ADELVA’s recycling program. Specifically, I will be collaborating on ways to expand business relations, partnerships, and niches for the organic soil program and recycling program in order to increase job opportunities for local community members through these businesses. I plan on using various forms of research depending on how the project develops, including appreciative inquiry, focus groups, ethnographic observation, surveys, and individual interviews. My expected results are to improve education


in the community and increase the amount of recyclables and organic material ADELVA is receiving and increase the recycling and organics business partnerships and marketing therefore increasing the number of jobs for people in the community through these business initiatives. The beneficiaries will be the community members who will be employed through these employment opportunities and their dependent family members along with the surrounding environment which will benefit from less solid waste being burned or sent to landfill. My research practicum relates directly to many of the Sustainable Development Goals such as ending poverty, improving sanitation, improving inclusive and sustainable economic growth, improving sustainable consumption among others. Laguna Salada has an unemployment rate of 15%. There is a low income population of 51% and the population affected by extreme poverty is 10.5% (fmam, SGP, & UNDP 2012, 2). According to the Human Development Provincial Index (HDIp) which shows how the different provinces in the Dominican Republic compare against the other, Valverde, where Laguna Salada is located, ranks 19 out of 31 provinces with an HDIp of 0.448 (UNDP Dominican Republic 2014). With this high rate of poverty and extreme poverty, one of the primary goals of my research therefore is to assist in capacity building within the businesses related to waste management in ADELVA and therefore increase the number of jobs relating to the organic waste to soil and recycling industries and reduce poverty in the province. Four million people are estimated to work in the recycling sector in Latin America and the Caribbean (IRR 2015). According to the organization Avina, which focuses on capacity building for recycling cooperatives in Latin America and the Caribbean, “Although these workers (independent waste pickers) are the foundation of the recycling industry value chain, recovering between 50% and 90% of recyclable materials used by the industry or exported from the region, they only receive an estimated 5% of the earnings” (IRR 2015). One way to overcome the challenges of open waste dumps and socio-economic issues faced by independent waste pickers is to support and develop businesses that increase collection of recyclable materials and organic waste used for composting to produce soil. These practices employ people, giving them better wages and better protection from hazards in the work place which is exactly what ADELVA in Laguna Salada is aiming to do and what my research practicum is centered around. References FMAM, SGP, & UNDP. (2012).”Informe Final de Progreso.” Internal Document received January 30, 2016. IRR. (2015). Background. Retrieved February 2, 2016 from http://inclusiverecycling.com/irr/


UNDP. (2015). Dominican Republic. Retrieved from http://www.do.undp.org/ Incorporating Environmental Justice into the Undergraduate Biology Curriculum Dell, Alison; Assistant Professo; Nolan, Kathy; Professor; and I. Mazaharul, St. Francis College, United States, [email protected], [email protected] Neuronal and cardiac developmental defects are correlated with pesticide application and water quality. Human exposure to these pollutants may occur through drinking water, or during contact with water in recreational areas, but the molecular pathways that cause these defects are not well defined. Further, students on urban campuses may not consider their own environment as a source of investigation, nor consider the connection between environment and health in their own neighborhoods, many of which are undergoing rapid change. We report a study plan that integrates undergraduate biology curricula with lessons in environmental justice adaptable for a biology or social science classroom. In order to investigate the roles of common environmental pollutants on neuronal development, undergraduates collected and analyzed samples from sites along Newtown Creek - one of the most polluted waterways in New York City and designated Superfund Site. Undergraduate students assessed each water sample for Chlorine, Copper, Iron, Hardness, Nitrate, pH, and Phosphates and crossed checked and augmented our data set with data from the EPA and local NGO the Newtown Creek Alliance. Undergraduates used bioinformatics tools to predict the molecular targets of these pollutants and and assessed the effects of observed pollutants on the gene expression and neuronal development of the vertebrate model system, the embryonic zebrafish. Students can then map their data back onto local industrial sites undergoing remediation in advance of redevelopment. At each site, we also collected samples for taxonomic identification with the Urban Barcoding Project (to be reported separately). We conclude with our results and a plan for incorporating these studies into an scientific outreach program for engaged citizen science. Cultivating A "Sufficiency" Mindset: Thailand's Educational Strategy for a Sustainable Society Dharmapiya, Priyanut; Principal Researcher, Thailand Sustainable Development Foundation; Saratun, Molraudee; Lecturer, Mahidol University, Mahidol University, Thailand, [email protected], [email protected] Thailand promotes education for sustainable development with a strategy based on the concepts of “sufficiency economy philosophy” (SEP) of His Majesty King


Bhumibol Adulyadej. Sufficiency-based schools apply the principles of the philosophy in their management and learning activities in a “whole-school” approach. SEP offers a decision-making framework: we use our knowledge and virtues in applying three principles - moderation, reasonableness, and prudence - in making our decisions, mindful that the results should allow for a balanced development of economic, social, environmental and cultural outcomes. In the education sector, the aim of the development strategy has been to cultivate a “sufficiency mindset” and practices in the students’ daily lives, by embedding SEP in the curriculum in age-appropriate ways. Sufficiency principles are integrated directly, as decision-making principles, into all subjects and student activities. The movement also encourages school administration to role-model the principles and extend them to community partnerships. As of April 2016, of the approximately 40,000 primary and secondary schools in Thailand, more than 21,000 had been certified as sufficiency-based. Moreover, accredited Sufficiency Educational Learning Centres (SELCs) are mentoring applicant schools to help them become sufficiency-based. So far, 109 schools have been certified as SELCs. Qualitative case study research was conducted to study the activities of nine SELCs in facilitating SEP in education. The choice in SELCs ensured variation in school type and size, rural/urban, religious (Buddhist/Christian/Muslim), and regional differences. Data sources included documents, school visits, school meeting observations, and interviews with school leaders, administrators, teachers, students, and community members. The results uncovered the characteristics of SELC activities: readiness preparation of sufficiency learning; sufficiency-based learning management systems; wide-ranging school activities encouraging sufficiency habits; the individual and organization/community-level outcomes; and sufficiency-based program expansion to other schools and communities. We also analyzed key success factors of SELCs, which include faith in sufficiency principles, shared personal characteristics based on SEP, an enabling environment, effective multi-stakeholder partnerships; expertise in education for sustainability, a focus on socio-cultural dimensions of sustainability rather than a focus on “green” agendas; professional development of staff; and a curriculum committed to sustainability. Based on those findings, we discussed how the sufficiency movement in Thai schools can contribute to achieving SDGs for the nation. Contributing to SGD Implementation by MOOCs Diaz, Liliana; Training advisor, Université Laval, Canada, [email protected] Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have a huge potential to foster sustainable development goals (SDGS), in particular those related to access to education (SDG 4), by promoting access to affordable and quality higher


education. They also can help to create better conditions for more equitable economic growth by helping to improve skills and employability of learners. Though, most of the research conducted so far on MOOC’s users is based on data from industrialized countries and depict them as being mostly "recreational learners" who don’t always seek a real personal and professional development tool (Mintz, 2016). Recent research, specifically focused on the impact of MOOC in developing countries (Garrido & Koepke, 2016) shows instead that learners in developing countries aim to further improve their employment opportunities and their professional skills. This difference is reflected, among others, on success rates ranging in some cases up to 25%, far from the 5% achieved on average in industrialized countries. We can see that the potential of MOOC to contribute to quality education and to the acquisition of key skills to encourage more equitable growth in developing countries should be further investigated. Universities could also review the objectives of their MOOC, originally oriented mainly towards the positioning and recruitment. They could wish to orientate them further toward outreach, in order to contribute to sustainable development. Such an approach could allow consideration of new means of implementation for this new learning tools, and could also be the input to develop new contents and collaborations to foster their offer. Partnerships between universities could then be reinforced in order to strengthen their role in contributing to SDGs through online and affordable training tools, like MOOCs. This communication aims to present an approach to analyze the impacts of MOOC in the implementation of SDGs, taking into account the specific conditions and the perspective of developing countries’ learners. She will present, as an example, the results of the first MOOC of the UniversitÃ© Laval “Sustainable development, challenges and trajectories”, with two editions and nearly 10,000 participants from 94 countries. The presentation also aims to initiate a discussion with the participants of the IC-SD about possible collaborations to enhance the potential of MOOC in the implementation of the SDGs. References Garrido, Maria and Koepke, Lucas, 2016, The Advancing MOOCs for Development Initiative. An examination of MOOC usage for professional workforce development outcomes in Colombia, the Philippines, & South Africa University of Washington. https://digital.lib.washington.edu/researchworks/bitstream/handle/1773/35647/Advancing_MOOCs_for_Development_Final_Report_2016.pdf?sequence=9 (Consulted the 18-04-2016)


Mintz, Steven, « Why Higher Education Needs to Be More Future-Focused », April 20, 2016 Inside Higher ED https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/higher-ed-beta/why-higher-education-needs-be-more-future-focused (Consulted the 22-04-2016) Rethinking Poverty Reduction by Microfinance Institutions: A Case Study of Rural Subsistence Farmers in Uganda Babi, David Kamusaala; Lecturer and Head of Department, Department of Human Resources - Institute of Management Sciences, Mbarara University Of Science & Technology, Uganda, [email protected] The introduction and establishment of microfinance institutions (MFIs) world-wide is viewed as the best alternative source of financial services for low income earner in rural areas as a means to raise their income, hence reducing their poverty levels. With so many of the poor now able to establish or expand simple income-generating projects, there were hopes that poor communities the world over would soon escape poverty on an unprecedented scale; since, poverty reduction is the first and foremost objective of microfinance. However, it is a question of much debate in Uganda, like in many other African countries as poverty is one of the biggest problems in their midst and remains a matter of growing concern. This paper argues that microfinance proponents describe poverty as a condition of being poor, rather than considering how and why the condition exists. This description typically focuses on individual lack of credit. The paper contends that poverty is a complex phenomenon; part of which, the lack of credit is an outcome of the social processes and need to be understood within the context of social institutions and systems. To be able to understand, anticipate or attempt to alter this outcome, there is need to understand the structures and processes that underlie these deprivations. Poverty therefore, needs to be understood as being strongly influenced by the resources that people can claim, under what conditions and with what level of choice. This paper adopts the Cumulative and Cyclical interdependencies theory to analyze the poverty reduction efforts by Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in Uganda. As a way forward, the paper identifies alternative perspectives that have been explored as possible and more fruitful for engaging with the phenomenon. Transforming Youth Years in Senegal: Developing a Youth Venture Program with Ashoka Sahel Kane, Rugiyatu; MDP Student, University of Florida, Egypt, [email protected]


Though people claim that “today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders” the reality is that in continents such as Africa where youth make up more than half of the population of countries, it is essential for youth to be active participants today. Youth all over the world have a role to play in their own development as well as the development of their communities which goes beyond having just ‘a voice’ or a symbolic presence; it signifies being an active agent of change (UNICEF, 2007). In Senegal, the development of a Youth Social Entrepreneurship Program by Ashoka aims to learn how to tap into the large resource that youth can offer. The Ashoka Youth Venture Program is therefore designed to be a hands-on, experiential process that guides young people through the journey of being change-makers and in turn launching and leading their own socially benefitting ventures (Haynes 2015). This paper aims to explore the process of designing and adapting the Ashoka Youth Venture Program to the context of Senegal. It is important to understand the context social entrepreneurship in Senegal, especially the challenges that youth face, the skills or resources they may need, the dynamics of starting a social venture, and the key stakeholders or organizations in place who tackle related issues. The methods therefore consist in carrying out a needs assessment by conducting focus groups with youth/students from high schools and universities followed by a short pilot session to introduce some of the program curriculum as a means to better identify the needs of youth and get useful feedback. Additionally, the current approach that local schools and universities already in partnership with Ashoka may have towards youth social entrepreneurship is assessed by administering interviews with high school and university officials or instructors. Integrating youth social entrepreneurship within or complimentary to the education systems in Senegal is essential in giving young people the experience they need to gain the confidence and support to be successful in not only leading their own projects, but also in developing the skills they need to be powerful change-makers now and throughout life (Haynes, 2015). In alignment with the Sustainable Development Goal 4 for achieving inclusive and quality education for all, it reaffirms the belief that education is one of the most powerful and proven vehicles for sustainable development. Recommendations based on needs assessment and best practices will therefore be provided on how to contextualize a social entrepreneurship education and training program for youth in Senegal. Reflections on the Life Stories of Gemstone Professionals in Madagascar Lawson, Lynda; Training and Knowledge Transfer Manager, Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, Sustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland, Australia, [email protected]; and Tsiverisoa Herizo, Harimalala; Lapidary Trainer, Institut de Gemologie de Madagascar, [email protected] The beneficiation of gemstones in the country of origin is a great challenge facing countries across Africa. Tanzania has successfully created a gemstone cutting and jewellery making hub in the Arusha area and the Ethiopian opal sector has


had some promising developments in cutting and polishing. Over the past 20 years Madagascar became one of the world’s largest producers of fine sapphires ranging from the best blues to yellows, pinks, oranges and purple (Shigley, 2010) as well as rubies emeralds, spinel and tourmaline to name just a few. In 2008 with the assistance of World Bank funding, the Institut de Gemologie de Madagascar (IGM) was established to provide high quality, internationally recognised training in skills such as gemology, lapidary skills and costume jewellry making . Sadly a large proportion of Madagascar’s stones continue to be exported rough and are cut in specialist cutting factories in South and South East Asia and then exported on to show rooms and auction houses in centres such as Hong Kong (Cartier, 2009). The economic opportunities which could flow into the country form value addition remain elusive. In the face of such challenges, this paper looks for inspiration to the stories of successful graduates of the IGM, those local Malagasy craftsmen and women who have established their own businesses or who are working in responsible positions in their trade in Madagascar. Using a work life course methodology (Elder, 1994) which looks at precipitating factors and ‘turning points’ in an individual’s career, this paper will synthesise learnings from a series of detailed life histories recorded across Madagascar in 2014 and 2015. The analysis of these stories is informed by theoretical insights from literature on institutional voids; these may hamper the development of successful business or, in some case, also create conditions where certain entrepreneurs thrive on bricolage, -”making do with whatever is at hand” , (Mair & Marta, 2009, p.420) and in so doing legitimate new actors in their business in challenging circumstances. Cartier, L. (2009). Livelihoods and production cycles in the Malagasy artisanal ruby-sapphire trade: A critical examination. Resources Policy, 34(1-2), 80-86. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2008.02.003 Elder, G. H. (1994). Time, Human Agency, and Social Change: Perspectives on the Life Course. Social Psychology Quarterly, 57(1), 4-15. doi: 10.2307/2786971 Mair, J., & Marta, I. (2009). Entrepreneurship in and around insitutional voids; a case study from Bangladesh. Journal of Business Venturing, 24(5), 419. Shigley, J., Laurs, A., Elen, S. & Dirlam, D. . (2010). Gem Localities of the 2000s. Gems and Gemology, 46(33), 188-216. University-Civil Society Collaboration for Implementing Sustainable Development Goals in Brazilian Northeast Menezes, Henrique; Associate Professor, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Brazil, [email protected]; Minillo, Xaman; Associate Professor,


Universidade Federal da Paraíba; and Beder, Inalda; Analyst, United Nations Development Program, [email protected] The aim of this paper is to present the activities of the research and community engagement project "Civil Society Participation in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals" been developed at the Federal University of ParaÃ-ba (UFPB) since January of 2015. The project has two principal lines of action: 1. The dissemination of the UN development agenda, through courses and training offered to public managers, organized civil society groups, educational institutions and other interested political and civil associations. 2. Mapping all the research projects and engagement activities held by UFPB to categorize them according to the UN Sustainable Development Goals with the propose to collaborate with the implementation process of the goals in the region. The Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB) is one of the largest public universities in Brazil, with a huge budget and a significative number of research and engagement projects running nowadays. The university is located in one of the poorest states of the federation, Paraíba (23rd place among 26 states in terms of HDI), in the Brazilian Northeast (the region as a whole has the lowest levels of human development in the country). So, the university can more actively and deeply contribute in the process of regional development, the creation of creative and intelligent solutions to local problems and, at the end, meeting SDGs. Objectives During the last months, the project collaborated with more than 10 training courses for political actors on UN Development Goals in four states in the Brazilian northeast, with important results in educational management policies. In addition, the project turns to a comprehensive evaluation of the research activities been developed in UFPB that can contribute to local development, categorizing the actions taking as reference SDGs. The idea is to encourage the dissemination of these projects in a way they can contribute to local administrations, create synergies with social and productive actors in the region. Boosting Social Mobility: The Grass Can Be Greener for All Mercado, Nestor; MDP Alumni, Los Andes University, Colombia, [email protected] For the first time ever, Colombia’s investment in education has surpassed its military investment. However, the country invests only 3.8% of its GDP in education while other countries invest 6%. There are more than 1.8 million students in higher education, but only about 0.5% have access to government loans and scholarships. There are 288 universities across the country but only 38


are certified as high quality institutions, therefore only the most advantaged students can access high quality education. The purpose of this study is to measure the difference in social mobility indicators on students coming from different backgrounds. The study measures social mobility in terms of income, labor status and other variables of general wellbeing. The sample included students graduated between 2000 and 2015. The main results are: (i) students attending high quality institutions earn significantly more than those attending other institutions, (ii) there is an earnings gap between students within the same university and with the same GPA, (iii) education reduces earnings gaps, (iv) work experience contributes to reduce earnings gaps, (v) the gaps never close completely, (vi) very few high school students have the skills needed to get scholarships for higher education. The main conclusions are: (i) educational institutions mark people’s path to success favoring only a few and worsening poverty and social inequality in developing countries, (ii) more high quality institutions are needed to produce changes in social mobility indicators at the national level, and (iii) it is crucial to provide high school and university students with the skills needed for life and work. I propose to create an international observatory of education that will monitor the progress of lagging institutions and facilitate the transferring of best practices from high to low quality institutions. The observatory will also connect with high school students in grades 9, 10 and 11, through training courses on life skills. Specific activities of the observatory could be: (i) creating an international network of teaching, (ii) promoting and create incentives for the exchange of teachers among countries, (iii) publishing best teaching methodologies by areas of study, (iv) providing life skills courses for teachers and students online, (v) creating an international database of scholarships and financial support, and (vi) supporting schools on the implementation of management best practices to achieve high quality standards. This way we will help achieving SDGs 4, 8 and 10, by multiplying the access of millions of people to quality education, providing the means to attain decent work with economic growth, and reducing social inequalities across countries. Unravelling the Gender Bind, Uncovering the Heterogeneity of Domination Middlehurst, Molly; Author; Murphy, Susan P.; Corresponding Author, Assistant Professor in Development Practice; and O’Rourke, Ms. Niamh; Author, Trinity College Dublin - University College Dublin, Ireland, [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]; Shilla, Davita and Raphael, Christina, Dar Es Salaam University College of Education


It is widely recognised that formal education is foundational to human development and economic growth. Improving education for girls and young adolescent females correlates with improved development outcomes for women, families, and communities. Education is an essential ingredient in the development and maintenance of democratic and accountable political and social institutions as well as providing positional and non-positional benefits to the individual and their capacities of agency and individual autonomy. The MDG period saw increases in the number of girls and boys accessing primary education, and also witnessed a strong increase in the number of young women entering higher education institutions. However, it is also well known that access to education alone is not sufficient to reduce or dissolve gender inequalities. Formal education can act as a space for social transformation but it can also act as a site where discrimination is perpetuated. It can either reinforce or challenge harmful social norms. Gender identities and constructions of masculinities and feminities are socially produced, contextual, positional and ever shifting phenomenological categories that directly influence the lived experiences of human beings across all places and spaces. They can define the opportunities and constraints, limits and extent of possible life choices in economic, social, political and domestic spaces for members of a community. As a consequence of the well-recognised discriminatory practices against women and members of marginalised populations, a number of higher education institutions have turned to gender equality activation strategies as a tool to assist in the deconstruction of damaging gender stereotypes. This research project emerged through a collaborative engagement between the TCD-UCD Masters in Development Practice (MDP) and Dar Es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE). As the primary institution with responsibility for training second and third level teachers in Tanzania, DUCE has a unique leadership role to play in enhancing gender equality and inclusion in education at both secondary and higher levels across Tanzania. The leadership of DUCE are seeking to establish a best-in-class model of education based on lived principles of gender equality and social inclusion. In order to identify and design appropriate policies and practices, a research project commenced in 2013 that first set out to baseline gender equality and social inclusion within the university; secondly, to engage the college community in deconstructing negative gender stereotypes through the implementation of a range of polices aimed to increase inclusion and equality across the campus; and finally, to measure the impact of these interventions. Using a blend of quantitative and qualitative social scientific methods, the research project examined constructions of gender within the higher education context, uncovering multiple forms of discrimination against and domination of both males and females. It found that strategies which aimed at improving levels of gender equality offered substantial benefits to the entire community, not only female staff and students. Further, it found that exploring and challenging the strict and rigid gender binary within the social context of the


college provides a pathway to tackling different forms of gendered domination that can affect staff and student progress. Thus it finds that access to education and female only strategies although necessary, are not sufficient to achieve gender equality. Rather a whole-of-community engagement is required to unravell deep rooted biases and to tackle diverse forms of domination that effect different members of the community in different ways. Lessons in Displacement: Challenges and Solutions of Girl’s Education in Refugee Camps in Kenya Rayale, Kadra; Master's of Development Practice Candidate at the University of Waterloo, Canada, [email protected] Education and training of youth in refugee camps present particular challenges that range from access to quality education caused by a lack of teachers and resource allocations. As the fourth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), education is a vital resource that has shown to increase the economic development of any nation. Together with non-government organizations and aid agencies, States that accept refugees must address issues ranging from teacher retention rates, funding constraints, gender-based violence, and kidnappings. The education of girls in these camps present specific challenges that hinder their ability to learn and contribute to their own development beyond these communities. The learning environment that young girls often endure is a vital part of the work delivered by aid organizations and governments who receive and settle large influx of migrants. Organizations such as the Windle Trust Kenya are seeking to increase girl’s access to education in two of the world’s largest and oldest refugee camps, Kakuma and Dadaab in Kenya. Along with the help of the Kenyan government and other aid partners, this organization has helped to create a learning environment for these girls who have shown success in furthering education that allows these girls to invest in their own personal and professional development. This paper will review the challenges in establishing productive learning environments for girls in refugee camps by tracking the progress made by Windle Trust Kenya. Topics such as parental consent, gender responsive pedagogy, and teacher training programs that have positively contributed to girl’s access to quality education in these camps will be discussed. I will end with a comparative analysis with regards to the Syrian camps in Jordan and Turkey to address targeted programs that have been successful in Kenya that may be replicated in these areas. Can Education Meet the Sustainability Challenge? Benavot, Aaron; Communications and Advocacy Specialist, UNESCO - GEM Report, France, [email protected]


Drawing on a well-tested model and twelve reports produced since 2002, the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report has a new mandate for the next 15 years to monitor progress towards the fourth Sustainable Development Goal on education. The first in a new series, and written over an 18 month period, the 2016 GEM Report will be launched in early September of this year and will examine the multiple and interconnected links between education and key aspects of the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It builds compelling arguments, drawing on the latest evidence from experts around the world, showing that how and what we are taught in schools and education programs not only influences our knowledge, skills, attitudes and worldviews but also our choices for investment and research, and our mutual respect for each other. Specifically, the GEM Report shows how much and which types of education are vital for achieving the goals of poverty reduction, hunger eradication, improved health, gender equality and empowerment, sustainable agriculture, resilient cities, and more peaceful, equal and inclusive societies. It underscores the principle that we must transform education with people and planet in mind. Of specific interest to this conference, the 2016 GEM Report examines the way that education can create a stronger relationship between expanding sustainable economic activities and social inclusion. Education of good quality which is distributed equitably can contribute to prosperity that is conceived in a way that leaves no one behind. For starters, making primary and secondary education of good quality widely accessible can enable large numbers of individuals and their families to augment their incomes above and beyond the poverty line. Among lower income countries, the achievement of basic education particularly benefits the poorest, and is associated with increased earnings and consumption among rural and informal sector workers and their families. Higher levels of education reduce the likelihood that households experience long periods of chronic poverty or transmit poverty between generations. Similarly, education reduces poverty through increasing chances of finding decent work and improved earnings, reducing job insecurity, and helping close wage gaps due to gender, socio-economic status and other bases of discrimination. The Report also examines instances where education systems have resulted in increased social inequalities. It shows in which circumstances, and why, expansion in education systems can divide, rather than unite. Symptoms such as job polarization and the rise of the services sector in the context of continued globalisation are discussed.


Circumstances outside of education’s control, including the shape of future labour demands, make education a vital equalising mechanism, but not the sole solution to inequality. Teaching Inclusive Business Strategies Through Collaborative Group Projects Ruggiero, Alix; Graduate, Rutgers University, United States, [email protected] The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an interconnected network of targets crucial to the systemic well-being of the world (Le Blanc, 2015). Each goal and target relies on one another to achieve the equilibrium of economic, social, and environmental sustainability envisioned by SDG creators. However, companies are set to fixate on goals that meet their corporate priorities and overlook those outside of their comfort zones (PWC, 2015). The exclusion of certain SDGs in favor of others is inconsistent with the intended application of the network of targets and will likely result in short-term efforts for deep-routed global development issues. Business schools have the greatest opportunity to help recognize the value of Inclusive Business to drive socially inclusive economic growth in a way that does not exclude one development issue over another. Inclusive business models find synergies between all of the development goals and the company’s core operations to expand access to goods, services, and livelihood opportunities for low-income communities in commercially viable ways (“About inclusive business,” 2015). Using Inclusive Business models to place sustainable economic, social, and environmental development at the core of a business creates lasting solutions to development issues in low-income communities by turning, “passive recipients of aid [into] active contributors of their own development” (Santos, 2016). As a result, business alignment with the SDGs will develop organically and inclusive of multiple goals and targets. Students participate in a semester-long group project. Each group represents a business responsible for generating socially inclusive growth through multi-sector partnerships with non-profits, non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) and governmental institutions in one of seven clusters: Economy, Developing Countries, Health Workers, Women & Girls, Youth, Livable Cities, and Environment.


Each group member is assigned a position: Partnerships, Economic, Social, and Environmental Officer. The Partnership Officer serves as the group representative on the class UN Council and is responsible for communicating with other groups, mobilizing and sharing knowledge, expertise, technologies and financial resources, and seeking opportunities for cross-sector partnerships and innovations. Remaining officers implement inclusive business strategies into their organization by aligning their core business practices with inclusive economic, social, and environmental development, respectively. Final products will be a presentation and a paper organized as a case study following Harvard Business School model. Student assessment will be done on two levels: Each group is assessed for its ability to design a socially inclusive business by aligning the company’s core operations with the economic, social, and environmental development of the communities within their cluster. The entire class will share a grade for its participation on the UN Council and their capacity to engage in strategic partnerships in order to maximize sustainable development across every sector. The project addresses the two prevailing obstacles facing inclusive business implementation: sustainability and scale (Santos, 2016). By recognizing the interconnectivity of global issues, students are privy to the idea that businesses have the responsibility to go beyond philanthropy to drive long-term and expansive growth in low-income communities. Using a collaborative group project as the teaching method mirrors the mandate for cross-sector partnerships in achieving the highest attainable level of inclusive, sustainable development throughout the entire world. These practical lessons will follow the students not only throughout their academic career, but also when they become business leaders in the future. References About Inclusive Business. (2016, March 31). Retrieved from http://www.inclusive-business.org/inclusive-business.html Division for Sustainable Development, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2015, December). Partnerships for Sustainable Development Goals: A legacy review towards realizing the 2030 agenda. Retrieved from https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/2257Partnerships%20for%20SDGs%20-%20a%20review%20web.pdf


Le Blanc, D. (2015, March). Towards integration at last? The sustainable development goals as a network of targets. Retrieved March 31, 2016, from http://www.un.org/esa/desa/papers/2015/wp141_2015.pdf PWC. (2015). Make it your business: Engaging with the Sustainable Development Goals. Retrieved March 31, 2016 from http://www.pwc.com/gx/en/sustainability/SDG/SDG%20Research_FINAL.pdf Santos, L. A. (2016, March 04). The potential for inclusive businesses gains attention in SDG era. Retrieved March 31, 2016, from https://www.devex.com/news/the-potential-for-inclusive-businesses-gains-attention-in-sdg-era-87815 Santos, L. A. (2016, February 19). Why inclusive business for #globaldev has not (yet) taken full flight. Retrieved March 31, 2016, from https://www.devex.com/news/why-inclusive-business-for-globaldev-has-not-yet-taken-full-flight-87761 Achieving Socially Inclusive Economic Growth: A Study of Skill Development Training of Women in Rural Maharashtra, India S S, Sripriya; Reseach Scholar, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India, [email protected] The inclusive growth aims to ensure that high rates of economic growth translate improved standards of living for all citizens, including the marginalized sections. Skills development is a key in stimulating a sustainable development process and can make a contribution to facilitating the transition from the informal to the formal economy. Development scenario and Demographic characteristics of India have increasingly necessitating to bring a large volume of youth population in the workforce. Youth (15-29 years) comprises 27.5 per cent of the total population in India as per Census of India, 2011. The demographic dividend is perceived to be the strength of India but it has to be considered with caution. Unless skilled, and provided with employment opportunities, the huge demographic dividend might end up being a liability rather than an asset. Skill development of youth has emerged as a priority in India and a number of skill-training initiatives have been undertaken recently, especially for women in rural areas so as to attain socially inclusive economic growth. Opportunities in the labour market are important means for women to achieve greater equality with men; and the more skilled the female workforce is, the wider women’s choices in labour markets will be, and the more likely they are to secure equal treatment.


The present paper focuses on the impact of skill development training provided to rural women on their employability, based on a study carried out recently among the trainees of a vocational centre in Maharashtra state of India. A mixed method approach- quantitative and qualitative approaches- were used in the study. A sample survey was carried out, as part of the quantitative study, among the beneficiaries of the training programme on skill development. An interview schedule for the target youth was developed by focusing on the objectives laid down for the study. Altogether 107 trainees out of the total 120 trainees enrolled at the centre, were covered in the study. Gender wise data showed that in case of females, the nature of courses which they attend like tailoring and beautician courses are not viewed by them for their prime employment point of view; but considered as a source to raise additional income to supplement their family income. The results indicate that the level of awareness and knowledge about the various aspects of the training programme are relatively better among the males as compared to female trainees. Gender wise data reveal that those who have stated that the training enabled them to gain confidence are in an overwhelming proportion (80.8%) among females as against only 53 percent among males. Based on the findings of the study, a set of policy and programmatic measures are suggested in the paper to enhance the skills among women in rural India. Given that there exists gender wise wide variations in the type of training programmes offered at the vocational training centres, more programmes which are not only accessible and interesting to the trainees but also employability oriented and industry demand driven should be offered at the centres. Such programmes are further more important for females so as to enhance their status and economic independency in the society. The Role of Governmental Training Program in Increasing Youth Employability Rate: Evidence from Kazakhstan Temerbayeva, Aizhan; PhD student, Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education, Kazakhstan, [email protected] In the current era of globalization it is important for higher education and vocational education graduates to meet demands of the labor market. Young people’s employability depends greatly on their theoretical and practical skills developed at educational institutions. In the context of Kazakhstan, due to poor quality of internship programs in universities students have lack of employability skills. Moreover, Kazakhstani employers demand from “fresh” university or college graduates at least three years of work experience in their professional field. As a consequence, it decreases the chances of graduates to be employed and makes them socially exclusive population with limited opportunities to have job and contribute to economic growth of Kazakhstan. To address this issue, the


government of Kazakhstan initiated “Youth Practice”, a six-months training program designed for graduates of universities and colleges to help them get first experience and find a job. Unfortunately, there is a lack of research on analyzing how trainees benefit from the “Youth Practice”. This qualitative study explores how the program helps graduates of Kazakhstani universities get practical skills and work experience, as well as find a fulltime job. In order to get in-depth understanding of the central phenomena, the following instruments were employed: document analysis, individual and focus group interviews with “Youth Practice” administrators, trainees and trainers. The study findings show that the participation in “Youth Practice” is mainly beneficial for trainees to get experience and be employed in future. The trainers also benefit from this program because they often hire their employees from amongst strong trainees. However, the study also showed that there are some issues with the “Youth Practice” program including its poor organization, lack of proper mentoring, lack of challenging and relevant internship experiences, low employability rate, and low salaries. The study offers ways of improving the structure of the “Youth Practice”, as well as suggests some policy and practice implications. Costa Rica, Seven Steps for Sustainability Empowerment and Social Inclusion: A Transversalizing Tool Temple, Helen; Professor, Universidad Veritas, Costa Rica, [email protected] Data, education and action for sustainability are lacking. We can identify huge gaps at the heart of our homes and everyday activities. Differentiated diagnosing (after Sachs 2015) for everyday sustainability action is needed, and the people who should diagnose, each and every one of us, are not empowered, educated and active in sustainability. It has previously been concluded that individual responsibility along with political will for advancing sustainability are the 2 major sustainable development (SD) obstacles of our time (Monbiot 2009). Whilst recent shifts in political will should be celebrated (especially in the wake of global consensus for the Paris Climate Agreement) these must also be matched with identifiable shifts in individual responsibility. Yet listening to the applause for our world leaders, we can also hear: “when will the SD shift start trickling down? “Will it ever get to my neighbour?” We receive echoes of sustainability shifts while being told to change our own individual behaviour, our communities, our workplaces. Families, children, communities, indeed everyone, is on the brink of the global environmental crisis, but most managing to disconnect with it, waiting for solutions from above, confused to act, or unsure how to take the first step. We get told to eat organic, reduce our footprints, recycle, plant a tree, but not where, when, how, with whom, for whom, for what, for how long? We are failing to transversalize not only the knowledge to navigate sustainability issues, but also failing to provide basic tools for the empowerment needed to take appropriate action. Simultaneously shying from consolidating social inclusion through


sustainability education means empowerment, equity and ecosystem health continue to weaken. Innovations in sustainable educational approaches providing steps for people to be clearer about making their own decisions about sustainability are needed, with bold and bright instructions on the sustainability label and condensed sustainability techniques. The Seven Steps for Sustainability Empowerment and Social Inclusion propose just that: seven simple steps to engage us in a differentiating diagnosis of our surroundings and socio-development contexts, enabling active citizens seeking healthier environments for all. The Steps, including how to connect with ecosystems, human rights issues, development paradigms, will hopefully be shared for the first time at the 2016 International Conference on Sustainable Development. They will be discussed in relation to the Costa Rican case study, where even with its oft-labelled socially inclusive economy and history of socially protective development strategies, the disconnect is clear. People simply do not know what development paradigm they inhabit; they lack understanding of the impediments to their own development, security and health. The sustainability disconnect is also clear. People might benefit from a welfare state or manage to hang on to disintegrating and shifting social safety nets, but know little about what type of SD is offered; unable to actively participate in creating the type they want. Costa Rica is rolling back the state and unfolding a version of SD which is failing to integrate and engage prepared and active citizens. Resulting in an SD “a medias”, a greening of the economy, weak SD without social inclusion. The battle between business-as-usual and ecological modernity plays out, resulting in country wide green-washing and greater social exclusion. The seven steps proposed here hope to offer a way to help fix the ailing attempt at a sustainability lacking individual action, responsibility and inclusion. They are based on differential diagnosis, human needs, social inclusion, participatory approaches, and transversalising for sustainability methods. The beauty of them being - they can be activated by anyone, anywhere, at anytime. Women Learning Alliances for Greening Manufacturing Industries in Developing Countries Vasquez, Paola; Phd Candidate, Adjunct researcher, Genstainable Foundation Director; and Restrepo, Inés; Associate professor, Cinara Institute, Universidad del Valle, Colombia, [email protected], [email protected] Enough attention has not been given to the role of women in the introduction of cleaner technologies in industries. Cleaner Production (CP) initiatives, also known as pollution prevention, in developing countries are usually oriented to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) where these are the most common and important industries for employment generation. Commonly,


manufacturing MSMEs are in hands of men. However, an all-women leadership alliance is helping transform Colombia’s highly polluting industries into cleaner, greener businesses. Leading women from academia, NGOs, utility companies, public organizations and large and small industries came together to create the first “Women & CP learning alliance”, through which women promote partnerships to foster clean production practices. All women have one thing in common - they have already led successful cleaner production projects in various industries. For example, a woman from the electroplating industry, who eliminated the use of cyanide, decreased the use of heavy metals, and reused water, joined the alliance. A woman from a sugar cane sub-product enterprise (trapiche panelero), who eliminated the use of burning tires to run the artisanal oven by switching to an energy-efficient oven, became part of the women’s CP alliance. In our experience, women who lead CP projects commonly go beyond the goals of the projects and the fulfilment of the environmental legislation. Women are completely committed to CP and willing to share their experiences and knowledge with others. Thus, the women & CP alliance has been effectively leading and participating in green industries initiatives in Colombia in priority industries, such as the electroplating, food production, and construction industries. Women actively support environmental training initiatives and the development of CP proposals and projects. In the construction value chain in Valle del Cauca (Colombia), for one large construction firm and 10 of its suppliers, women led the change to: use photovoltaic energy for lighting and pumping rainwater; put proper construction waste recycling programs in place; reuse the water from processes to cut bricks; reuse construction material waste in road improvements; replace wood forms in all the construction processes; replace motorcycles with bicycles for supervising construction projects; and reduce paper consumption in administrative processes. By training the construction industries staff, the women led significant technological changes in the construction processes of the large and small enterprises in order to reduce pollution and address climate change in an industrial activity with a large environmental footprint. Women’s alliance work in fighting climate change has been awarded at national and international level. Women have demonstrated they have an important role to play in greening manufacturing industries, especially MSMEs in developing countries. MSMEs commonly have difficulties to access environmental knowledge and technologies. Women’s learning alliances around CP have demonstrated to be an effective methodology to support and encourage more polluting industries to make the shift to cleaner production. Women learning networks are key to transform polluting industries into cleaner businesses. Innovation in Technology and Governance for Agriculture Food Security & Nutrition


Environmental Technology Gaps and Technical Efficiency of Rice Farms in Northern Ghana Asravor, Jacob; MSc candidate, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany, [email protected]; Onumah, Edward E.; PhD, University of Ghana, Ghana; Wiredu, Alexandra N.; PhD, CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Ghana; and Siddig, Khalid H.A.; PhD, Humboldt Universitat zu Berlin, Germany Cereals constitute the most widely consumed food staples in Ghana and the main cereals produced are maize, rice, millet and sorghum. Besides its importance as a food staple, rice cultivation is a germane source of cash in locales where it is grown and it has also been identified as a strategic food security crop in Ghana. These notwithstanding, Ghana has incessantly witnessed supply shortfalls in domestic rice production leading to massive importation of the commodity to make up for the shortfalls. For instance, in 2013, Ghana imported 644,334Mt of rice valued at $392.30 million. Such overreliance on rice imports has grave implications for Ghana's strive against food insecurity, low household incomes and high incidence of poverty. It also exerts pressure on Ghana's foreign reserves and restrains investment in other sectors of the economy. The continuous importation of the produce despite Ghana's potential to be self-sufficient in its production is inimical to the country's efforts towards the achievement of the sustainable development goals. Efficiency and productivity improvements on Ghanaian rice farms are crucial for livelihoods improvement in Ghana. This study examines the relative efficiency and environmental technology gaps of rice producing households, operating in two different production environments in northern Ghana for the purpose of formulating location-based policies aimed at increasing rice production in both agro-ecological zones. The study adopts the stochastic frontier and meta-frontier approaches to determine the productivity of inputs, technical efficiency, technology gaps and technical inefficiency determinants of rice farms in both zones. The study uses primary data collected from 768 rice farms, consisting of 454 and 314 rice farms from the savannah and forest agro-ecological zones, respectively. The results indicate that the main drivers of rice productivity across both agro-ecologies are land size, fertilizer and labour. Rice cultivation in both zones is characterized by decreasing returns to scale, an indication that rice productivity increases less proportionately with a proportionate increase in all farm inputs. At the zonal level, farms in the savannah and forest zones are found to be 82% and 59% technically efficient, respectively. The findings further reveal average environmental technology gaps of 50% and 94% for farms in the savannah and forest zones, respectively. This shows that forest zone farmers are the most closest to the extant industrial meta-technology whilst their counterparts are the most distant. The mean technical efficiency relative to the meta-frontier are estimated to be 41% and 55% for farms in the savannah and forest zones, respectively.


The study further identifies ownership of farm land, participation in rice training programs, access to markets and engagement in other forms of income generating activities inter alia as the key determinants of technical inefficiency in the forest zone. Inefficiency is however influenced by access to markets, construction of bunds around the rice farms, distance of the farm from the farmer's homestead and ownership of farm land in the savannah zone. The study therefore concludes that rice farms in both agro-ecological zones are technically less efficient, however farms in the forest zone are technically more efficient than their savannah zone counterparts. The study calls for massive investment in agricultural research so as to develop and disseminate improved rice cultivation technologies such as resilient rice varieties that are adaptable to the harsh climatic conditions of the savannah zone to help bridge the existing technology gaps. Forest zone producers are also encouraged by the study to improve upon their management skills and agronomic practices in order to efficiently utilize the existing technologies at their disposal. Policies that seek to make input and produce markets easily accessible to farmers in both zones should be pursued by stakeholders. The Case of Rwanda: Strengthening the Agricultural Sector in Africa Ahead of the 2050 Population Boom Mosugu, Tegan Joseph; Alumnus, NYU Wagner School of Public Service / Center for Global Affairs, New York University, United States, [email protected] The goal of this oral presentation is to stress the need for technological innovation in sub-Saharan African nations, as well as stronger governance practices and regulations in the region. This will be done by using Rwanda as a case-study when it comes to agriculture, food security and nutrition. In Rwanda, the federal government increased the percent allocated to agriculture from 3% in 2006 to 11% in 2013. Unfortunately, this increase in the amount spent on agriculture has not resulted in wide-scale food production. Research has shown that this can be attributed to the fact that there is a lack of technological advancements that can enable supply to meet demand, and perhaps promote a “socially-inclusive participation” in commercial farming. Thus, households participate more in substinence farming since it poses less risks to the family’s source of income, as compared to commercial farming. Such a phenomenon has been extremely problematic since these household crops tend to lack the adequate nutritional context that exists in the market. According to the most recent reports by the United States Agency on International Development, malnutrition in Rwanda remains unacceptably high at 44% percent for children under 2 years old. This oral presentation juxtaposes the current situation in Rwanda with other successes in The Global South that have been a result of technological


innovation and stronger government policies. The Global Security Index reveals that in Rwanda, 71.7% of income is spent on food. This is not only extremely high, but it actually limits the extent to which individuals and families can take care other pressing needs in their basket of goods. This oral presentation seeks to highlight is that the case in Rwanda is common in numerous African countries. Whether it is with the three million people who are food insecure in South Sudan (UNICEF) or even the sixteen percent of Ghanaians in the country’s northern region (World Food Programme), technological innovation and stronger governance must be at the forefront of Africa’s plan towards achieving SDG #2. My presentation seeks to make the case that because Africa’s population is set to double to 2.5 billion by 2050, the time to act is now. By making African nations more food secure and improving both the distribution and access to nutritious food for the growing population, state and non-state actors would be able to take a preventive approach when it comes to avoiding inequalities. This is a cost-effective approach that needs to be taken in order to obstruct the next major famine crisis, but also as a tool for preserving the right to life and stimulating transnational economies in Africa. Maya Nut in the Modern Market Osborne, Lillian; MDP Candidate, University of Minnesota; Villarraga, Maria Camila; MDP Candidate, University of Minnesota; and Aleman, Melanie MDP Candidate, Emory University, United States, [email protected] The Maya Nut, a traditionally cultivated tree-food crop, is increasingly being promoted in the Petán region of Guatemala due to its high nutritional value and prospect of earning revenue for rural communities. The crop is also at the intersection of a dynamic governance strategy for tropical forest conservation. The Maya Biosphere Reserve encompasses six million acres in Guatemala and links one of the largest, and most biologically diverse, tropical forests in Central America between southeastern Mexico, Belize and northern Guatemala. To support natural resource conservation and livelihood development within the Reserve, the Rainforest Alliance is working to develop market-driven program interventions in collaboration with forest-based community concessions. Cultivation, processing and distribution of the Maya Nut is a contemporary example of how the Reserve’s community concession strategy combined with market interventions is aiming to mitigate deforestation, while also attempting to improve nutrition and livelihoods. Opportunities exist for innovative uses and formulations of the Maya Nut that appeal to broader markets, nationally and internationally. Our research examines the prospects for expansion of the Maya Nut market for the forest landscape and rural community livelihoods, as well as the challenges that they face. We consider three critical factors for future development of the Maya Nut: 1) domestic and international market opportunities; 2) community impact as a result


of increased production in economic and livelihood terms, and 3) environmental impact on the forest and due to increased cultivation and production. The methodology employed in our research begins with a review of Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP) and Maya Nut literature; collaborative research with University of Minnesota’s Food Science and Nutrition department on expanded applications of the Maya Nut for nutrition; key stakeholder interviews with communities, harvesters, partners; research on the distribution of trees, current harvest practices, and crop measurements in the Petán region. All work will occur over a ten-week field season, a required component of the MDP program, in partnership with the Rainforest Alliance. Our research team consists of three graduate students from the Master in Development Practice (MDP) program-one from Emory University and two from the University of Minnesota. We anticipate that there are strong marketing opportunities for the Maya nut at a national and international level due to its nutritional factors. Moreover, we believe an increase in production of Maya nut would positively impact community livelihoods in the Petán region, while preventing deforestation within the Maya Biosphere Reserve. However, we expect that considerable market barriers exist for Maya nut producers and processors related to standards in terms of certification and specifications of the product, such as: size, shape, quantity, conditions and packaging. We also anticipate a tipping point, where production of the Maya Nut may negatively impact the forest landscape due to disruption required by the harvesting process. Most significantly, we anticipate communities’ perceptions and motivations to be a main factor in determining Maya Nut expansion. Our research will provide stakeholders with a more concrete view of the impact, risks and benefits, of increased Maya Nut production in the Petán region. Converging Frontline SMS, Freedom Fone and Radio for Mobilizing Knowledge for Sustainable Agriculture in Sri Lanka Rashid, Faria; MSc Candidate, School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, University of Guelph, Canada, [email protected]; Hambly Odame, Helen; Associate Professor, Capacity Development & Extension, University of Guelph, Canada, [email protected]; Gow, Gordon; Associate Professor, Communication and Technology, University of Alberta, Canada; Waidyanatha, Nuwan; Senior Research Manager, LIRNEasia, Sri Lanka; Jayasinghe, Udith; Professor at Wayamba University of Sri Lanka; and Jayathilake, Chandana; Lecturer in the ICT Centre at Wayamba University, Sri Lanka Information and communications technologies (ICTs) have a great potential for sustainable agriculture, especially when broadcast radio is combined with mobile and open source software technologies which we refer to in this paper as Radio+. Radio+ can contribute to educating as well as entertaining farmers and


providing useful and engaging agricultural information. Radio+ can also motivate younger generations to get involved in the agricultural sector by encouraging them to use new production ideas and techniques. Low cost, user-friendly Free and Open Source (FOSS) applications used on mobile devices such as Smart Phones are gaining attention in sustainable agricultural systems. This paper will identify ICTs such as Freedom Fone and Frontline SMS which are accessible software used with mobile phone technology to share knowledge and agricultural information with and among small scale agricultural producers. Using the example of a project in Sri Lanka, this paper also discusses the importance of partners including the Department of Export Agriculture, Wayamba University and LIRNEasia working together and collaborating with researchers at the University of Alberta and University of Guelph in Canada. Together we have created a community of practice for ICT-enabled farm media convergence. A “tried and true” technology such as rural radio expands its reach even further with FOSS applications. Specifically, the project has been collaborating with Rangiri Radio station in Sri Lanka since 2014, where open source software (Freedom Fone and Frontline SMS) and mobile technologies are tested by Rangiri to support programming such as “Call - in” audience response programs, multiple text messaging and voice recorded messages. This project use ICT-enabled radio or “Radio+” which creates a strong communication relation as well as a multi-media connection between agricultural experts and farmers. This paper outlines the experiences of the initiative and its use of Freedom Fone, Frontline SMS and broadcast radio for sustainable agriculture in Sri Lanka. It will also discuss some of the feedbacks received from Radio staffs and from farm listeners about the use of radio and ICTs (Radio+) for sustainable agriculture. Innovation in Technology and Governance for Disaster Resiliency & Adaptation Informing Mitigation of Disaster Loss through Social Media Allaire, Maura; Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Columbia University, United States, [email protected] When confronted with natural disasters, individuals around the world increasingly use online resources to become informed of forecasted conditions and advisable actions. This study tests the effectiveness of online information and social media in enabling households to reduce disaster losses. The 2011 Bangkok flood is utilized as a case study since it was one of the first major disasters to affect a substantial population connected to social media. The role of online information is investigated with a mixed methods approach. Both quantitative (propensity score matching) and qualitative (in-depth interviews) techniques are employed. The study relies on two data sources - survey responses from 469 Bangkok households and in-depth interviews with twenty-three internet users who are a subset of the survey participants.


Propensity score matching indicates that social media enabled households to reduce flood loss by an average of 37% (USD 3,708), using a nearest neighbor estimator. This reduction is massive when considering that total flood losses for the full sample averaged USD 4,903. Social media offered information not available from other sources, such as localized and nearly real-time updates of flood location and depth. With this knowledge, households could move belongings to higher ground before floodwaters arrived. These findings have major implications for future policies designed to reduce household flood losses in locations that lack sufficient monitoring networks, social media provides an inexpensive way to track flood progression and map affected areas. Using people as sensors offers an interim solution for improved early warning, particularly in developing countries, ungauged basins, and highly complex urban environments. User updates could be more reliable and useful if cross-checked and then aggregated into user-generated flood maps. Efforts to develop web-based applications that can aggregate user updates posted on social media sites could be immensely useful for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of social media for effective flood preparation. In developing urban areas with rapidly growing internet user bases, expanding the reach and functionality of social media applications offers promising opportunities to save lives and reduce impacts of future disasters. Collective Action as an Example of the Strength of an Environmental Civil Society Organization Carrasco Rincón, Norha; MDP Student, Universidad de Los Andes, Colombia, [email protected] "The Friends of the Mountain" began its work as a civil society and environmental collective in 2006, with the aim of promoting the protection and responsible use of the Eastern hills of Bogota, a forest reserve under threat of development. Eventually this work led to the creation of an NGO formally established in 2013. The NGO faces the challenge of achieving its objectives while ensuring its financial sustainability in the long term. Its work depends on volunteers and their increasing participation in formal spaces with district authorities on issues affecting the reserve. Although the organization would require a formal structure and salaried people to realize its goals, such an organization might debilitate its main strength: the unconditional support of volunteers who have important social networks and professional skills required to advance the organization’s aims. The aim of this study is to identify the key elements that generate an active participation of people linked to Friends of the Mountain. The results of this exercise will serve as input for the organization to establish strategies to increase the number of active participants, define more precise objectives for this participation, and increase its effectiveness.


To this end, a qualitative approach was used, based on semi-structured interview to explore these key elements with nine volunteers, between 22 and 60 year-old. The information was analyzed by the content analysis technique. As results of the analysis three categories: interest in the reserve, reasons for engagement and emotional aspects were identified to better comprehend people’s motivations, goals and feelings about their work for the reserve. The analysis of the interviews shows a symbiosis of the three relevant issues and narratives in which volunteers are building life paths through the mountains, are motivated for a deep feeling of defense of the public space as a place for identity formation and construction of civil life, and fear that their actions might fail or be undermined by a deterioration of the security of the area. Based on this analysis I propose to orient the NGO’s strategies in three issues: strengthen the community relationships and its identity based in the responsible use of the Eastern hills of Bogota; to form alliances with schools and universities to promote an education program based in the Eastern hills of Bogota as an environmental classroom; and assume an intermediary and integrator role between the different actors that have interest in the forest reserve. Rebuilding Old Aleppo, Postwar Sustainable Recovery and Urban Refugee Resettlement Qudsi, Jwanah; Urban Planner, New York University, United States, [email protected] Syria’s revolution turned civil war has resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties, millions of displaced peoples, and irreparable damage to the country’s infrastructure. Since the beginning of the Syrian Revolution in March 2011, many of the country’s urban areas have sustained extensive physical damage . Syria’s second and third cities, Aleppo and Homs, have been especially hard-hit by the war, and their agglomerations were home to about 6.5 million people before the war began (out of a national population of approximately 22 million) . In a country where, before the war, over fifty percent of the population lived in cities, planning postwar reconstruction is crucial . As the conflict enters its fifth year, the fate of the country’s destroyed cities has become the subject of international discussion. Aleppo, the country’s second city, is reported to have seen the blunt of the damage, with large areas of the city either damaged or destroyed. The Old City of Aleppo, which is 5,000 years old and has earned the city its title as one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world, is the frontline of the battle between Syrian government and opposition forces.


When the fighting subsides and reconstruction becomes possible, the issues of efficient rebuilding of the ancient city as well as its sustainable absorption of returning refugees will arise. This paper proposes a roadmap to the reconstruction of Old Aleppo. It begins by explaining the necessity of rebuilding by reflecting on past cases in post-war and post-disaster eras. It then does a preliminary damage assessment of buildings in the Old City based on Satellite imagery, and proposes an adaptable model to estimate the costs and time of reconstruction. Third, the paper suggests locations and layouts for temporary camps for returning refugees. And finally, it explains how adequate policy measures are necessary for the achievement of both the reconstruction and temporary shelter of citizens. Dutch Cities Rain-Proof: A Governance Analysis for the Best Way Forward Woerner, Rebecca; LL.M. Candidate; Dai, Dr. L.; Postdoctoral researcher; and van Rijswick, Prof. Dr. H.F.M.W.; Professor in Dutch and European Water law, Research leader, Utrecht Centre for Water, Oceans and Sustainabilty Law, Utrecht University, Netherlands, [email protected], [email protected] In the wake of several incidents including major river floods and exceptionally heavy rainfall in the 1990’s, a new focus on urban inundation took place in Dutch water governance and city planning. Different initiatives have been introduced on national and municipal level to make Dutch cities rain- and ultimately climate-proof in the form of innovations in technology and governance. A three-Step Plan of ‘delay, store and discharge’ as a coordinated strategy was first officially referred to in 2000. The novelty of this approach lies in the first and second step: instead of discharging rainwater straight away through the drainage system, it is stored by means of for instance green roofs and water plazas. Such installations embody more functions than merely discharging the water - as for instance for Rotterdam’s water plazas create added recreational value for society by combining a playground with underground water storage capacities through smart technology. These multi-functional innovations are a typical example of integrated water management in the Netherlands. In this paper we refer to three of the largest Dutch municipalities’ strategies for dealing with pluvial flooding (Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht), with the aim of assessing the current governance approaches in order to identify governance gaps and further enhance the capacities in terms of governance and technology. It also provides best practices for developing urban disaster resiliency and adaptation to climate change. We select Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht as case studies because they are - next to The Hague - the cities that undergo the most visible urbanisation in the


Netherlands. All three cities experienced incidents of exceptionally heavy rainfall in the last decade, which underlined the urgency of introducing climate adaptation measures. In response, each of the municipalities introduced a comprehensive programme with a different approach. For instance, Amsterdam uses its resources to communicate with its inhabitants in order to jointly set up a large amount of small-scale projects. Rotterdam on the other hand applies its climate strategy for city marketing. By presenting a selected number of large show-cases such as the ‘Benthemplein’ - one of the city’s water plazas - Rotterdam brands itself as a front runner in climate adaptation to the outside world. In the assessment of the respective strategies, we apply a multidisciplinary testing framework by M. Van Rijswick et al. entitled ‘Ten building blocks for sustainable water governance: an integrated method to assess the governance of water’ with the main objective of building a bridge between a conceptual approach to building climate-proof cities and the implementation in practice. The framework consists of benchmarks which are drawn from different disciplines. Our findings are based on the scrutiny of policy documents, legal sources and in-depth expert interviews with policy-makers, landscape architects and academics. * Utrecht Centre for Water, Oceans and Sustainability Law, Department of Law, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands An Integrative Double Skin Façade Damper System for Structural Safety and Energy Efficiency Zhang, Rui; PhD candidate; Fu, Tat S.; Assistant Professor, University of New Hampshire, United States, [email protected] A double skin façade (DSF) system consists of two “skin” layers of glasses with a cavity between the skins. The skins and cavity help insulate and ventilate buildings (air is allowed to flow in the cavity).This project integrates mass dampers and double skin façades by enabling movements in the outer skin. The DSF dampers can dampen structural vibrations during earthquakes and strong winds without adding extra weight (i.e., separate mass dampers) to the structure. Additionally, by being able to adjust the cavity size between the two skins, ventilation rate can be controlled to improve energy efficiency. The synergy of the proposed system can lead to buildings that are structurally safe, energy efficient, and ultimately sustainable. DSFs are known for their thermal performance; they help reduce the heating and cooling energy cost by ventilate or insulate buildings. In this study, the energy impact of the integrated system was first investigated. The airflow speed inside the cavity can be controlled by adjusting the cavity size. Controlling airflow leads


to different control strategies to increase or decrease the solar heat gain in heating or cooling seasons, respectively. The integrated system was also tested for mitigating structural response under earthquakes. In this study, both numerical optimization and experimental study were performed. The numerical study optimized damper parameters (stiffness and damping coefficients) to minimize structural response under stochastic earthquake excitations. In the experimental study, a façade damper system with optimized damper parameters was installed on a six-story shear structure. This six-foot steel structure was placed on a shake table and shake tests were performed on the DSF damper, a conventional tuned mass damper (TMD) and an uncontrolled system. Three DSF damper configurations were tested: one-, two- and three-damper configurations. In the one-damper configurations, the facade spanned and connected to all six floors and, thus, moved as an entire piece. In the two- and three-damper configurations, each of the DSF dampers spanned three or two floors, respectively. The DSF damper system had a 10% damper-mass ratio relative to the primary structure and the TMD system had the same damper-mass ratio. The DSF, TMD and uncontrolled systems were subjected to four historical earthquake records (1992 Erzincan, 1994 Northridge, 1999 Jiji, and 2011 New Hall) using the shake table. Both acceleration and displacement were recorded on each floor of the structure. Acceleration was recorded via wireless accelerometers; and displacement was obtained by digital image correlation (DIC) technique and interstory drift was then derived. The experiment result showed that various DSF damper configurations significantly reduced structural vibration and interstory drift compared to the uncontrolled system and outperformed the TMD system. Indigenous Innovations in Technology and Governance The Digital Divide in Colombia: The Yanacona Village Experience Chaves, Michael; Student, Los Andes University, Colombia, [email protected] The principle of universal access to information and communication technologies (ICT) emerged from the Millennium Development Goals. This sought to reduce inequities in access, management and generation of information to accompanying development processes in different local, national and international levels. In Colombia, over the last 7 years have been generated ICT’s policies focused on a new relationship between citizens and the state through e-government initiatives, the provision of physical infrastructure for digital tools, and the promotion and strengthening of the technology industry. However, they have been lagging behind technological adoption processes that include a territorial approach to functional learning in economic, social and cultural aspects; technology is seen only as an instrumental good. Therefore, the


strategy of reducing the digital divide Colombian government can generate higher levels of inequality in the sense of not being able to adapt its technological adoption to communities with low literacy levels, multiple languages and diverse conceptions of quality of life. One of the biggest bets of government in rural areas and indigenous territories has been the creation of community internet centers, but the citizens have not found a value proposition in this infrastructure so these centers have been exposed to an underutilization. An indigenous communication public policy based on a functional support of autonomous cultural, educational, economic and environmental processes called Dual Contents, can generate technological adoption through the deferential use of information systems. These contents have the power to use the ancestral institutions, symbols and everyday practices as an element of information diffusion, and to recover traditional indigenous knowledge. To investigate the effects of ICT’s policies in indigenous territories, a study was ahead in southern Colombia with a Yanacona village. This population sees in technology the possibility of recovery ancestral knowledge in practices of agriculture, medicine, food and language; techniques, individual and collective capacities were observed to diagnose the processes of technological transition. Yanaconas are located at different heights of the southern Colombian Massif, they base their food safety and health practices in an exchange of seeds and food from the cold and warm lands, these are produced in The Chagra or collective gardens. At this place women carry their children to transfer since early days, agricultural knowledge for collective purposes and information for responsible management of natural resources. The Chagra has been gradually replaced by individual economic activities to sell small productions to surrounding urban centers, generating health problems and recurring food shortages. A governance process of technology adoption with different kind of public entities can help to recover this knowledge by creation and transfer of Dual Contents to new indigenous generations, and articulating processes of food supply and demand through community internet centers. The digital divide is not only a form of unequal access to technology. Without the inclusion of various organizational and communicational forms through the autonomous design of technological content, is not possible the interaction between different knowledge systems, adoption of different technologies, and the creation of social capital. Integration of Traditional Indigenous Knowledge and Western Science Knowledge for the Co-Management of Freshwater Resources Copa, Vanessa; PhD Candidate, Monash University, Canada; and Tan, Poh-Ling; Professor, Griffith University, Australia, [email protected], [email protected]


With increasing globalization, a major concern affecting the standard of living and productivity in rural areas is the issue of available, accessible and affordable modern energy service. Nigerian women are specifically at the receiving end of this issue as they are responsible for providing food for the family while relying on energy for household tasks as well as productive/commercial activities. However, the substandard quality fuel used by these women contributes to economic problems caused by environmental degradation, increased workload, ill health etc. In spite of these burdens energy policies and strategies are perceived to be gender-neutral. Nigerian rural women, therefore, continue to be underrepresented in the decision-making process. Premised on existing studies, this paper investigates the disparities faced by rural women in the energy decision-making process in Nigeria. Guided by the feminist legal method, an approach founded on women’s experience of exclusion and postulated by renowned feminist scholars (Katharine T. Bartlett, Patricia A. Cain, Martha Albertson Fineman, etc.), the paper makes a case for the adoption of a gender analysis tool. Hence, it argues that making gender analysis the first step and an integral part of decision-making process can bring about sustainable energy laws, policies, as well as practices that address the socio-economic challenges experienced by rural women in Nigeria. Preliminary findings reveal, first, “No data, no visibility; no visibility, no interest.” Second, international framework namely, the United Nations, Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BDPfA) recognizes that achieving sustainable development requires for the national government to treat men and women equally as well as analyze and integrate the practice, experience and standpoint of rural women in the decision-making process (including energy). Third, giving rural women a voice in energy decision making can aid in shaping the contents of energy policies and strategies that can translate into sustainable rural development and ultimately national economic growth. Perhaps, the reason why various energy programmes created by the Federal Government of Nigeria are yet to bring about visible developmental changes is because there are no gender analytic tools adopted by energy decision-makers. Fourth, not to integrate the perspective of rural women into energy decision-making process implies that any progress towards attaining “sustainable development will remain incomplete.” The paper, therefore, makes a case for the adoption and utilization of a gender analysis tool by the Nigerian government as the first step to formulating energy policies and strategies. Notwithstanding, there are obstacles to adopting a gender analysis tool. Changing Pattern of Indigenous Tribal Development: A Case Study of Malayali Tribes in Vellore District, Tamil Nadu, India Maduraiveeran, Pandiyan; Professor, Anna Centre For Public Affairs, University Of Madras, India, [email protected] The Constitution of India provides for a comprehensive framework for the socio-economic development of scheduled tribes and for preventing their exploitation


by other groups of society. A detailed and comprehensive review of the tribal problem was taken on the eve of the Fifth Five Year Plan and the Tribal Sub-Plan strategy took note of the fact that an integrated approach to the tribal problems was necessary in terms of their geographic and demographic concentration, if a faster development of this community is to take place. Special constitutional arrangements have been made with the set up of special ministry. Special committees were set up to deal with fundamental problems, special training opportunities for officers to deal with the problems of tribes - staffing, training, land agricultural shifting cultivation, forest, tribal culture and research. Steps were taken in the Five Year Plans for their gradual development. Now starting from Panchayat level to District, State and Central level, offices were established to look after tribals. Things have changed for them but not changed enough as:

• Policies are not prepared with 100 percent accuracy to solve the tribal problems.

• Gap between framed policies and their implementations. • Officers’ in-charge is not so committed to deal tribal problems. • Sometimes bureaucrats follow the rules and regulations meant for tribal

welfare only in letter not in spirit and essence. There are 36 tribes and sub tribes in Tamil Nadu. Most of the tribals in Tamil Nadu are cultivators, agriculture labourers or dependent of forest for their livelihood. There are six primitive tribes in Tamil Nadu. The area where the population of Scheduled Tribes exceeds 50 percent of the total population is declared as Integrated Tribal Development Programme area. Tribal setting in Tamil Nadu can be broadly classified into three geographical regions, namely, the Eastern coast line region, the Central plain area and North and West mountains region where the majority of the tribal people are living. The tribal people of the Javadi hills are known as Malayali. These people live on the plateaus and sloppy regions of the Javadi hills. The Malayali population is approximately 40,000. The main occupations of these people are agriculture and collection of forest produces. Most of the households, either the male singly or both husband and wife, migrate to nearby or sometimes distant urban places of generating additional livelihoods means by working as construction labourers and other kinds of work. The implication of such a migration is a significant disruption of normal households. The major problem is to have a secondary source of income or more precisely to generate their minimum needs of food during the crisis period Innovation for Whom? The 2030 Agenda and the Brazilian System on Access and Benefit-Sharing of Genetic Heritage (ABS)


Cardoso Vasconcelos, Isadora; BA Political Science, Barroso Lima, Amanda; Master’s Candidate; and Abreu dos Santos, Beatriz; Master’s Candidate, University of Brasilia, Brazil, [email protected], [email protected] Brazilian national congress has recently approved the new law on biodiversity (n. 13.123 as of 20 May 2015) a long time expected act, since it was a first step towards the ratification of CBD Nagoya Protocol by Brazil. Besides that by 2016 the protocol ratification has not been achieved, an ordinance to regulate some essential points of the above mentioned law is still under a consultation phase. Due to the approval of this ordinance and the law itself, Brazilian NGOs and civil society organizations foresee some regressions in terms of ensuring indigenous rights and their traditional knowledge on genetic resources. This article aims at exploring political implications of the Brazilian law of biodiversity and its ordinance for indigenous peoples, as well as for country development, in light of the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. To the date, only one indigenous representative was elected federal deputy, for the state of Rio de Janeiro, in 1982. Without major political indigenous representatives, some Brazilian NGOs that work with socio-biodiversity issues play an important role while advocating in favor of indigenous interests and rights in the national political scenario. These NGOs main strategies for raising awareness about the law of biodiversity is by the launching of position papers and participation on public audiences on these themes. These instruments create awareness on the implications on indigenous rights and possible violations of these peoples traditions deriving from this new legal framework. The first draft of the law was proposed by the Executive in 2015 and was built upon contributions of the pharmaceutical, agribusiness and cosmetic sectors. On the other hand, the providers of genetic resources and/or traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources were not consulted. In turn, the main concerns of these NGOs are related to this law lack of commitment to establish fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge. Indigenous peoples are considered, according to this very law, culturally differentiated groups, which have their own social organization and occupy and use territories and natural resources as a condition for their subsistence and cultural, social, religious, economic and ancestral reproduction (BRAZIL. Law 13.123/2015). In other words, as these groups generally do not share worldviews, cultural values and economic understanding similar to the urban-capitalist society ones, the law actually poses some challenges when regulating the forms of acknowledgment of traditional knowledge on genetic resources. This acknowledgment - or benefit sharing, especially when it is proposed in terms of royalties payments, financial resources or economic grants for indigenous peoples, does not always have a central meaning within these traditional communities and cultures. At the same time, it is important to ensure fair


mechanisms of benefit sharing, especially when the traditional knowledge is a main value in the aggregate final product derived from bioprospecting. One of the main parts of this article will discuss what could be considered as fair mechanisms of benefit sharing when one of the involved parts (providers) are traditional peoples. This article will also discuss the Brazilian obstacles and opportunities for elaborating a comprehensive policy framework on access to and benefit sharing of genetic resources or associated traditional knowledge, assuming that it should attend the Aichi Biodiversity Targets - especially target 16 -, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - especially targets 2.5 and 15.6 - and the Nagoya Protocol - once it is ratified. It will also address the concept of inclusive sustainable development framed in this new law in comparison with the principles of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The analysis will rely on official data collected from the federal government, as well as from Brazilian NGOs, and will include structured interviews with major stakeholders. This analysis will exclusively focus on the ongoing construction of the text of both the law and its ordinance, since their implementation is too recent, what does not make possible an impact evaluation based on indicators or specific facts deriving from their entry into force. Therefore, this is an initial attempt to understand and evaluate possible configurations on social, cultural and economic aspects, as well as on national policies on social development and innovation, considering the country commitment of leaving no one behind in its path for sustainable development. The Incorporation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives into Sustainability Governance Wood, Katherine; Student; and Griggs, David; Professor, Monash University, Canada, [email protected] Nanaandawewigamig (The Healing Place) First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba Partners for Engagement and Knowledge Exchange (PEKE) In May 2014, Nanaandawewigamig (The Healing Place) First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba (FNHSSM) secured funding through the Pathways to Health Equity for Aboriginal Peoples (Pathways), through funding by Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), for the Partners for Engagement and Knowledge Exchange (PEKE) project. The FNHSSM PEKE is the only regional organization, of the three PEKE projects across Canada that serves national and international Indigenous peoples. The intent of the FNHSSM PEKE project is to facilitate and create spaces of Knowledge Translation and Exchange to work towards Action (KTEA) with all First Nations communities, members, community-


based health professionals and service providers, leaders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers (rural, urban, remote, and internationally). Including community-based health researchers, health professions, and decision and policy makers in Manitoba, nationally and internationally. The presentation will provide an overview of the engagement strategies and partnerships to date that support, facilitate and assist with connecting First Nations, Traditional Knowledge Keepers, stakeholders, service providers, researchers and decision-makers and how we document and share amongst communities promising practices benefiting First Nations health. We seek and promote research undertaken in and with First Nation communities to advance further growth of promising practices that address suicide, diabetes/obesity, tuberculosis, oral health and social determinants of health; to ensure that evidence informs policy and decision-making. Innovation in Technology and Governance for Low-Carbon Urban Development Collaborative Governance for Implementing Sustainable Community Plans Clarke, Amelia; Associate Professor and MEB Director, University of Waterloo, Canada, [email protected]; MacDonald, Dr. Adriane; Assistant Professor, University of Lethbridge, Canada; Ordaeez-Ponce, Eduardo, PhD student, University of Waterloo, Canada; Huang, Dr. Lei Huang; Assistant Professor, State University of New York (SUNY), United States; and Roselan, Dr. Mark As social and ecological problems escalate, involving stakeholder groups in helping solve these issues becomes critical for reaching solutions. The UN Sustainable Development Goal #17 recognizes the importance of partnerships and collaborative governance. However, organizing large multi-stakeholder groups (or partnerships) requires sophisticated implementation structures for ensuring collaborative action. Understanding the relationship between implementation structures and the outcomes is central to designing successful partnerships for sustainability. In the context of community sustainability plan implementation (which includes climate action planning and low carbon urban development planning), this research project examines how stakeholders configure to achieve results. The research considers two levels of implementation: (1) partner level and (2) partnership level; and examines two types of outcomes: (1) partner outcomes (i.e., what partners obtain through being involved) and (2) plan outcomes (i.e., actual sustainability progress). The project is being conducted in partnership with ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability. To date we have the results of a survey completed by over 100


local governments around the world. The survey was offered in English, French, Spanish and Korean. Seventeen integrated environmental, social and economic topics are considered, including climate change, waste, ecological diversity and local economy. Currently this data is being analyzed to consider the relationship between the partnership level governance structure and the resulting partner and plan outcomes. Currently we are also surveying (or have completed surveying) the partners in four large multi-stakeholder partnerships for local sustainable development. These are located in: Montreal, Canada; Bristol, UK; Barcelona, Spain; and Gwnagju, Korea. Each of these partnerships has over 100 partners and is community-wide in its scope. With this data will be able to consider the relationships between the partnership level governance structure, the partner involvement (motivation, ongoing engagement, actions taken), and the resulting partner and plan outcomes. Overall, the preliminary results show that the design of the partnership is key to ensuring progress on sustainability goals and to keeping partners engaged. Should this abstract be accepted, the overarching project findings to date, along with the detailed results on key collaborative governance features (e.g., communication mechanisms, monitoring mechanisms, partner engagement mechanisms, decision-making structure, etc.) for low-carbon urban development, will be presented in New York at the 4th International Conference on Sustainable Development. For more information about the project see: https://uwaterloo.ca/implementing-sustainable-community-plans/ Besides being highly applicable to practice, this research project builds on and contributes to management literature about cross-sector social partnerships. While the project is being led out of the University of Waterloo (Canada), we are a team of academic and non-academic partners based out of Canada, USA, Korea and the UK. Morocco’s First Smart Microgrid Green Campus : case INPT Larhrissi, Nezha; PHD Researcher, National Institute of Posts and Telecommunications, Morocco, [email protected], In the Context of the adoption of the new United Nations Sustainable Development goals and the historic Paris Climate Agreement at COP21, both followed by the perspective of COP22 in Marrakech, the Kingdom of Morocco has developed a National Strategy for Sustainable Development (NSSD) and has set ambitious targets for sustainable development in general and sustainable development of energy in particular.


Limiting the world-widely admitted anthropogenic warming below 2 degrees Celsius (2°C) will entail according to “Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project” DDPP (http://deepdecarbonization.org) a profound transformation of energy systems. Three pillars support such transformation; efficiency and conservation, decarbonization of electricity and fuels, and switching to low-carbon energy. So far, the electrical distribution networks were supposed to “passively” connect charges. In order to achieve ambitious targets of energy efficiency, they need to be completely redesigned to become more intelligent according to the European technology platform for the electricity networks of the future (http://www.smartgrids.eu/). It is in fact undeniable that Information and Communication Technologies -with regards to the unprecedented breakthroughs this industry has witnessed in terms of internet spread, social media, artificial intelligence, event-driven architecture, etc..- have the potential to profoundly support Energy Efficiency Deep Decarbonization Pathways (DDPs). By cons, electrical transport networks are already active and therefore relatively smarter than electrical distribution networks. However, they will have new challenges to balance the intermittent production and to channel energy from new remote production areas. The development of Micro-Smart Grids, adds value to the electrical system. They, first, optimize the use of electricity networks through accurate knowledge of the charges.Then, through the installation of sensors, they detect and easily resolve the existing breakdowns. This way, It becomes possible to improve the quality and power of the electricity distribution service. In this crucial context for the Kingdom of Morocco, a consortium has been created, enabling the collaboration of many research partners with the ambition of a common vision of low-carbon urban development with a comprehensive development strategy and the implementation of Smart-Grids locally (in the city of Rabat) and even nationally. This will move towards the creation of a socio-economic environment leading to creation of industry, business and social networks. This consortium is composed of partners who are AAMEN group (http://www.groupeaamen.com/), the National Institute of Posts and Telecommunications in Rabat (www.inpt.ac.ma) and the Software Development Center and it made available to the Industry of Information Technology operators. Through this project, we believe that the Kingdom of Morocco will have the means to achieve its strategic objectives while solving effectively the recurring problems that occur in its grids.Therefore, we could simultaneously maximize areas of social and economic interests, based on these advances, which are a set of technological components and coupling the use of New Information


Technologies with electronics power present throughout the value chain of an electrical network (Production, Transportation, and Distribution). The aim of our global project is to propose a final micro-Smart Grids local loop architecture “Smart City & Grid”, initially as proof of concept (POC) in INPT buildings, then on the Al-Irfane university campus in Rabat and eventually extend the architecture to the City. Concretely, the first phase of the project will focus on the testing of the architecture on ‘INPT PHD studies’ and ‘students residence’ buildings according to three consecutive steps :

• Step 1 : Development of a data center dedicated to renewable energies and micro-Smart-Grids

• Step 2 : Dimensioning of means for local production and optimized storage of renewable energy

• Step 3 : Inter-liaison of the whole and functioning of the micro-Smart- Grid We work on the initiation of the POC before the timeframe of COP22 in Morocco in November 2016 where we would like to share our progress and concept for generalization on the city. By September 2016 we would like to present our preliminary results at the 4th ICSD in New York. Finally, our strategy will achieve the following objectives:

• The establishment of a pilot site for micro-smart grids at the INPT university campus;

• The creation of an industrial unit for the design, manufacture and assembly of intelligent communicating meters;

• The establishment and development of a social network through a regional chapter of SDSN, dedicated to sustainable development of shared energy and a social economy ;

• The establishment of a public-private structure that would be incubated at the INPT and that would highlight financially all of this work and other developed technologies at the National and International levels.

Tipping the Scales in Favor of the SDGs in Latin America and the Caribbean: The Role of Sustainable Infrastructure Meller, Hendrik; Advisor for Sutainable Infrastructure; and Mueller, Sven-Uwe, Deutsche Gesellschaft fir Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Germany, [email protected], [email protected] Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) face the urgent need to substantially increase investment in infrastructure to achieve integrated and equitable growth and regional competitiveness. Recent analyses have indicated that investments


of up to five percent of Latin America’s GDP (USD 250 billion) will be required to close the gap between future needs and existing infrastructure. The major part of these investments has to take place in urban areas since LAC is the most urbanized region in the world with 80% of its population (482.5 million people) living in cities. With this share expected to continue to rise up to 90% by 2050 governments and municipalities face the enormous task to providing infrastructure services that are sustainable and ensure quality of life of the city residents. Furthermore, infrastructure investments are at the essence of success for reaching the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This includes increased energy security and reduced air pollution from investing in renewable energy, and reduced commuting times and traffic congestion from investing in more compact cities and urban mobility. Moreover, access to infrastructure services is indispensable for achieving the SDGs related to health, education, gender, and poverty. However, infrastructure projects may also result in considerable negative impacts on quality of life and the environment if projects are poorly designed and fail to take into account climate change and impacts on natural habitats. Moreover, neglecting social and environmental issues usually incurs high risks on infrastructure projects. Not addressing the worries and grievances of the affected populations and stakeholders leads to tensions which are often aggravated by lack of communication and lack of trust. These conflicts can cause serious delays, cost overruns, and eventually termination of projects. Thus, the challenge LAC is facing is twofold: Addressing the need for new and rehabilitated infrastructure projects to deliver services in increasingly complex urban and rural settings, while at the same time effectively manage the risks and impacts associated with infrastructure projects that have consequences for many different stakeholders and environments. Responding to this challenge requires sound sector-specific solutions e.g. in the field of transport, energy, water and sanitation. Since these sectors often interact with each other, it is further important to enhance proper urban land use planning that follows a multi-sectoral approach and is based on a long-term vision for sustainable urban infrastructure development. The bigger picture has to be thought through and translated into projects that focus on achieving growth and wider socio-economic as well as ecologic benefits. Sustainable planning and design tools such as ENVISIONTM or LEED can provide necessary guidance for decision makers and project developers to provide adequate solutions. The presentation will describe the challenge outlined above and discuss how through better upstream planning und improved design infrastructure projects can not only ensure but enhance sustainability. Sharing the experience of the Joint Assistance to Support Project in European Region program of the EU


(JASPERS) the presentation will show how to improve the quality of infrastructure projects through better planning and prioritization. In providing an overview of the ENVISIONTM methodology that has been jointly developed by the Zofnass Program for Sustainable Infrastructure at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design and the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI), the presentation will outline how sustainability of infrastructure projects can actually be assessed. Thus, providing valuable lessons learnt for shifting the way infrastructure projects are being planned, financed and delivered, and for tipping the scales to reach the SDGs in LAC. The Upgrading of Izbet Khayrallah: Financial and Social Cost-Benefit Analysis Nkwenge, June; Student; Baatartsogt, Oyudari; Student; Chowdhury, Ashfaqul; Alumnus; Dampha, Nfamara; Student; Hadorn, Sean; Student; Holmes, Elise; Student; O’Leary, Mikki; Student; Osborne, Lillian; Student; Kenney, Brandon; Alumnus; Lewin, Gregory; Alumnus; Maikuri, Antony; Student, [email protected], [email protected] The Cairo Governorate municipal government intends to improve infrastructure, extend urban and social services, upgrade building facades, improve public spaces, and regularize land tenure arrangements of Izbet Khayrallah, an informal settlement on the outskirts of Cairo. The municipal government has contracted Takween Integrated Community Development (Takween), an urban development organization, to put together options and plans for upgrading and normalizing urban infrastructure and services in Izbet Khayrallah. Our group consulted on the project by creating a tool for Takween and the municipal government to understand the estimated impact of the project, and assist them in the decision-making process. In order to evaluate the feasibility of the project, we conducted a financial cost-benefit analysis to look at the financial viability of the project. To incorporate the positive externalities that represent the project’s raison d’être, we also performed a social cost-benefit analysis to determine the benefits that would accrue to the current and future residents of Izbet Khayrallah. We offered two scenarios, the standard and the feasible, in order to provide two “big-picture” projections of outcomes, with the more modest intervention occurring in the feasible scenario. For additional insight, sensitivity analyses were conducted within both scenarios to account for uncertainty in the inputs of important line items-and of positive externalities for social analysis-when gauging these factors’ impact on the project’s net outcomes.


Decentralized Green Algae Production in Urban Spaces Wenish, Habib; Student, Tunis Business School, Tunisia, [email protected] The carbon levels in the urban areas around the world are exponentially augmenting, metropoles around the globe suffer from the highest concentrations in carbon dioxide due to different factors including but not limited to (factories emissions, vehicles running on fossil fuels, poor management of waste..). The environmental strategies in place have been incapable of significantly reducing the CO2 concentrations in the air and no breakthroughs in recent technologies have been able to face this issue. It is estimated that green algae produce up to 60 percent of the oxygen in the atmosphere since they have photosynthetic machinery ultimately derived from cyanobacteria that produce oxygen as a by-product of photosynthesis, hence the idea of searching for a method to increase the general biomass of Spirulina in the urban areas. By analyzing the current urban layouts, we find that most of the sunlit space is present over buildings rooftops, from where came the idea of creating a closed autonomous and partially automated system for harvesting spirulina in these spaces, The system, called Unitex would be able to incubate the spirulina biomass and pump it through tubes and containers using an pump and regulators powered by a solar panel. The spirulina growth rate is very high, it multiplies at 2/1 ratio in a 24h cycle, which allows to produce up to 10kg of spirulina per month per Unitex. Thus the production would be decentralized and cover vast areas of the urban spaces. After a thorough examination of the hypothetical sustainability of the project, I came to the conclusion that upon implementation of the decentralized spirulina production system, a 500 percent increase in green algae production will occur over the first 5 years. with thousands of units operating, more than 1000 million tons of oxygen will be produced and twice the quantity of CO2 absorbed and bio-recycled. the harvested spirulina is edible and transformable into biofuel on the long run, and given a surplus in production the economies of scale would make it possible for an alternative energy source to be affordable. The sustainability of this strategic implementation of a scalable and sustainable urban farming model will rely primarily on engaging in the outstanding emerging market of spirulina in a first phase, and then in a second phase it would rely on the revenues from transforming the harvested algae into biofuel which is completely feasible but expensive at the moment due to the lack of raw material and the high price of algae. The conclusion of this study is promising to say the least, if applied, such a system would not be able to drastically reduce the effects of global warming but also by creating a viable and clean energy source on the long-run.


Innovation in Technology and Governance for Socially Inclusive Economic Growth Institutional and Governance Challenges in an Emerging Bio-economy: A Case Study of Maize Value-Webs in Nigeria Adetoyinbo, Ayobami; Master’s student, University of Hohenheim, Germany; Gupta, Saurabh; Scientific staff, University of Hohenheim, Germany; Okoruwa O., Victor; Professor, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; and Birner, Regina; Professor, University of Hohenheim, Denmark, [email protected] Maize is one of the most important cereal crops in Nigeria. It is particularly important for the poorer citizens and smallholders for food security purposes. Agricultural policies in Nigeria have conventionally focused on enhancing food production. However, growing challenges of sustainable development require a shift in the conventional thinking of considering agricultural sector as only the supplier of food. It is increasingly becoming a ‘supplier of biomass’, which caters to multiple demands of food and non-food purposes. Recent advances suggest that it is pertinent to look beyond conventional value chains to a more holistic ‘value web’ because the same crops find diverse usages in the biomass-based economy. Growing challenges of sustainable development require a shift in the conventional thinking of considering agricultural sector as only the supplier of food. It is increasingly becoming a “supplier of biomass”, which caters to multiple demands of food and non-food purposes. Traditionally, the analysis of biomass sector has been dominated by value chain studies. Recent advances suggest that it is pertinent to look beyond conventional value chains to a more holistic “value web” because the same crops find diverse usages in the biomass-based economy. The value web approach adopted in this study helps in identifying the potential innovative opportunities in the maize sector beyond the focus on food. The value web also helps to show how maize is used locally by households as well as industrial sector, and the disconnects in the flow due to the current institutional structure. More so, recent governmental policies have been geared towards increasing the production of priority crops like maize in the country to meet such potentials. For this, the government has employed the innovative Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme as a means of eliminating governance challenges in the procurement and distribution of innovative materials like inputs to smallholder farmers. The study employs focus group discussion and uses innovative participatory net-mapping tool to elicit information on how maize biomass flows, the institutional environment responsible for the distribution of innovative ideas and materials in the sector, and the GES scheme. The study found that marketing problem arising from pest and chemical residues e.g. aflatoxin is a major constraint for maize utilization by industries producing human consumables. Food and drink


industries source for maize grains only from the northern part where aflatoxin infestation is minimal. Extensive means of disseminating information to smallholders is through Agricultural Development Program (ADP) and Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN). However, smallholder farmers who are not linked to MAAN are disadvantaged. Inconsistent financial support to the national research institutes and ADP is a major problem affecting the sector's institutional structure. The study suggests that government should consistently finance ADP and national research institutes while research effort into aflatoxin eradication and local use of maize biomass should be increased. Linkages between state governments and national research institutes as well as between small-scale farmers and MAAN should be made stronger. Furthermore, the study found that governance challenges still persisted in GES, preventing fair distribution and utilization of technological resources made available by the government to the smallholder farmers. Corruption and leakages are rampant between redemption centers and before targetted farmers use the inputs. The study suggests a more consistent support from governments (federal and state) to the sector and to GES. Furthermore, the government should continue with GES while blocking points of corruption and leakages through consistent periodic reviews. The Government should also provide more incentives for targetted smallholder farmers to use these resources. The Legal Mechanisms of ‘Leaving No One Behind’ - International Law’s Role in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals Amesheva, Inna; PhD Candidate, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, [email protected] The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in September 2015 marked a watershed moment in consolidating global governance and citizenship. The SDGs evidenced that the international community can come together when faced with unprecedented challenges such as tackling the social exclusion of the most vulnerable and environmental degradation. Yet, the Goals represent largely a ‘soft’ instrument of international law, meaning that there are no concrete legal mechanisms that can promote or encourage their implementation. Despite their aspirational and non-legally binding character, however, the Sustainable Development Goals have the possibility to spur momentum and achieve a tangible impact by mobilising a range of stakeholders such as governments, businesses and civil society. Indeed, it is recognized that the greatest effort in realizing the SDGs’ agenda is yet to come. The SDGs’ focus naturally falls on the world’s most vulnerable, evident through the slogan of the endeavour: ‘leaving no one behind’, meaning deprived individuals in both developed and developing countries. However, there is


immense difficulty in implementing this colossal effort in practice, given that the 17 goals are to be gauged against 169 further, more specific, sub-targets. The degree of mobilisation by the international community this endeavour will require is unprecedented and could only be compared to an ‘Apollo Programme for the Earth’. What is more, the breadth of the SDGs poses the danger that some of the goals could be mutually conflicting, if not interpreted or applied consistently. Two of the goals (8 and 9) could in fact conflict with some of the others in that achieving economic growth (Goal 8) has to be decoupled from the Earth’s natural resource use and carrying capacity if ecological disaster is to be avoided. This is because we now use the equivalent of 1.5 Earths to sustain human life on the planet and if this grows further, ecosystem collapse would be inevitable. In addition, Goal 9 regarding infrastructure and industrialisation needs to take into account the environmental impact of the relevant projects, as well as the effect on local populations. Thus, the adequate monitoring and implementation of the SDG process cannot be overemphasised, if they are to leave the realm of the aspirational and achieve their intended outcomes. This paper therefore examines the main international legal instruments and mechanisms that underscore the imperative of sustainable development. The paper’s main focus is on the newly-adopted Paris Climate Change Agreement at COP21, on the Addis Ababa Agenda on Development Financing promulgated in July 2015, as well as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, introduced in March 2015. An analysis of these legal provisions is necessary due to the fact that they are all geared towards the achievement of a more resilient and sustainable post-2015 international order. In addition, all three refer to the need to achieve environmental sustainability and halt climate change, stressing the interconnectedness between the mandates of sustainability, financing and resilience, which stand at the heart of realizing the Global Sustainable Development effort. Sustainability as a Measure of Success: Externally Promoted Participatory Budgeting in El Salvador Ten Years Later Bland, Gary; Fellow, RTI International, United States, [email protected] My paper examines the sustainability of externally promoted participatory budgeting (PB) over more than a decade and, given the results, considers the implications for inclusive practices for economic growth. PB refers to an inclusive, deliberative process of incorporating citizen priorities into local government decision making on public investment. Having expanded well beyond its origins in Porto Alegre, Brazil, more than a quarter of a century ago, PB remains popular throughout the developing world. In 2009, I investigated the continued utilization of PB that was introduced through a US-financed local government development project in post-war El Salvador. Through interviews with key actors, I examined PB in all 28 project municipalities--both urban and rural--five years after the


project ended. I found limited but important PB sustainability. Last fall, I replicated the study, using the same process and parameters in the same 28 municipalities, more than ten years after completion of the project. This paper presents the findings of this latest study and compares them with 2009 results. PB continues to be utilized in more than half of the 28 municipalities examined-a striking example of long-term sustainability-though there is also little continuity of use among individual municipal governments. I conclude that PB in El Salvador is becoming institutionalized, due in part to the initial project. This experience with PB allows us to be more optimistic about the sustainability of socially inclusive economic growth and development programs. Post-commodity Africa: Industrial Policy as Assemblage Carmody, Padraig; Associate Professor of Geography, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, [email protected] Transcending commodity dependence is central to African development. This imperative has assumed greater urgency with the recent commodity price collapse. Technological developments associated with the “third wave” of global urbanization open up potential for economic diversification to be achieved through strategic couplings between localities and lead firms, and public and private sectors across different spaces. While Africa is often held to have failed at industrialisation, there are niche examples on the continent where both foreign and domestic firms have successfully innovated, developed local linkages, reduced cost/capability ratios and exported. To-date explanations for the relative success or failure of industry and technology policies have concentrated on political settlements: that is the relative balance of power between political elites, bureaucrats and private sector interests. However, recent successful industrial development experiences often involve foreign investment and consequently can better be conceived of as outcomes of assemblages involving strategic couplings between central African states, foreign investors, regional assets and sometimes, “third party states”, such as China, which has through its special economic zone and other policies on the continent has facilitated inward investment. This paper will examine the nature of these assemblages, particularly their etiology and relational infrastructure with a view to understanding their formation, functioning and potential for replication. Sustainable Development as a Path to Peacebuilding: Finding Common Ground to Counter the Extremist Narrative Chebly, Juan; Ph.D in Sustainable Development Candidate, Universidad Simon Bolivar, Venezuela; Schiano, Austin; Masters in Global Studies Candidate, New York University; and Ruiz, Federico; Masters in Economics Candidate, St. John’s University, [email protected]


The following work concerns the crucial topic of identifying innovative means within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to address the conditions that encourage the development of terrorism and violent groups; along with countering the narrative they produce. There is a significant need for governments and international organizations to rethink the manner in which they approach counter-terrorism. It is clear that current short-term and siloed programs are not only ineffective in stopping the local growth of terrorism, they are also expensive. Estimates of global annual national security agency expenditures by the Institute for Economics and Peace sit at a staggering 117 billion USD, coupled with a calculated loss of an additional 52 billion USD from the crimes of terrorism itself. This does not take into account the amount of money which is lost by countries who have accounted for massive GDP decrease, due to the presence of terrorism in their countries. This paper highlights long-term strategies for global reform with a sustainable development approach to peacekeeping and counter-terrorism. We valuable cross institutional methodologies to address terror networks through civil society, namely programs that focus on emotional expression, team building, storytelling, citizen engagement, education,responsive governance, youth dialogue, and economic development. Corporate efforts are also central to counteracting the dissemination of terrorist propaganda, and we feature a localized examination of how nations like Pakistan have responded to online regulation of terrorism. The paper concludes with actionable policy recommendations for means to improve current counter-terrorism methodologies. Socially Inclusive Economic Growth Through Innovative Governance Dilyard, John; Associate Professor, St. Francis College, United States, [email protected] To avoid an interpretation of the term ‘socially inclusive economic growth’ according to the inclinations of the individual reader, this paper defines it as the ‘creation of opportunities for economic advancement that are accessible to all components of society regardless of their economic status, social class, race, ethnicity or gender’. It is important to note that the ‘creation of opportunities’ does not mean that economic advancement is guaranteed; what an individual or group does with those opportunities will in large part determine the extent to which economic advancement occurs. But note also that these opportunities are to be accessible to all, so that those desiring to advance economically should not be impeded by barriers except those created by themselves. That such barriers exist - either through social norms and practices, education policies, business practices, or policy structures, etc. - is understood. That these barriers essentially need to be vastly reduced if not eliminated also is understood.


This paper will contend first that creating opportunities for economic advancement for all implies not only changes in how governance is carried out in local, regional, national and supranational levels, but also how it is carried out in the private sector. For another aspect of socially inclusive economic growth that is ‘understood’ is the crucial and essential role played by the private sector. It is safe to assume that most current governance structures at any level originally were constructed with socially inclusive growth as their primary objective. But, thanks to the efforts, particularly since the end or World War II, of the many and varied advocates for societal rights, freedom and justice, public governance structures have been modified. And, thanks to the increasing awareness of a need for corporate social responsibility over the last few decades, private sector governance structures also have been modified to take into account the need to be responsive to society’s demands for more widespread economic advancement. That public and private governance structures will, at least at some level, have to complement each other is another factor that is ‘understood’. The modifications in governance structures that have thus far taken place, though, have not been enough. What this paper will argue is that what really is needed is for governance structures to become more innovative in their approaches, and that those groups who are responsible for the governance structures have to be more innovative in their thinking. Because their own governance histories may not provide the strongest of bases on which to innovate, these groups also will need to examine what seems to be working elsewhere, and determine how those innovations can best be adapted. So in addition to arguing that governance structures need to be innovative, this paper also will provide examples - citing sources from academia and organizations such as the Center for International Private Enterprise - of successful innovations in governance structures in the public and private sector that are truly creating opportunities for socially inclusive economic growth. Suggestions for both the practical application of these successful innovations and future research also will be noted. Space as an Enabler of Sustainable Development Ferretti, Stefano; Space Policy Officer, European Space Policy Institute, Austria, [email protected] The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development creates a framework for new approaches, both in terms of governance tools and of roadmaps for the implementation of technological innovations, geared towards the creation of better living conditions on this planet, with emphasis on the development of solutions that will have positive impacts on local economies and on society while preserving the environment.


Among the technological innovations that may significantly contribute to these solutions, the full exploitation of space assets for sustainable development purposes is considered highly relevant at this point in time. Therefore, the international actors involved in development activities need to be informed of the potential of space and should be in a position to voice their needs to the space community, in order to translate them into space programs and dedicated services. For this purpose, it is proposed to build a dedicated platform to ensure that a constant two-way dialogue takes place among stakeholders. This dialogue between space actors and development stakeholders should start with requirements defined by the actors dealing with the definition, implementation and monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals (e.g. United Nations, Governments, European Union and other institutions, local and regional stakeholders, and NGOs in the field), with space solutions being developed on the basis of these requirements. There are already several cases of development actors employing space assets, and there are multiple on-going activities where new solutions are researched to fully exploit the potential that space can offer in implementing sustainable development on a global scale. A good example of cooperation between space actors is the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters, which has also recently been invoked to address a public health crisis, and is under revision to possibly expand its mandate to include development-related challenges. Considering this it can be argued that, with the appropriate financial means and governance mechanisms in place, sustainable development programs which also make use of space assets can become rather successful in supporting the achievement of the SDGs in a shorter timeframe, thanks to a development based on technological leap-frogging, rather than on replicating the traditional steps that our societies went through in the past. For example, both connectivity provided by drones linked to satellites, which enables innovative e-health and tele-education services, and localized production of energy using renewable sources, can be developed instead of more complex and expensive infrastructures based on traditional technologies. For the latter, space can play a crucial role, by supporting the exploitation of geothermal reservoirs and by allowing the precise determination of wind, water and solar energy potential of different sites. In addition, such an approach underlines the fact that sustainable development, as expressed in the Agenda 2030, is closely linked with the COP21 targets achievement. Therefore, providing space based services to developing economies in the planning phase of new energy infrastructures, would create better living conditions also in Europe and in North America, by reducing CO2 emissions and the associated climate change effects all over the globe. This gives us even more confidence that the potential embedded in space assets can be fully harvested in the near future, provided that financial means will be


available to scale up individual projects and ad-hoc solutions to a structural provision of fully integrated sustainable development services to countries which need a high rate of development in a relatively short timeframe. Slums, Informal Settlements and Inclusive Growth in Cities: Examples from Morocco and Colombia Hermanson, Judith; President and CEO, IHC Global - Coalition for Inclusive Housing and Sustainable Development, United States, [email protected] This paper argues that SDG 11 calls for a new perspective on informal settlements and their residents as vehicles for greater social inclusion and more equitable urban development. Of the world’s 7.4 billion population, approximately 4 billion live in urban areas. Of these, a quarter, approximately 1 billion people, live in slums! Defined as a place where people live with any one of “five deprivations”: clean water, improved sanitation, sufficient living area so as not to be over-crowded, durable housing, and secure tenure. Hundreds of millions lack all five. Slums occur in inner cities and increasingly in sprawling, unplanned communities, known as informal settlements, around a large number of the major and secondary cities in rapidly urbanizing low and middle income countries. While the proportion of people in slums today is lower than it was a decade ago, the absolute number of slum dwellers continues to climb, with informal settlements experiencing higher than average population growth and continuing to increase in number, size and physical separation from the cities to which they are attached. Without other options, their residents live in conditions that can be described only as squalid and unhealthy, reinforcing the cycle of poverty in which most of them find themselves and excluded from many of the economic and other opportunities historically associated with urbanization. A bold vision is required! One that turns the proposition of urban inequality on its head: Comprehensive urban slum upgrading, which meaningfully includes, responds to and engages residents in the process, can make cities more inclusive and stimulate greater shared prosperity. The proliferation of informal settlements and their de-humanizing lack of basic services illustrate vividly the failure of cities to keep pace with urban growth. They also delineate the immensity of the challenge posed by SDG 11 which calls for cities to be resilient, safe, sustainable and inclusive by 2030. That cannot be achieved without removing these barriers to physical, spatial, social and economic inclusion. Informal settlements provide city governments, supported by national governments and the global community, with a way forward towards more equitable urban development and social inclusion. Drawing on data from


Colombia, Morocco and India, this paper shows that upgrading informal settlements and integrating them into the “formal city” and its economy can be both catalyst and vehicle for the achievement of greater inclusiveness, while fostering innovation, creating jobs and developing social capital. If both the physical and social integration of slums in the outlying, underserviced informal settlements are taken as the starting point for a city’s comprehensive and integrated vision for the city, cities may be able to get ahead of the urban growth curve. Investment in upgrading, revitalization and new infrastructure servicing them can be used to drive socially inclusive growth. This approach will also make cities more prosperous, sustainable and safer places for all their residents in line with the targets and vision of SDG 11. Sustainable Municipalities Program - Governance Analysis Medina-Ramirez, Oswaldo; Student, Master of Sustainable Development Practice, University of Florida, United States, [email protected] Programa Mato-grossense de Municipios Sustentaveis (PMS) Governance Analysis Sustainable Municipalities Program - Mato Grosso, Brazil “Governance is emerging as a critical part of addressing development challenges such as poverty and the sustainable management of natural resources” (Barnes and Child, 2014). I will be conducting my field practicum in Mato Grosso, Brazil, coordinating with the Instituto Centro de Vida (ICV), to conduct a governance analysis of the Programa Mato-grossense de MunicÃ-pios SustentÃ¡veis (PMS). This research will be used to gain a better and a deeper understanding of governance arrangements in this program. Also, this research will be used to promote an increased engagement of the Mato Grosso state government and other relevant stakeholders in governance processes. I plan to use an approach based on the Problem-Driven Governance and Political Economic Analysis - Good Practice Framework (Fritz, Kaiser & Levey, 2009) and The Governance Analytical Framework (Hufty, 2009). The state of Mato Grosso is located in the Brazilian Midwest (See graph 1). This state has a population of 3,035,122 (IBGE, 2010) and is the geodetic center of Latin America. This region is considered the water reservoir of Brazil because of its numerous rivers, aquifers and springs (Governo de Mato Grosso, 2016). According to the Mato Grosso Institute of Agricultural Economics (IMEA), agribusiness represents 50.5% of the state GDP. Unfortunately, two of the Brazil’s key products, cattle and soy, are still driving deforestation as well as economic growth. According to Brighter Green’s report, researchers estimate that cattle ranching caused 65-70 percent of land clearing in the Amazon between 2000 and 2005. In this context actions to preserve forests and biodiversity are an


important issue that should be addressed by public, private and social organizations. Data from INPE shows that in 2013 deforestation rates increased by 50% when compared with 2012 rates. Mato Grosso local municipalities in a collective effort have been promoting a socio-environmental agenda at local level. In 2013 in a collective effort, civil society organizations, local stakeholders and local municipalities launched the "Sustainable Municipalities Program". One of the main objectives of this Program is to develop a common socio-environmental agenda for the state and ensure its implementation as a public policy. After one year of negotiation, the state government of Mato Grosso created the "Programa Mato-grossense de Municipios Sustentaveis (PMS)." The general objective of this research is “Identify potential measures & strategies to improve governance processes in the Programa Mato-grossense de Municipios Sustentaveis”. It is important to understand and document current local level and multi-scale governance processes in order to identify measures and strategies to improve the Sustainable Municipalities Program. I defined two specific objectives: Characterize governance processes in the Programa Mato-grossense de Municipios Sustentaveis and Identify (evaluate) problems, opportunities, and vulnerabilities within this process. Together these two specific objective should allow me to meet the general objective. I plan to adapt the Good Practice Framework and the Governance Analytical Framework that contain different tools such as diagnostic tool, strategies for strategic choices and governance challenges. I will address questions such as: Who has decision-making power? What are their sources of power? What are the particular and collective interests of key stakeholders? - How are the decisions made? - How are crisis and problems managed? In order to generate responses to these and other questions I will develop an instrument for stakeholder and decision-making analysis. I will use this information to identify key issues and challenges in current governance arrangements. The conceptual framework for the Governance Analysis of the Sustainable Municipalities Program, in Mato Grosso, Brazil, is based on the "Problem-Driven Governance and Political Economic Analysis - Good Practice Framework (Fritz, Kaiser & Levey, 2009)" and "The Governance Analytical Framework (Hufty, 2009)." The emphasis of the "Good Practice Framework" is on problem-driven analysis. It emphasizes Governance and Political Economy (GPE) analysis that focuses on particular challenges or opportunities. I adapted this framework to be more applicable to the present research. For example, rather than a problem-driven analysis, I have opted to carry out an opportunity-driven analysis. The resulting framework, considers three layers of analysis, again applying an opportunity-drivenapproach: identifying the opportunity, vulnerability or problem to be


addressed; mapping out the institutional and governance arrangements and weaknesses, and drilling down to the political economy drivers, both to identify obstacles to positive change and to understand where a drive for positive change could emerge from (Fritz, Kaiser & Levey, 2009). The Analytical Framework comprises a coherent set of models (schematic representations of a situation) associated with a methodology which allows a connection to be made between theoretical or conceptual underpinnings (generalizations) and empirical observation. This framework proposes five analytical categories: the problems; the actors; the nodal points; the norms; the processes. Additionally in this case, governance is considered as an independent variable (Hufty, 2009). In order to design an adequate conceptual framework for the specific case of governance analysis of the Sustainable Municipalities Program in Mato Grosso, Brazil I used elements of both the Good Practice Framework and the Governance Analytical Framework. As deliverables, I will submit the governance analysis framework, preliminary data analysis and preliminary reports. The following final products will be delivered to the ICV:

• A presentation of results and major findings in a discussion session. • Governance Analysis Report

Results-Based Management Approach: Help or Hindrance? Considine, Patrick; MDP candidate, Trinity College Dublin - University College Dublin, Ireland, [email protected]; Murphy, Dr. Susan; Corresponding author, Lecturer in Development Practice, Trinity College Dublin, [email protected]; Middlehurst, Molly; Author / Presenter: [email protected]; Kiernan, Grace; Author / Presenter, [email protected]; Friel, Enida; Author, [email protected]; and DeMarco, Angelina; Trinity College Dublin - University College Dublin, Ireland Over the past two decades OECD Development Assistance Cooperation (DAC) countries have given substantial attention to the matter of aid effectiveness and accountability, driving changes in how aid is targeted, delivered, and evaluated. In light of these global developments, the Irish international development sector has introduced of number of innovations aimed at driving increased accountability, transparency, and overall aid effectiveness. Irish Aid, the development cooperation unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, has introduced Results Based Management frameworks (RBFs) as the preferred programme management practice that are now used to manage accountability and measure impact. All Development Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) funded through Irish Aid are required to utilize RBFs in their projects and


programmes. This move to results based management represents a significant shift for the NGO sector over the last decade. Some have expressed concern that it supports greater accountability to the donor, but not necessarily to beneficiaries. Others have argued that a focus on quantifiable results cannot capture the qualitative impact of their work over longer periods of time. In order to better understand the effect of the introduction of RBFs on the work of development practitioners, the joint Trinity-UCD Masters in Development Practice (MDP) collaborated with Oxfam Ireland to examine this change. More specifically, over the course of three years, MDP-Oxfam Ireland conducted research with the Irish Development NGO community to examine what effect the implementation of RBFs has on accountability within the sector, and programme impact more broadly. The research team utilised an inductive approach to examine this question. We conducted a rigorous literature review, drawing upon academic sources, policy materials, and grey literature. A blend of quantitative and qualitative research methods were also utilised over the three phases. A survey was distributed to the development community to gather input from head-quarter and field office personnel; key-informant interviews were also conducted with leading personnel based locally and internationally. As the research was conducted over three years it is possible to trace changing attitudes towards RBF tools as practitioners moved from positions of resistance to positions of active engagement with the process, enhancing the RBF tools to support accountability and transparency goals. The research found that the RBF management approach has emerged as an effective tool for reporting change and impact to donors, however, less so to beneficiaries. Thus, although the use of this approach allows for greater accountability to tax-payers and governments in high-income countries, many experienced practitioners remain concerned that it diverts attention and resources away from the core business of development practice which aims to effect change in the lives of the most vulnerable populations. Devolved Revenue Practices: A Case Study of Machakos and Nakuru Counties Nkwenge, June; Student; Maikuri, Antony; Student; Phelps, Marin; Student; Tatlow, Johanna; Student; Waiswa, Moses; Student, University of Minnesota, United States, [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Kenya promulgated a new constitution in which a decentralized system of governance devolves power, resources and representation down to the local level. Four years later, in March 2014, the International Center for Policy and Conflict (ICPC) held a workshop which revealed that there were many gaps in the process of transition from central to devolved government. At the county level, there were few to no obvious means of public participation. County oversight mechanisms were weak and there were substantial gaps in


information. Financial systems in particular seemed unclear and lacked transparency. Some of the county government officials present questioned their counties’ capacity to take on the responsibilities for economic development, city planning, and healthcare which they are currently assigned (ICPC, 2014). The project is to study Kenya’s devolved system of government in collaboration with the ICPC. The study will be an in-depth examination of revenue streams and methods of accountability and transparency in place for the newly established county governments. The main objective of the project is to collect and analyze data to inform questions such as how county governments can expand their revenue base, what can be done to increase transparency and accountability in the counties, and key factors that influence quality of service delivery. Our group will examine budgetary needs and whether the current revenue sources are sufficient to address this. In coordination with members of the ICPC staff, we will explore additional options for revenues that may be possible under the most recent Kenyan constitution. Our work will build on ICPC relationships with local government officials and follow up on trainings that ICPC has formerly conducted. This project is relevant because it will help to create tools for the ICPC to use in educating and advocating for change as they work to promote accountability and transparency in county governments in Kenya. Business Development Services: Developing Business Model for Rural Microenterprises Comparative Case Study of Rural Microenterprises in Madagascar Segin, Sandra Paulina; Student, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, [email protected] The organization I will be working with is PROSPERER, Support Programme for the Rural Microenterprise Poles and Regional Economies. An UN IFAD sponsored project, it focuses on increasing the incomes of poor rural people in five of the country's poorest and most densely populated regions, creating efficient business development services that respond to the needs of small and micro rural enterprises, and building the capacity of these enterprises to identify their individual requirements. The programme assists in structuring traditional clusters into modern value chains - by line of business, to enable long-term sustainability and market expansion - with linkages to regional growth poles. My role in the project will involve looking for new ways of marketing the products or creating a business model for the micro and small enterprises in order to incorporate them in the value chain. Introduction and contextual information


The objectives of the Prosperer project are to lessen the vulnerability of poor populations in rural areas of the Madagascar highlands by promoting collective risk management mechanisms, increasing their incomes by diversifying their activity. PROSPERER was established in 2008 and will obtain additional funding and continue into at least 2022. It is active in 9 regions in Madagascar, and its activities are vast, including training for the young, help with access to credit, advice etc. The country is large, being the 4th biggest island in the world, with 592,800 square kilometers, much of it dedicated to farming, and most of all - pasture. Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world. Agriculture employs over 80% of the families but accounts only for 21% of GDP. Poverty in rural areas stands at over 80% (UNDP), with around 50% of the population being food insecure (and female-led households seem most vulnerable, UNDP). Most of the enterprises are micro or small in scale. This atomization renders them often not profitable and most farmers live off their farms. High costs of transportation are preventing many from getting to the market to sell their produce; storage is also an issue. Poor infrastructure further hinders the possibilities of long distance trading, locking many farmers to their immediate neighborhoods. One of PROSPERER’s main objectives is developing a business model that will create cooperatives between multiple enterprises, thus enabling them to pool funds, to consolidate production and possibly come up with group strategies that will be more viable that an atomized market whereby the producer act independently. Aiming at maximizing farmers’ profits and building capacity and resilience are other major PROSPERERS initiatives. We also aim at developing inclusive, gender-sensitive approaches. Women empowerment is a work in progress in Madagascar and more projects should be put in place to address the position of women in agriculture (and, more broadly, in society) and empower them in leadership, ownership and decision- making capacity. Gender-equitable land tenure is not yet fully developed (FAO, 2013). Madagascar, like many other developing countries, has a disproportionally large concentration of women in low productivity areas, informal sector, and unemployment (Nordman, Valliant, 2013). This research will be gender-focused, seeking to include women empowerment in the proposed projects and improvements. Data which will be analyzed (and possibly gathered primarily) will have a gender-specific approach. Climate change impact does not seem in the realm of the study, however, upon arrival, and depending on the data potentially gathered, we may find linkages to consequences of climate change. Carried out in Madagascar (UNDP) showed that women see a decline in harvests and general ‘hardship’ as consequences of climate change, which is important from the gender perspective - women will be among the most vulnerable to the pitfalls of climate change. Madagascar has little adaptation and mitigation capacities, hence there is a need to utilize as many resources to adjust as possible. Women


constitute a substantial part of the workforce in agriculture, and their input will be crucial in addressing the risks in the near future. As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has underlined, “social and cultural limits to adaptation are not well researched. It is possible that greater access to credit will empower the local women as well - such policies, in order to be fully functional, must be pursued along with cooperation on policy focused on gender equality. PROSPERER is working with another institution, PAFIM, CNFI and DAOMAR Minagri, and it is not determined if there will be any scope for research in this area. Conceptual framework of your FP TBC upon arrival and induction. We will focus on Business Development Services in the agricultural setting, potential interventions, gendered approaches in agriculture, position of women in rural areas. SDG 7 as the Enabling Factor for Sustainable Development: The Role Of Technology Innovation in the Electricity Sector Zucca, Andrea; Researcher; Alloisio, Isabella; Senior Researcher; and Carrara, Samuel; Researcher, FEEM, Italy, [email protected], [email protected] The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent a turning point for Sustainable Development. For the first time, we have global Goals overcoming one of the problems of the previous international agendas: the lack of integration between the Goals. The 2030 Agenda adopts an integrated vision of sustainability in its three interlinked dimensions - environment, economy and society - and allows all economic and social actors to understand the complexity of current issues and the multiple links across them. Indeed, the 17 Goals and their respective targets can be analyzed in terms of a network within which the links between the different SDGs are represented by the targets. At the same time, the sustainable development approach has fostered an innovation process. Energy is the cornerstone of this process since it is not only the driver of social and economic growth but it is responsible for a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. With the definition of a stand-alone objective - the SDG 7 (Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all) - energy has acquired a relevant role within the 2030 Agenda. The Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM), Hosting Institution of SDSN Italia, is conducting a research aimed at analyzing how the SDG 7 is integrated with the other Goals. The ongoing analysis aims to analyze the direct and indirect relations between the three targets of SDG 7 and the targets of the other SDGs, and to show how the achievement of the objective related to sustainable energy


can positively contribute to the pursuit of the other SDGs. The strong integration between the Goals of the 2030 Agenda represents a fertile ground for the implementation of a network analysis. The Sustainable Development Goals are investigated as a network of relationships in which each Goal relates with the others. Therefore, the main purpose of this analysis is to identify and analyze the links between SDG 7 and the first 16 SDGs. SDG 17 will be excluded from the study, being dedicated to cross-cutting means of implementation for the whole set of SDGs. This analysis wishes to show that SDG 7 can be considered as the “enabling factor” for the implementation of the other SDGs since energy is a cross-cutting theme for the pursuit of the environmental, social and economic objectives underlined in the 2030 Agenda (the analysis shows that SDG 7 impacts on 60% of the targets of the other SDGs analyzed). A significant example is that of the digitization of electricity grids that has an enormous potential in reducing fuel consumption with environmental benefits (SDG 13), the increase in the productivity of companies (SDG 12), the creation of new jobs (SDG 8), and decarbonization of the transport sector allowing in turn to improve air quality in our cities (SDG 11). Therefore, in order to achieve SDG 7 so that it can have a positive impact on the other SDGs according to the identified relationships, it is essential to invest in technology, which has been recognized as one of the main "means of implementation" within the 2030 Agenda, by leveraging the transformative potential of the private sector. Companies have been recognized as key actors to accelerate the construction of a sustainable path of growth since through their know-how, expertise and resources, they are the main innovators of sustainable development. Thanks to this analysis the private sector will be able to adopt an integrated approach in decision-making able to take into account the retroactive effects resulting from the decisions made and to maximize the economic, social and environmental impacts of the investments. Ethics, Religion, and Sustainable Development Annett, Anthony; Advisor, Sustainable Development Solutions Network, United States, [email protected]; Vendley, Dr. William; Secretary General, Religions for Peace; Appleby, Dr. Scott; Dean of Keough School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame, United States; Clark, Dr. Meghan; Assistant Professor of Theology, St. John’s University, United States; and Jacobs, Rabbi Rick; President, Union for Reform Judaism The sustainable development agenda entails a shift not only in goals but also in values. By embracing social inclusion and environmental sustainability as well as economic progress, this agenda offers a holistic vision of human flourishing in the context of the modern global economy. Accordingly, achieving the Sustainable


Development Goals will require not just technical solutions but also the actualization of vital ethical principles such as human dignity, social justice, the common good, and shared well-being. And the source of these values and ethical principles can often be found in the world’s religious traditions. The purpose of this panel is to bring some of these values and principles to light, and demonstrate how they can support the implementation of the sustainable development agenda. Moderator: Dr. Anthony Annett, Columbia University and Religions for Peace Presentations: “Shared Well-Being as a Multi-Religious Key for Sustainable Development” (tentative title)- Dr. William Vendley, Secretary General, Religions for Peace. “Integral Human Development as a Moral Framework for Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals” - Dr. Scott Appleby, Dean of Keough School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame. “Solidarity, Development, and Catholic Social Thought: A Framework for Just Partnerships” - Dr. Meghan Clark, Assistant Professor of Theology, St. John’s University. “A Jewish Vision of Sustainable Development” (tentative title) - Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President, Union for Reform Judaism. “Human Dignity and the Islamic Vision for Sustainable Human Development” – Dr. Ebrahim Moosa, Professor of Islamic Studies, Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame. The Science-Policy-Implementation Interface for Agriculture Food Security & Nutrition Urban Food Systems Strategies: A New Tool for Implementing the SDGs in Practice? Ilieva, Rositsa; Adjunct Lecturer, The New School, Parsons School of Design, United States, [email protected] Since the turn of the century, more than 90 urban and regional sustainable food systems plans and strategies have been devised by local administrations in the Global North alone. On October 15, 2015 the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, signed by over 100 cities all over the world, set a precedent and laid the groundwork for the first global urban food policy agenda. For the first time in more than a century, industrialized cities are taking the lead in food policy and


seeking to re-envision food as an urban system, whose sustainability is tightly intertwined with the sustainability of all other fundamental urban infrastructures - from transportation, to housing, to water and waste management. The development of healthy, fair, and environmentally sound urban food systems is now increasingly recognized as a matter of local policy as much as the responsibility of national and international government institutions. As the political and societal saliency of sustainable food policies at the local level is continuing to grow, a key question for those of us interested in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is to what extent urban food systems strategies can bring about translating the SDGs in practice. While research on the role of cities in transitioning their foodsheds to sustainability has significantly expanded over the past decade, the interconnection between this new generation of urban food policies, plans, and strategies, and the SDGs has received only a scant attention. This is a critical omission, because making visible the interconnections between the two can help tap into key opportunities for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, while increasing the credibility and longevity of urban food strategies, typically tied to short-term mayoral mandates. This paper seeks to address this gap by uncovering the overlaps between the food systems strategies pioneered by five of the ten largest North American cities - New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Chicago, and Philadelphia - and the 17 SDGs adopted by the General Assembly of the UN on September 25, 2015. A matrix of the key points of alignment and divergence between the urban food systems goals put forward by these cities and the SDGs is thereby presented and analyzed. The paper closes with a discussion of the major promises and limitations of urban food strategies as levers for the implementation of the SDGs and offers recommendations for future research and practice on the topic. The findings of this research have implications for scholars and practitioners interested in advancing low carbon urban development as well as healthy and sustainable agri-food systems. Urban Water Management in the Face of Climate Change: Social Learning, Power, and Practice Lindsay, Abby; PhD Candidate and Adjunct Instructor, American University, United States, [email protected] While only one of the Millennium Development Goals had a strong link to water, the Sustainable Development Goals include nine that will greatly depend on the management of water resources. One of the focal points for meeting these goals will be cities in the Global South, where the majority of the world’s population growth will occur. Cities are struggling to extend water access to peripheral areas while also adapt to a changing climate that is expected to increase both the scarcity of water supplies and damage from water-relatad disasters. Yet moving from the scientific basis and enabling policies to implementation of more


resilient infrastructure and management practices requires action at the local level. Both international development agencies and national governments alike have placed a resounding emphasis on science-based water governance, as a manner to both determine where to focus funding and to incorporate mounting uncertainties. Yet many countries, such as Peru, have adopted water systems based on integrated, participatory management, which stems from a different ideological approach. Literature on socio-ecological systems and the adaptive co-management of natural resources has touted the ways in which social learning can generate both scientific and democratic legitimacy. Social learning refers to the joint learning that occurs when interested stakeholders engage in sustained, collective interaction to develop a shared understanding of and resolution to an issue, often utilizing scientific and technical information. While advocates highlight how social learning can improve decision making and lead to multi-stakeholder platforms for future decision making, few have analyzed when and under what conditions social learning produces such results - an understanding that is key if development practitioners want to catalyze more adaptive and resilient water management. Social learning can be coopted by actors with financial or political resources, but it can also lead to more sustainable, resilient decision-making processes, such as by fostering new norms of water governance or greater inclusiveness. This study compares two contrasting case studies on the management of and planning for urban water supplies in Peru. Peruvian cities face both adaptation to increasingly scarce water supplies, as well as disasters from extensive rain events, and although innovative national policies have been put in place, regions vary in their implementation of those policies. This study focuses on local multi-stakeholder platforms within multi-scalar water governance and analyzes the extent to which social learning occurred and its impact on decision making and the practices adopted. As part of a larger research project utilizing process tracing based on interview and document analysis, these cases provide key insights regarding the causal mechanisms at play amidst the complexity of water governance. While scientific and technical studies were key in both cases, the effects of them varied greatly, both in terms of the governance process and practices adopted. Drawing on Science and Technology Studies, socio-ecological systems, and governance scholarship, these cases provide insights critical for moving from policy to implementation, which will affect disaster resilience and climate adaptation for decades to come. Further, given increasing interactions between international, national, and local levels of governance, an understanding of how stakeholders jointly interpret and use scientific and technical information is critical for not only meeting the Sustainable Development Goals, but ensuring that solutions will be sustainable over time and able to adapt to future climatic changes.


Gender and Cash Transfer: Implications of Intra-Household Decision Making Processes on Nutrition in the SNNP Region of Ethiopia Lumbasi, Linda; Student, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, [email protected] Currently in its fourth phase (July 2015-June 2020), Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) is one of the largest social protection programs in Sub-Saharan Africa. The program provides cash and/or food transfer in exchange for labour-intensive public work or as direct support for labour constrained households. Previous PSNP impact assessments indicate the success of the program in reducing poverty, improving food security and increasing household level diet diversity. However, despite strong evidence suggesting visible progress, poverty, malnutrition and vulnerability remain high in Ethiopia. Specifically, malnutrition remains high with 40%, 9%, and 25% of children stunted, wasted, and underweight respectively, according to Ethiopia’s 2014 Demographic and Health Survey. Similarly, too many women of child-bearing age are undernourished (BMIË‚18.5) and anaemic (Hb<12 g/dl), a serious concern since research shows that a malnourished woman is more at risk of giving birth to a malnourished child and children of malnourished mothers are often malnourished themselves. while several factors such as psnp program design, size and timeliness of the cash transfers, and recipients using the money for purposes other than food security could limit psnp’s efforts to improve food security and enhance household level diet diversity, in this paper i argue that intra-household gender decision making processes in allocation of cash transfer resources to household nutrition has significant implications. using a mixed methods approach, this paper presents the outcomes of a field research conducted in the southern nations, nationalities and peoples (snnp) region of ethiopia. the study was conducted on a sample of married men and women in male headed psnp households in two districts in this region. this paper highlights the underlying intra-household gender dynamics in the allocation of resources from social cash transfers and their implications on household nutrition. it also provides practical recommendations for dealing with the risks and challenges identified that can be useful in the achievement of the sustainable development agenda. Sustainability Indicators for Agriculture: Implementation of the SDGs for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services May, Peter; Associate Professor, UFRRJ, Brazil, [email protected] The MDGs had proven to be politically workable as a means to garner enthusiasm and consensus on development pathways and poverty eradication for global society. Arguably, the process was well administered in terms of its simplicity of objectives, approach to dissemination and buy-in by signatory


nations, as well as efforts to improve measurement of achievements. Although most of the MDGs and indicators were not in fact achieved in full, and many were not feasible to measure under the information constraints present in many nations, the process was nevertheless widely hailed as a success in international diplomacy. However, at Rio+10 in Johannesburg, the development community had begun to perceive that little progress would be achieved toward the multiple aims of SD, particularly financing and technology transfer, without partnerships on a global scale, both within and among government, civil society organizations and business. By the time of the Rio+20 conference, such partnerships had achieved some traction toward the MDGs, but it had become clear that a new consensus was necessary, linking poverty reduction with the growing perception that planetary constraints to growth would limit further progress. A new development paradigm was needed. Work on the SDGs began soon after Rio+20 with the creation of several official and academic bodies created to define and delimit the goals and indicators that should be included in such a global consensus. Successive reports and high level debate expanded broadly on the MDGs, with particular inclusion of goals related to environmental concerns (e.g., reducing greenhouse emissions, conserving marine resources and protecting remaining terrestrial biodiversity) as well as amplified targets for human settlements, innovation and infrastructure in line with goals for “inclusive economic growth” (despite internal contradictions with planetary boundaries). By the time of the 2015 General Assembly, designated to appreciate and ratify the goals, their number had grown from the MDG’s 8 to 17 in the SDGs, with 169 indicators for their fulfillment, as compared to 60 in the case of the MDGs. By any account, the achievement of so many goals by the 2030 target would require an enormous effort and measurement capabilities for statistical agencies rarely able to assume this additional set of tasks. In the area of biodiversity protection and sustainable use, allied with ecosystem service provision and maintenance, these objectives are particularly daunting, a concern that has haunted the implementation of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) since its adoption in Rio-92. Goals set by signatory nations in 2000 related to achievements expected by 2015 had been mostly ignored: loss of biodiversity had in fact grown rather than being halved as had been set as a target. In 2010, dismayed with the lack of progress, CDB negotiators meeting in Nagoya, Japan set out a new set of 20 goals entitled the Aichi Goals. They determined to target protection of terrestrial resources at a 17% level globally (Brazil, in its complementary establishment of national goals to fulfill the Aichi targets nearly doubled its goal for the Amazon biome to 30%, which it was not long from accomplishing, at least on paper), while marine resource protection was targeted at 10%, while Brazil had only achieved slightly over 1% (MMA,


2010). Similar difficulties were faced in measuring and validating progress toward reduced emissions from deforestation to trigger resource transfers under the UNFCCC REDD+ guidelines. A growing conviction shared by many working in this area is that it will be impossible to assure joint progress toward the biodiversity related SDGs, Aichi and REDD+ Goals solely through creation of protected areas or legal fiat. Complementary efforts are prescribed to ensure that actors conserve such resources within productive landscapes, particularly in agricultural areas. This requires that complementary policy measures facilitate their achievement through adoption of best production practices. How to measure progress toward biodiversity and carbon-related SDGs and other goal-setting processes through critical examination of appropriate indicators and causality is the object of this paper. This paper will concern itself with comprehending the negotiation process which led to the enunciation of goals and indicators in the broad area of sustainable use of biodiversity and provision of ecosystem services including retention and restoration of carbon stocks at a national (emphasizing Brazil) and global scale. Suitable indicators for analysis have been applied to development problems at different scales over the years. Research being conducted in collaboration with the SDSN builds on this experience with the aim of strengthening practical tools for multiscale management of biotic resources and their services in the developing world. The paper will primarily emphasize assessment of the relative effectiveness of goal-setting within public policy and instruments with a focus on retention and enhancement of carbon stocks and biodiversity in tropical forest landscapes as associated with agricultural frontiers. The SDGs as a Framework for Transboundary Water Conflict Resolution: A Case Study of the Eastern Nile River Basin Noaman, Ramy; Master's Student, Harvard University, United States, [email protected] When the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is constructed, it will join Egypt’s High Aswan Dam (HAD) in the world’s only river basin with two megadams but no coordination among multiple countries. The dam’s fill rate once completed is a prime area where coordination could prove invaluable, but where divergent interests challenge that prospect. For example, Ethiopia could benefit from a rapid fill of the GERD reservoir, upholding its right to equal access to the shared water resource, generating electricity and boosting its economy. However, Egypt fears an expedited fill, arguing its right not to be significantly harmed by its riparian neighbor’s use of the same river. I hypothesize that these opposing interests can be minimized to the point of mutual benefit by employing


and collecting certain data systems. Thus, to gauge what impacts different fill rates would have on development in the basin across the water-food-energy nexus, I consider that (a) the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development could be used as an analytical lens to assess the intersecting economic, social, and environmental impacts that the GERD could cause each nation. Secondly, once these impacts are recognized, the Agenda’s three Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) most pertaining to the water-food-energy nexus can be modeled with Mike Hydro Basin paired with a combination of data from historically wet and dry decades using relative irrigation deficit, HAD release amounts, and hydroelectricity generation as respective proxies to simulate the range of possible outcomes across five fill scenarios (unconstrained, three years, five years, ten years, and no GERD). Lastly, I hypothesize that the Water Diplomacy Framework (WDF) could then be used to facilitate a mutually agreeable solution by treating these multidimensional costs and benefits as fluid currencies within a shared river basin, in contrast to the current zero-sum paradigm over the singular resource of water. Ultimately, I made three conclusions. First, that the 2030 Agenda acts as a powerful lens through which integration of development priorities could be understood but that national strategy plays an equally important role in customizing those goals. Second, that Mike Hydro Basin models suggested filling strategy is minimally impactful compared to possible climate-based fluctuation. Third, I conclude that the significant basin-wide water shortage during dry years demands that the WDF be used to harmonize national priorities between basin-states to enable the GERD’s developmental potential without significant harm downstream that would occur absent of coordination. Farmers’ Level of Knowledge, Environmental Concerns and Agricultural Biodiversity Conservation: A Randomised Control Method Application Pallewela, Janaka; PG Dip. in Health Development, Masters of Development Practice, PhD candidate in Health Economics, Medical Doctor, Health Department, Sri Lanka, [email protected] Agricultural biodiversity is a sub-set of general biodiversity which is essential for global food production, livelihood security, environmental protection and sustainable agricultural development (FAO, 2007). Some direct benefits that farmers can receive from maintaining a diverse farming system can be given as follows. First, a diverse farming system minimises external risk that farmers often face. For example, if a farmer has both crops and livestock this will minimise the risk from drought or water shortage. That is, while crops can be devastated, the farmer still can derive an income from livestock. Second, high levels of agricultural biodiversity provide fresh nutritional foods for their families. Third, a diverse farming system can help farm families to utilise family labour optimally (Brookfield et al. 2002). For example, different crops may require labour in


different time periods and family labour can easily be distributed among different crops and/or livestock in order to obtain maximum benefits. Fourth, agricultural biodiversity is found to have positive impacts on overall productivity and soil quality (Karunarathna, 2013). In addition to providing direct benefits to farmers, agricultural biodiversity improves ecological processes by regulating climate, maintaining soil quality, providing protection from erosion, storing nutrients and breaking down pollution (Di Falco and Chavas, 2009). Despite all these benefits previous experience has shown that population growth, inequity, inadequate economic policies and institutional systems have mainly contributed towards the increasing loss of agricultural biodiversity in the world. Low levels of knowledge and lack of integrated research on natural ecosystems and their innumerable components may exaggerate the process, especially in developing countries. The study attempted to investigate the role of farmers’ knowledge of biodiversity and their environmental concerns on conserving agricultural biodiversity in diverse farming systems in Sri Lanka. It analysed how farmers’ valuation of agricultural biodiversity changes with the change of their knowledge on agricultural biodiversity and their environmental concerns. Choice Modelling was combined with the Randomized Control Method(RCM) to collect field data and Conditional and Random Parameter Logit models were used to analyse the data. In RCM firstly, 21 villages from Ampara district were selected purposively. Then the villages were divided into three groups (one control groups and two treatment groups) randomly. Accordingly, randomisation to select households into different groups (two treatment and the control) was done at the village level and ‘village’ is the unit of randomisation in this study. Then a number of 20 farmers was selected from each village randomly(using the farmers' list). The survey involved several steps. First, households for the survey from the district were selected. Second, based line survey was carried out covering all three groups. The main purpose of this survey is to understand their knowledge and environmental attitudes on biodiversity and test whether there is any significant spillover effects among the respondents. This survey includes a set of simple questions related to agricultural biodiversity and environment concerns. Third, one treatment group was educated using a formal educational program on agricultural biodiversity designed for this study while other treatment group was provided information in order to improve their environmental concerns. Control group is not provided any information. Finally, CE survey covers all groups in the district. The questionnaire used for this study was developed using the results from six focus groups’ discussions and a pre-test. Education program included two steps. Firstly, we met respondents of two control groups and explained the importance of agricultural biodiversity or environmental protection individually. Secondly, we provided leaflets (but not keep with them-they can read it in front of us or we can read it for them) showing the importance of maintaining diverse farming system in their farms or the importance of


protecting environment. Final survey was carried out by administering a questionnaire through a face-to-face interview with the Head or any other working member of the households. The final survey covered 420 households. In general, the findings of the choice experiment support the assumption that diverse farms and their multiple attributes contribute positively and significantly to the utility of farm families in Sri Lanka. Also their valuation of agricultural biodiversity is highly affected by their knowledge on biodiversity and environmental attitudes. It is evident that farmers’ level of knowledge as well as environmental concerns play a major role in the conservation of the agricultural biodiversity. The overall findings of this study will enable policy makers to implement relevant policies to further reduce the degradation of agricultural biodiversity that is increasingly posing a major impediment to agricultural production, environmental protection and sustainable development. Multi Attribute Utility Theory (MAUT) as a Tool to Develop Indexes and Dashboard of SDG 2: A Hypothetical Case Study Talukder, Byomkesh; Teaching Assistant, Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada, [email protected] There is a need to develop indexes of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of UN for monitor progress, ensure accountability and implementing policy for achieving SDGs by 2030. This paper based on hypothetical data set of the selected indicators of Goal 2 (End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture) for five hypothetical countries (representing developed and developing world) suggest a methodological approach for constructing indexes. For developing indexes the MAUT technique of Web-HIPRE (Hierarchical Preferences), an Internet-based free software program (http://hipre.aalto.fi/), is used for aggregating the indicators score and weighting. This case study shows that MAUT has the capacity to generate index on a 0 to 1 scale. In this study, during aggregate score calculation, the utility functions were considered as being additive and linear. The proposed methodological approach is capable to rank the indexes of Goal 2 based on multiple indicators. Along with showing index scores, the MAUT is also capable to show the contribution of each indicators to the overall performance of the index through the bar colors, which provide an effective way to visualize the results. This visualization can be used to develop dashboard for Goal 2. The proposed framework can handle heterogeneous measurement levels of criteria information (i.e., quantitative vs. qualitative) and deals with incommensurability. This methodology allows a “transparent, re-applicable, sound and quantitative evaluation of indexes of Goal 2 which allows comparison among countries. This comparison can be helpful for monitoring Goal 2 related progress and


implementing Goal 2 related policies across countries. This methodological framework has the flexibility to be adapted for a variety of purposes at different scales of 17 Goals of UN. The Determinants and Coping Strategies of Economic Shock Among Rural Households: A Study of Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. Yusuf, Sunday; MDP Alumnus, Centre for Sustainable Development, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, [email protected] Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa with 2014 population estimate of 178.5 million. Also, Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa and the twenty sixth in the World. Out of this population, 50% live in rural areas. The economy of the rural area is predominantly agricultural, and this sector employs approximately two-third of the country’s total labour force and provides a livelihood for about 90 per cent of the rural population. Agriculture contributed 26.63% of Nigeria’s third quarter real GDP in 2014. The uncertainty regarding the future that many rural households face originates from the diverse sources of risk such as: harvests failure, increase in food prices, and illness or death of the main income earner. The inability of many rural households to cope with shocks has gotten them trapped in poverty and hinder their potential to feed themselves when they experience shocks. Different studies on sustainable livelihoods, vulnerability, shocks and coping strategies are focused on different aspects by the researchers. The justification for this study was based on the need to find out what determines the coping strategies rural households adopt when they are faced with shocks. Also, it examined the effectiveness of these coping strategies on the well-being of the people. The study also filled the gap created by contemporary realities in the field of shocks and coping strategies. The main aim of this study was to assess the determinants and coping strategies of economic shock by rural households in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. This study made use of a blend of qualitative and quantitative research methods in order to explore the available sources of information. Further broken down to use of questionnaires and focus group discussions for primary data, with rural households as the unit of observation. The questionnaire was divided into four different sections to elicit information, while, for focus group discussion, two questions were asked and the groups were given opportunity to discuss.


The study revealed that rural households were exposed to and were affected by many negative shocks in the study area. Shocks were idiosyncratic and covariate shocks. The study revealed six major shocks that affected the income: illness, death of family members, stealing of properties/produce, illness or death of livestock, crop failure, and sharp downward change of price. Illness and price change affected most of them. In addition, the study found that majority of the respondents adopted four principal coping strategies: drawing from past savings, sale of assets (livestock, land, others), borrowing money/products from extended family members and friends, and engaging in multiple income generating activities. This guaranteed their ability to smooth consumption in the face of shock. The study revealed that a significant difference was noticed in respondents’ state of well-being in areas such as: food availability, interpersonal relationship among household members and interpersonal relationship in the community after adopting the coping strategies. This explains the effectiveness of the social protection system operational in the communities. Key words: shock, coping strategies, consumption, rural households The Science-Policy-Implementation Interface for Disaster Resiliency & Adaptation Too Hot, Too Dry and Too Wet for Growth? Macroeconomic Risks of Climate Change and Extreme-Weather Events in Africa Baarsch, Florent; Economist; Granadillos, Jessie R.; Development Economist; and Hare, William, Climate Analytics / CESifo / PIK, Germany, [email protected] Africa is a particularly interesting region, where, despite high GDP growth in the last two decades, still displays the lowest level per capita globally. In fact, 34 out of the 48 Least Developed Countries are located in Africa. To progressively graduate these countries from the LDCs categories, income and GDP need to grow at a rate that allows the expanding population to access sufficient financial means of living. Fostering GDP growth in these countries is also in line with SDG#8 on decent work and economic growth. Assuming the pledges of the Paris agreement were to be fully implemented, global mean temperature would still increase by about 3C by 2100; and therefore would further change mean and extreme weather patterns. This research investigates how climate change in African countries will affect development trajectory between 2015 and 2050. A growing body of literature has investigated the macroeconomic consequences of temperature changes globally (Burke, et al., 2015) and in African (Abidoye & Odusola, 2015). African countries are also largely affected by hydro-


meteorological extremes, especially droughts and floods (Barrios, et al., 2010; Berg, 1976; Brown, et al., 2010). To encompass both these climate risk dimensions, a novel econometric approach was developed to estimate the sensitivity of macroeconomic indicators (GDP and sectoral value-added) to temperature and precipitation extremes. Using the data from Baarsch et al., (forthcoming), macroeconomic risks are estimated until 2030, consistent with the Sustainable Development Agenda, and 2050. The inferred sensitivities are used to appraise the projected effects of climate change in two warming scenarios (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5) based on climate projections from an ensemble of GCMs from the CMIP5 database (Hempel, et al., 2013). The analysis also uncovers the effect of structural change on macroeconomic sensitivity. The results show GDP growth could be lower by about 0.1 and 0.9 percentage point for all African countries in the 2015-2050 period. In the high warming scenario (RCP8.5), negative macroeconomic consequences could be about 15 per cent higher in Central Africa compared to the low warming scenario by the 2040s. The analysis focusing on structural change finds that depending on the precipitation signal to which the countries are projected to be exposed, structural change could potentially worsen the macroeconomic consequences of climate change, in the absence of adequate adaptation measures. Indeed, a shift towards more services and industry-oriented economies, sectors more sensitive to extreme wet events, in countries projected with a higher risk of flooding events would lead to more negative consequences than in a scenario without structural change. In line with previous studies, this research indicates that future economic growth in African countries could be severely hampered by climate change and climate-related disasters. The study also shows that extreme wet and dry disasters have long-lasting consequences, significantly shifting downwards countries’ development trajectories. This detailed analysis of the future consequences of climate change on African economies sheds light on four main conclusions relevant to the achievement of the SDGs in Africa: 1- the benefits of stringent mitigation action will be felt as early as the 2030s in African countries and even more later in the century; 2- current and future development planning needs to better integrate climate-related risks; 3- long-term adaptation planning has to account for the dynamicity of the economy, especially in African countries where structural change occurs at an accelerated rate; and finally 4- adequate disaster risk management tools (insurance, contingency funds and plans, development safety nets, etc.) need to be implemented and / or scaled-up to hasten the recovery process. Additionally, this research also provides ground to better quantify to the benefits of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction measures implemented in African countries. This research was supported by UNEP, the African Development Bank, and UNECA under the Economic Growth, Development and Climate Change in Africa project.


Mitigating Freshwater Crises: Individual and State Adaptive Measures in India Dadhich, Ujjwal; PhD. Scholar, School of Development Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India, [email protected] Global freshwater crises are compounding. Frequent droughts, crop failures, escalating conflicts over land and territories, endemic diseases, migration, ecosystem degradation are few of its cascading effects. Limited availability, increasing demands and unsustainable practices, have led to an increasing exploitation of surface and groundwater reserves. Renewed majorly through rainfall but being increasingly abstracted and contaminated, freshwater is one of the most contested resource. These contestations occur on account of its differential physical-economic accessibility. With each individual and system attempting to appropriate its rights over the freshwater resources optimally, India is witnessing multi-inter-trans disciplinary politics that constitutes surface, groundwater markets and inequitable water distribution networks. It is in this context that poor are likely to be affected most. Climate change, rapid urbanization, salinization, depleting water tables and poor countrywide institutional responses have further aggravated the gravity of crises. Giving a countrywide qualitative and quantitative over view of the surface and groundwater depletion, the present paper enumerates few successful historical and contemporary mitigating efforts. This is on part of individual, collective farmer groups and on part of State. Taking examples from arid and semi-arid regions of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra, the paper brings indigenous, scientific knowledge and amalgamation of both in few cases. These include conservation agriculture, farm ponds, traditional bunding, shaft recharge and other historical manual and gravity based mechanisms to conserve water. The impact of these interventions is measured through an increase in water table, soil quality, increased agricultural yield and changing cropping pattern of farmers. Mitigating mechanisms adopted in view of geography, economic affiliation and more importantly co-operation among stakeholders are creating substantial differences. This micro-meso-macro model can therefore be replicated at a national level. The paper acknowledges the possible geographical, economic and political limitations but also concludes with policy and scientific guidelines that can prove useful for conjunctive surface and groundwater use. Sustainable Development, Climate Variability and Data Limitation in Flood Management Ekeu-wei, Iguniwari Thomas; PhD Researcher, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, United Kingdom; Blackburn, Alan George; Senior Lecturer, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University; and Ihuaku, Azuma Kate;


PhD Researcher, Animal & Environmental Biology, University of Benin, Nigeria [email protected] Extreme flood events are one of the most devastating global environmental disasters in recent times, triggered by changing climatic conditions that alter weather patterns and resulting in more frequent and intense rainfall. In recent years, Nigeria particularly has experienced intense degrees of flooding instigated by excess water release from upstream dams due to extreme precipitation driven runoff, resulting in the damage of infrastructures, displacement of people, and loss of lives. Flood frequency information is required in planning for flood emergencies and designing structural measures to curtail flood impact. When hydrological gauge data is available, direct flood estimates are ascertained by fitting annual maximum flood time series to predefined probability distributions, else methods such as regional flood frequency analysis compensates for missing data deficiency by substituting time for space by collating data from various sites with similar hydrological characteristics, and in combination with climate indices, climate variability influence on estimated flood magnitudes can be captured. This study presents an investigation of non-stationary flood magnitude estimation in Nigeria, owing to the influence of changing climate on precipitation pattern, consequently annulling the assumption of stationarity presented in previous studies. Data from seventeen gauge stations within the Ogun-Osun river basin is analysed, with three sub-regions delineated, two being homogeneous and the other non-homogeneous and fitted to a suitable Generalized Logistic distribution. The influence of climate variability on flood estimates was found to be linked to Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) and the difference between non-stationary regional, stationary regional and direct estimates increased substantially as return-periods increases. The results assert the importance of taking climate variability into cognizance in flood frequency estimation, and the need to review flood management measure based on the assumption of stationarity. Measuring Resilience to Monsoon Flooding over Time: An Innovative Tool Approach Hammett, Laura; Masters of Environmental Management Candidate; Saxena, Dr. Alark; PhD, MBA, MEM – Associate Research Scientist, Lecturer and Program Director, Yale Himalaya Inititative; Lambert, Kristin; Masters of Environmental Management, Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, United States, [email protected], [email protected] Many humanitarian organizations implement interventions to enhance community resilience and adaptation to climate change and natural disasters, but measuring resilience and intervention effectiveness remains a challenge. This is especially true for organizations working in the field with limited resources. The Yale Himalaya Initiative (YHI) and Lutheran World Relief (LWR) have partnered on a


project to tackle this challenge, by developing and piloting an innovative measurement tool that tracks community resiliency over time and allows low-budget organizations to efficiently utilize their resources for disaster risk reduction interventions, specifically for flooding. This tool takes a holistic, systems-based view of resilience, in which six different forms of capital (social, financial, human, natural, physical, and political), moderated through processes and institutions, contribute to the resilience of households and communities. In the transboundary region of Southern Nepal and India, communities living along the Gandak river basin experience monsoon precipitation fluctuations and corresponding climate change impacts firsthand. Four such communities are participating in an ongoing LWR-led project, which aims to increase the resilience of monsoon flood-affected villages. The intervention will construct grain banks, enhance livelihoods, and improve early warning systems across the border between upstream and downstream villages. In 2015, the YHI and LWR partnership project began to measure resilience to monsoon flooding before and after these planned interventions. The research team conducted a literature review and developed indicators drawn from the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF), developed by the Department for International Development (DFID) in the United Kingdom. The team then designed surveys and participatory tools to collect data in the LWR project area. Unlike static vulnerability assessments, this study recognizes resilience as a dynamic process. Thus, this project goes beyond the SLF model and data has and will be collected during both pre- and post-monsoon periods in the years before and after the LWR interventions begin (2015 and 2016). In observing vulnerability over this time span, the tool can help indicate the success of the LWR interventions by measuring the magnitude of flooding impacts, pre- and post-intervention, and the time it takes households to return to the pre-flood state following a flood. Though limited in geographic and temporal scope, the study and methodology will provide useful insights and measurement capacity for other organizations that are interested in implementing resilience-building projects within the constraints posed by a short project timeframe and limited budget. The resulting survey data, composed of over 100 different indicators, is in the process of being aggregated using statistical methods to derive a composite index. This index indicates the resilience “score” of a particular community at a particular time, illustrates the relationships among indicators associated with various capitals, and refines the survey tool to reflect the dataset that is most meaningful and concise. The first complete set of pre-and post-Monsoon data were compiled in late 2015, and early analysis indicates that overall community resilience is rising over time. Preliminary results from the team’s analysis will be available later in 2016 and will be presented in a corresponding conference paper and presentation.


By increasing the capacity of organizations like LWR to measure and respond to at-risk areas, this tool seeks to advance the progress and indicators of several of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 2015-2030 (SDGs). In particular, such a tool directly addresses SDG 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities and is in line with the tenets of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2015-2030. This resource, while in its early development stages, will be a valuable tool for resource-limited organizations similar to LWR that are working in the field on disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation efforts. Building Resilience in Ethiopia Knippenberg, Erwin; Phd Candidate; Hoddinott, John; Babcock Professor of Food and Nutrition Economics and Policy, Cornell University, United States, [email protected], [email protected] As climate change increases the incidence and severity of droughts, these will disproportionally affect the poorest and most vulnerable. We seek to develop a method for evaluating policies meant to mitigate the impact of these shocks by increasing household resilience, their ability to recover from shocks. Focusing on the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP), a combined cash transfer and public works program in Ethiopia, we track household’s post-shock recovery trajectory and estimate whether program beneficiaries recover faster. In order to address the potential endogeneity of our treatment variable, PSNP transfer payments in cash or kind, we use district level project characteristics as Hausman instruments, which we argue are orthogonal to individual household circumstance. We find that receiving mean PSNP transfers reduces vulnerability to drought by 57%. Furthermore, it significantly improves household's recovery trajectory, implying a significant increase in resilience for beneficiaries. As a robustness check we compare household level self-reported shocks to district level GIS data measuring variations in the Standardized Precipitation Evapo-transpiration Index. We find equivalent results and evidence that, without transfers, the effect of meteorological drought lingers for four or more years. Between Rainfall and Windfall: Assessing Vulnerability to Climate Change in an Agricultural Economy Olayide, Olawale; MDP Coordinator/Faculty, Univeristy of Ibadan, Nigeria, [email protected] The agricultural economy in Nigeria is largely rain-fed. In this situation, changes in the average rainfall and variability would affect agricultural and food production. Variability in rainfall (increases and/or decreases) can be expected to intensify the cycle of poverty in an agrarian economy like Nigeria. Therefore, any strategy for adapting agriculture and food systems to a changing climate and


rainfall pattern should be evidence-based and should enhance climate resilient agriculture and economic development. The analysis involved mapping of rainfall variability and food poverty data using descriptive statistics and geographical information systems approaches. The results revealed agro-climatological and socio-economic differences in the patterns and hotspots of rainfall variability and food poverty index in time and space. The results also underscored the vulnerability of specific parts of the country to the impacts of climate change. Therefore, there is the need for strategic, regional, sectoral and socio-economic policy for addressing food poverty issues in the context of climate change in Nigeria. Drought Response and Irrigation: Overcoming Lacunae in Impact Assessment and Decision Making Pérez-Blanco, C. Dionisio; Marie S. Curie PostDoc Fellow, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, Ital; Mysiak, Jaroslav; Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, Italy; and Koks, Elco; Institute for Environmental Studies, VU University of Amsterdam, Netherlands; [email protected] Southern Europe is becoming drier. Adverse climatic conditions may reduce rainfed agricultural production and farmers are likely to adapt by increasing their irrigation demand. With high confidence, water demand for crop irrigation is expected to increase by more than 40% up to 2080, further strengthening the irrigation expansion trend of the last 50 years (IPCC, 2014). Declining runoff and groundwater resources in Mediterranean catchments will fall increasingly often short of expanding irrigation demand, giving rise to more frequent and intense drought events (EC, 2012). Higher environmental standards and inelastic supply suggest that future drought response will demand more frequent and intense restrictions in irrigation withdrawals (OECD, 2014). In this context, there is a pressing need to better understand the economic impacts of irrigation restrictions, including their microeconomic and economy-wide repercussions. Consistent and relevant information is instrumental for cost-effective drought management. Integrated Modelling Frameworks (IMF) at different geographical scales play a key role in this respect, providing the data to inform decision making in DSCs and C&C contexts alike. IMF typically optimize an objective function subject to a series of physical and management constraints following agronomic, hydrological, hydro-economic or economic criteria (Singh, 2012). The analysis conducted in this paper falls in the latter category. This paper presents a methodological framework that nests a bottom-up microeconomic RPM into a top-down macroeconomic IO model. RPM and IO models present a series of advantages over alternative approaches, and can be coupled with relatively low computational requirements (see Section 3). The goal is to assess the economic impacts of seasonal irrigation restrictions, including their microeconomic and economy-wide repercussions. The methodology is


resolved in two stages: in the first stage, a microeconomic RPM estimates the impacts of alternative irrigation restrictions on the income of agents; in the second stage, estimated impacts are imported into a macroeconomic input-output model (MRIA model) to assess economy-wide losses across sectors and regions within the economy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time both models are integrated. Methods are illustrated with an application in the Lower Po River Basin (LPRB) in Northeastern Italy. Despite its growing drought exposure and inflating agricultural losses, decision-making in the LPRB is based on hydrological information only. By means of a thorough representation of agents’ preferences and response and related economy-wide repercussions, this research can be used to estimate the abatement costs of overallocation and support decision-making processes based on advanced information management. References EC, 2012. EU blueprint to Safeguard Europe’s Water Resources (Communication No. COM(2012) 673 final). European Commission, Brussels (Belgium). Girard, C., Pulido-Velazquez, M., Rinaudo, J.-D., PagÃ©, C., Caballero, Y., 2015. Integrating top-down and bottom-up approaches to design global change adaptation at the river basin scale. Glob. Environ. Change 34, 132-146. Harou, J.J., Pulido-Velazquez, M., Rosenberg, D.E., MedellÃ-n-Azuara, J., Lund, J.R., Howitt, R.E., 2009. Hydro-economic models: Concepts, design, applications, and future prospects. J. Hydrol. 375, 627-643. IPCC, 2014. IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) (No. WGII). Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Geneva (Switzerland). Marques, G., Lund, J., Leu, M., Jenkins, M., Howitt, R., Harter, T., Hatchett, S., Ruud, N., Burke, S., 2006. Economically Driven Simulation of Regional Water Systems: Friant-Kern, California. J. Water Resour. Plan. Manag. 132, 468-479. OECD, 2014. Climate Change, Water and Agriculture. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris. Singh, A., 2012. An overview of the optimization modelling applications. J. Hydrol. 466-467, 167-182. The Implications of Irrigation as a Planned Adaptation Measure on an Economy Wide Context


Parrado, Ramiro; Senior Researcher, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM) and Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici (CMCC), Italy; Dellarole, Anna; University of Milan, Italy; Bosello, Francesco; Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, University of Milan, and Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici, Italy, [email protected] Notwithstanding its key role in food production, the economic relevance of agriculture varies widely across countries. In OECD economies, it currently accounts for less than 1.6% of overall economic output and employs less than 6% of the labour force. By contrast, in many least developed countries, more than 25% of gross domestic product (GDP) is derived from agriculture, and in some countries more than 50% of workers are employed in the sector. Agricultural activities depend on specific climate conditions such as temperature, CO2 concentration, precipitation, water availability, as well as frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. It is thus expected that they will be particularly sensitive to future climate change leading to changes in agricultural productivity, level and regional distribution of food production. Therefore, there is a need to implement specific adaptation measures to cope with the negative effects of climate change. In this context, irrigation activities could play a key role, especially in developing countries. However, given that irrigation activities require specific resources, it is also necessary to include several economic aspects in the analysis. Among these aspects it is important to consider irrigation costs, and the interaction of irrigation activities with the rest of the economy. Also important are the repercussions in domestic and international markets following expected productivity shocks, as well as the mitigation of impacts which could be provided by adaptation measures. Therefore, the objective of the paper is to analyse the implications of including irrigation as an adaptation measure within an economy-wide context. These elements offer the basis to pose the following research question: Which are the economic implications of irrigation as a measure of planned adaptation for the agricultural sector, considering indirect economy wide effects as well as international trade? To address this question we use a multi-country and multi-sector recursive dynamic Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model which takes into account international trade flows. In addition, we extend it with specific features to include irrigation as a planned adaptation measure. This comprises enhancing the model, and its database with information on rainfed, irrigated land, and irrigation services. These modifications allow us not only to assess impacts of climate change with an improved model, but also assess the contribution of irrigation as a specific adaptation action. The main innovative feature of the modified CGE model is related to agricultural production. Farmers can decide to use both rain-fed and irrigable land, substituting one for the other according to their relative costs. Irrigable cropland is usually more valuable because it requires better conditions in terms of slope, drainage, texture, soil depth, etc. (FAO, 1997). Furthermore, irrigation services


based on capital and infrastructure are demanded by farmers to use irrigated land. Hence, irrigated land is not only more productive, but also more costly because the value of land is higher, and due to the required irrigation services associated to capital, operational and maintenance costs. While these modifications regard the demand for irrigable land, it was also necessary to modify the land supply structure. Land owners can allocate land between pasture and cropland. Moreover, within cropland it is also possible to convert rainfed land into irrigable land which can be offered to farmers at a higher price. If climate change would affect negatively agricultural productivities, the demand for irrigation would increase to cope with those impacts. However, the interaction between changes in productivities by type of crops may have different results depending on future impacts. The initial endowment of irrigated land as well the type of agriculture (capital, labour or land intensive) will determine the final economic outcome. We apply this modelling framework to different scenarios of climate change highlighting effects on the demand for irrigation, land as well as the price and production of agricultural commodities; and finally on country GDP. To better address uncertainty at sectoral, and regional level we use simulations from five crop models from the AgMip project also for different climate scenarios (Elliott et al., 2015; Rosenzweig et al., 2014; Villoria et al., 2014). References Elliott, J., C. Muller, D. Deryng, J. Chryssanthacopoulos, K. J. Boote, M. Buchner, I. Foster, M. Glotter, J. Heinke, T. Iizumi, R. C. Izaurralde, N. D. Mueller, D. K. Ray, C. Rosenzweig, A. C. Ruane, and J. Sheffield (2015). The Global Gridded Crop Model Intercomparison: Data and modeling protocols for Phase 1 (v1.0). Geoscientific Model Development 8, 261-277. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) (1997). Irrigation potential in Africa: A basin approach. Rome: Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. Rosenzweig, C., J. Elliott, D. Deryng, A. Ruane, C. Mueller, A. Arneth, K. Boote, C. Folberth, M. Glotter, N. Khabarov, K. Neumann, F. Piontek, T. Pugh, E. Schmid, E. Stehfest, H. Yang, and J. Jones (2014). Assessing agricultural risks of climate change in the 21st century in a global gridded crop model intercomparison. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 111, 3268-3273. Villoria, N., J. Elliott, C. Muller, J. Shin, L. Zhao, and C. Song (2014). Rapid aggregation of globally gridded crop model outputs to facilitate cross-disciplinary analysis of climate change impacts in agriculture. Available online at: https://mygeohub.org/tools/agmip/.


Assessment Rubric for Adaptation: Sustainable Cities Goal 11 Plass, Lian; LoPresti, Anna; Heinis, Adam; Wells, Dawn; Sweeney, Jennifer; Wiler, Lisa; Tilton, Lucy; Lubitz, Rachael; K, Tim Lee; Students, Columbia University, United States, [email protected], [email protected] Climate change directly and indirectly impacts populations worldwide. Flooding from rising sea levels and drought from temperature increases are only two potential risks. Such environmental changes ultimately affect human health and culture in the form of increased communicable disease and forced migration. Ecosystem services and biodiversity are also jeopardized by climate change, which in turn threatens individuals and the very foundation of human society. Consequently, it is important for humanity to adjust our current lifestyles through adaptation efforts. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) defines climate change as follows: “Adaptation refers to adjustments in ecological, social or economic systems in response to actual or expected climate stimuli and their effects of impacts. It refers to changes in processes, practices and structures to moderate potential damages to benefit from opportunities associated with climate change.” Though there are few systematic monitoring and evaluation processes for adaptation, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) present a reliable framework around which to build solid monitoring and evaluation strategies. The SDGs are a set of goals and targets agreed upon by the United Nations, attempting to end extreme poverty, promote equitable economic development, and combat climate change on a global level. The SDGs offer major improvements on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), but they address key systemic barriers to sustainable development that were neglected by the MDGs. These barriers include inequality, unsustainable consumption patterns, weak institutional capacity, and environmental degradation (ICSU 7). The SDGs have been proposed as part of a new development program aimed at continuing progress towards worldwide adaptation and sustainability for a growing population while battling a changing climate. In December of 2015, the United Nations hosted the COP21/CMP11 convention in Paris, France to discuss and negotiate the final version of the goals and targets. The current SDGs contain 17 goals encompassing an extensive range of sustainable development issues. The SDGs contains 17 goals with 169 targets encompassing an extensive range of sustainable development issues. These issues include ending poverty in all its forms worldwide, making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, and also conserving and protecting oceans, the environment, and all biodiversity with an overall focus on adaptation. While COP21 in Paris yielded a new climate agreement that has renewed global optimism surrounding greenhouse gas emissions reductions and, more generally, climate change mitigation, it is nonetheless important to recognize and


address the impacts of climate change that are already locked in due to past and current emissions. A wide array of climate adaptation strategies will be necessary to protect communities and ecosystems from the worst impacts of climate change, including rising temperatures, rising sea levels, increased frequency of severe weather events, drought, and reduced air quality. Despite the growing importance of adaptation, there is no existing universal standardized framework for assessing the efficacy of existing and future adaptation projects. Coming to an internationally agreed upon set of indicators and monitoring and evaluation strategies for adaptation should be a priority in the coming years. It is likely that incorporating adaptation into an existing global framework may yield the best results for achieving standardized adaptation assessments in a timely manner. This report aims to analyze Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities, and incorporate climate change adaptation into the language of the targets as well as suggest indicators and monitoring and evaluation strategies that would both achieve the Goal’s targets and increase the success and prominence of climate change adaptation. Nine of the ten targets proposed for Goal 11 are included in this report. Within each target, the relevant types of adaptation strategies are outlined, and existing indicators and monitoring and evaluation strategies are listed and described. The report then discusses the current shortcomings within the field of assessing climate change adaptation, and makes concrete and applicable suggestions to improve adaptation assessments. These suggestions come in multiple forms: the rewording or alteration of existing indicators, the proposal of new indicators, changes to existing monitoring and evaluation strategies, the proposal of new monitoring and evaluation strategies, and the repurposing of successful monitoring and evaluation strategies from other fields. Other fields with robust strategies include climate change mitigation, public health, economics, and biodiversity studies. Our suggestions for each target, as well as existing best practices, are outlined in charts that should function as a rubric for assessing climate change adaptations. Within our research, we found several recurring factors that inhibit the success of adaptation projects. Those factors include lack of project funding, lack of political will and corruption, lack of data transparency and availability, and lack of cooperation between city and national governments. Although these challenges are complex, we have attempted to outline ways of reducing them. We have also put forth new indicators, which track the allocation of funding and resources, and could push countries to increase their investment in adaptation. Additionally, the Green Climate Fund has the potential to raise funds at the international level, if countries are held accountable for their commitments and a certain proportion of the funding is set aside for adaptation. By tracking the presence of gang lords and local authorities within slums and low socioeconomic areas, nations will be held accountable at the international level for intervening to decrease corruption that hinders adaptation. Data availability can be improved through the use of new technologies including cellular phones and satellite imagery. Not only would this make data more publicly available, it would also provide a streamlined data


platform in which organizations could have access to important data in real time. To address the issue of poor cooperation and communication between varying levels of power, we hope that this assessment rubric for climate change adaptation will serve as a framework for standardizing the approach to adaptation and reduce conflicting or inconsistent regulations surrounding adaptation. Despite the existing challenges that hinder climate change adaptation, it will become increasingly critical in the coming years to ensure that communities are protected against climate change. These challenges can, and must, be overcome. This report is intended as a first step in bringing adaptation to the forefront of the discussion by incorporating it into the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. Charting a Pathway for Water Security and Resilience Raleigh, Bob; CEO, PathSight, Canada; Schuster-Wallace, Dr. Corinne; Independent Water-Health Consultant, Adjunct Professor, McMaster University, Canada; Sandford, Mr. Bob; EPCOR Chair in Water and Climate Security, United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health, [email protected] The world is facing an escalating water crisis of quantity, quality, distribution, and allocation. Essential for life and a fundamental engine for economic growth, water is foundational to sustaining the world as we know it. Increasing frequency, magnitude, and extent of water-related natural disasters including floods and loss of large freshwater lakes are not only threatening human wellbeing and economic growth, but social development and political stability even in high income countries. Patchwork remediation has failed; business as usual is no longer possible. Successfully addressing sustainable development challenges requires not only resources, but also massive behaviour changes that must occur at the level of governments, economies, and the general populace. We posit that resilience requires good growth, supportive governance, and community stewardship in order to be sustainable. Moreover, this can be achieved and maintained through innovative engagement of private sector in community investment strategies. The key lies in innovating technological and social change and aligning stewardship with the marketplace in order to foster awareness and behavioral change. Our solution plots a path towards sustainable water security and resilience through an implementation framework that is predicated on assessment, iterative learning, evidence-informed decision making, and an innovative approach to behaviour change - the PathSight Model. This private sector marketing model uses complex, big data sets combined with Social Sciences and technology to


influence behaviour and impact outcomes. Integrating this model into the framework creates an innovative approach to sustainable water development and management through the use of science to inform, causes to inspire, and the populace to engage in necessary and sufficient behavioral transformations. Framework application is ongoing in the Lake Winnipeg Basin, Manitoba, Canada, where negative impacts on water resources appear to be occurring at ever increasing rates. Specific water-related threats to environmental, agricultural, political, and economic resilience in the province include floods and large scale eutrophication. Lake Winnipeg is on the verge of ecosystem collapse and consecutive billion-dollar, one in 100 year floods have emptied provincial coffers and led to resignations of high level politicians. Using an integrated PathSight framework the Lake Winnipeg problem is being reframed and re-distributed across a broader group of actors who may not have previously identified with either the problem or the solution(s). In this manner, politicians, private sector, and citizens are starting to articulate what they can do individually and together. In creating and mobilising a trans-sectoral, multi-stakeholder, multi-dimensional entity to bear on solving the Lake Winnipeg challenge, opportunities for shared governance, policy alignment, and grassroots action are emerging. Climate Change Adaptation Trends in Small Island Developing States Robinson, Stacy-ann; PhD Scholar (Climate Change Adaptation), The Australian National University, Australia, [email protected] Small island developing states (SIDS) are among the countries in the world that are most vulnerable to climate change and required to adapt to its impacts. Yet, there is little information in the academic literature about how SIDS are adapting to climate change, across multiple countries and geographic regions. This paper helps to fill this gap. Using a sample of 16 countries across the Atlantic, Indian Ocean and South China Sea, Caribbean and Pacific regions, this study has two main aims, to identify (1) national-level adaptation trends across climate, climate-induced and non-climate-induced vulnerabilities, sectors and actors, as reported in National Communications (NCs) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and (2) typologies of national-level adaptation actions in SIDS. It identifies, codes and assesses 977 adaptation actions. These actions were reported as addressing 47 climate and climate-induced vulnerabilities and 50 non-climate-induced vulnerabilities and were undertaken in 37 sectors by 34 actors. The paper proposes five typologies of adaptation actions for SIDS, based on actions reported by SIDS. It specifically explores the implications of its findings for global adaptation strategies. As this work establishes a baseline of adaptation action in SIDS, it can assist national governments to gauge their adaptation progress, identify gaps in their adaptation effort and, thereafter, develop appropriate strategies for filling the gaps. It can also assist donors, whether bilateral or multilateral, to make more ‘climate-smart’


investment decisions by being able to identify the adaptation needs that are not being met in SIDS. The Science-Policy-Implementation Interface for Indigenous Innovations Assessment of Ecosystem Services of Rattan Agroforest in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia Afentina, Afentina; PhD student at Monash Sustainability Institute, Monash University, Australia, [email protected]; McShane, Paul; Adjunct Research Fellow, Faculty of Art, Monash University, Australia, [email protected]; Wright, Wendy; Associate Professor, Biological & Environmental Science, Federation University, Australia, [email protected] The impact of conversion of tropical forests into intensive agriculture is one of the primary environmental concerns globally. For example conversion of forest and traditional land uses system into intensive plantation such as oil palm has created environment and social problems. Rattan agroforests have a critical role in developing countries, both in local economic development and in the preservation of the environment. The banned of raw rattan export by the government of Indonesia has negatively affected rattan farmers in Indonesia. The combination of a low price for rattan and the massive local expansion of palm oil plantations have put rattan agroforestry under pressure. There is a need to quantify the ecosystem services associated with rattan agroforest in order to allow local communities and governments to make well-informed decisions about appropriate use of land. The purpose of this study is to assess the ecosystem services associated with rattan agroforestry systems including provisioning, and regulating services. This research was conducted at Tumbang Ronen village Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Qualitative and quantitative methods are employed to assess ecosystem services in rattan agroforest. Plot base survey was used to identify structure and vegetation composition and allometric equations was employed to estimate above ground carbon stock. Information related to utilization of vegetation in rattan agroforest was obtained through interviews with local community. The result of this result indicated that rattan agroforest show capability to maintain biodiversity, absorb a considerable amount of CO2 from the atmosphere and provide multiple needs of local community. Vegetation species richness in rattan agroforest covered more than 75% of adjacent natural forest (Sebangau National Park). This research found 101 vegetation species consist off tree, liana, rattan, shrub and fern. Besides habitat provision, rattan agroforests


also contribute to climate regulation services through removing carbon from the atmosphere to terrestrial deposit as part of plant biomass and necromass. Above ground carbon stock in rattan agroforest was estimated 110 Mg/ha. The retention of mature trees in rattan agroforests is the main contributor for carbon stock. Ratan agroforest act as provider for multiple needs of local community. This research found that local inhabitant utilised 89 vegetation species in rattan agroforest as a source of food, construction material, medicine, fuelwood, fishing tools, handicraft, fodder and crucial part of traditional ceremonies. Melding Indigenous and Tourist Lived Topographies in Sagada, Northern Philippines as a Sustainable Development Mechanism: The Case of the Begnas Ritual System Anacio, Danesto; PhD Student (Environmental Science), University of the Philippines Los Banos, Philippines, [email protected] The municipality of Sagada, Mt. Province, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), is a fifth class municipality geographically located at 17°05’ North and 120°54’ East in the island of Luzon, Philippines. It has a total land area of 9,969 hectares, and an elevation range of 1,313 meters above sea level (masl) to 2,318 masl. Sagada is inhabited by an indigenous ethno-linguistic group, the northern Kankana-ey, which also occupy a great portion of Mt. Province. Incidentally, Sagada's limestone landscape, mountainous terrain, pine forests, cool climate, rich culture and unique history, have made it a tourist spot for both local and foreign visitors. However, as a result of tourism, coupled with natural population growth and infrastructure development, various environmental issues are currently experienced in the municipality. This paper specifically discusses the qualitative analysis of environmental degradation in lived topographies (lived experience that occur in specific places or types of places) of Sagada by analysing tourist and native topographical interpretations of the begnas, a ritual system performed several times a year for marking specific agriculture-related activities in Sagada. Additionally, the begnas has various forms and categories, and involves a number of distinct culture-environment elements such as various sacrificial animals, omen observation, communal feasting, sacred landscapes and natural and or man-made structures, social institutions, labour and other social arrangements, among many others. The increasing documentation and recognition of the begnas ritual system, most especially during the visually-exciting events of the first day of the ritual process, make it a popular affair among tourists. Several tourists even cite the begnas as one reason for visiting Sagada, seeing the cultural practice as a unique spectacle to experience. On the other hand, while Sagada natives welcome the presence of tourists and their interest in the ritual, the sheer number of visitors and the desire to document their experiences with and of the begnas, vis-â-vis the solemnity and sacredness of the event, have been causing a number of issues.


The uncontrolled need to take videos and pictures of the begnas participants and processes is a particular annoyance, especially in cases where backyard spaces are intruded in an effort to have a better vantage point. A graver aggravation happens when tourists impede pathways, especially during the return of male participants from the papatayan (a sacred landscape), or when they cause rocks to fall from standing or sitting on or near rock-reinforced walls (kabiti). Such events are bad omen, and depending on the severity of what transpired, would require additional rituals. As a result of the increasing presence of tourists and the inconveniences they cause to participants, notices have been put up by the community in an effort to inform tourists and ensure the peaceful celebration of the begnas. While tourism is not the only issue affecting the begnas, the main idea presented in this paper is to harness the potential of tourism for strengthening the appreciation of the begnas in the face of various culture-environment issues such as changing preferences for rice varieties planted, culture change, population growth and infrastructure development, and probably even climate change. By melding tourist and native lived topographies of the begnas; sacred landscapes required for the begnas are preserved, generated incomes are increased and equitably and appropriately utilized, and overall culture-environment integrity and health is achieved. Applying Australian Aboriginal Knowledge to Improve Urban Sustainability Griggs, David; Professor, Monash University; Berg, Rueben; Indigenous Architecture and Design; Gordana Marin, Victoria; Research Fellow, Monash University, Australia, [email protected], gordana.marin@monash How the Australian aboriginal philosophy of Caring for Country can enhance sustainable development Caring for Country is a philosophy and value system of many Aboriginal people of Australia. Aboriginal Australians often speak of the land and the sea that makes up Country as a relation, such as a mother or a brother. As such, Caring for Country carries a deep sense of responsibility to care for the land and its inhabitants, now and in the future. This is a tradition that that has been handed down for thousands of years. But because most people think of Aboriginal Australians as living in remote places Caring for Country principles have only been applied in remote or rural Australia. In this paper we examine the question of whether Caring for Country can be applied in an urban context to both acknowledge and celebrate Aboriginal culture while at the same time enhancing sustainability outcomes within the city. To investigate this question a consultation was carried out with the Aboriginal community in the State of Victoria in Australia with particular representation from


the Aboriginal community in Melbourne, along with key non-Aboriginal stakeholders. There was universal agreement from both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal participants that Caring for Country can be used in an urban context to recognise, celebrate and acknowledge Aboriginal culture and to engender positive sustainability outcomes. A number of ways that applying Caring for Country could lead to positive outcomes were identified. These included applying knowledge of what came before the city; applying knowledge of natural systems and cycles; reflecting culture, naming and ceremony in the city; fostering in all a culture of duty and respect for place; rebranding existing sustainable practices as Caring for Country; providing a framework for long term planning and decision making; and making the city unique in a globalised world. It was agreed that Caring for Country needs to be shared with everyone, that it is not just for Aboriginal people, but that this has to be done with respect and with the full involvement of Aboriginal people so that it is not seen as Caring for Country being appropriated from Aboriginal people. The Science-Policy-Implementation Interface for Low-Carbon Urban Development Connecting the Resource Nexus to Urban Basic Service Provision - Towards an Urban CLEW Model Engström, Rebecka; PhD candidate, KTH Royal Institute of Technology & Stockholm University, Sweden; Howells, Mark; Professor, KTH Royal Institute of Technology; Destouni, Georgia; Professor, Stockholm University; Bhatt, Vtsal; Senior Energy Policy Advisor, Brookhaven National Laboratory; and Baziliana, Morgan; Associated Professor, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, , [email protected] One of the great challenges of urbanization worldwide is to ensure reliable and sustainable provision of water and energy to the growing number of city dwellers. Not only does the increased demand for water and energy put pressure on our natural resources, but these resources are also interdependent, and the systems that deliver them to our cities are interlinked (Bazilian et al., 2011). The nexus between our most crucial resource systems (focused on energy and water; energy, water and food; or climate land-use, energy and water) has gathered increasing attention in recent years, especially in the science-policy interface. Since these resources and the systems that deliver them to cities are often public infrastructure intensive, “nexus-sensitive” policy and planning is crucial to ensure sustainable management of our limited resources. At the urban scale, improving the resource efficiency at the point of consumption holds the potential to save both energy and water, when the full ‘nexus’ systems interactions are considered. In addition, urban green infrastructure have shown great potential to provide multiple urban services at low or even positive


environmental impacts, such as stormwater retention and urban heat island mitigation (NYSERDA, 2012) but are seldom fully assessed based on their multiple benefits. This study develops an integrated conceptual and quantitative framework that connects the water-energy resource nexus with basic service provision in cities. A pilot case study illustrates how water, energy, cost and climate impacts from a range of hypothetical city-wide interventions in the city of New York could be analyzed and compared in this framework. The interventions studied include:

• a shift to more efficient water- and/or energy-using household appliances; • an expanded installation of green roofs and; • an increase in the number of rain barrels for harvesting rain water

By comparing these seemingly very different interventions, and quantifying the relative impact if an equal amount of investment was made in all of them, we aim to assess how resource efficiency, climate mitigation potential and costs of a variety of water and energy dependent urban service technologies can be compared in a single framework. Results indicate that both resource efficiency gains costs and payback times vary greatly between the compared interventions. A general recommendation to always seek nexus - or multi-resource - efficiency would therefore be blunt guidance for policy makers trying to make the most of their (likely limited) budget. To consider these urban resource interactions sincerely, sophisticated and systematic quantitative assessments of their coupled effects is needed. A fully developed urban resource-to-service nexus framework based on the prototype developed in this study is envisioned to be valuable for such assessments, with capacity to support urban sustainability planning and policy-making, especially for direct comparison of multi-resource benefits of interventions of different nature. Brokering the Planet: Challenges in Negotiating a Carbon Offsets Agreement Between California and Acre, Brazil Oldiges, Maria Kei; Graduate Student, Master's candidate, UC Berkeley, United States; Rajao, Dr. Raoni; Professor, The Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil, [email protected] Deforestation is historically and currently a major challenge in the Brazilian Amazon. The state of Acre in Brazil has spearheaded the efforts to curb deforestation in the region. Acre participates in the UN’s REDD+ and has developed a comprehensive mix of approaches ranging from zoning and titling to taxation and credits. They have put in place a payment-for-ecosystem-services plan, for which they have secured funding from the German Development Bank,


and also placed their emissions credits on the Sao Paolo stock exchange. Meanwhile, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which established a cap-and-trade carbon market in the state in 2013, is determined to work with international partners who can provide carbon mitigation credits for purchase by California-based emitters. The two states are negotiating a plan in which California purchases carbon offsets from Acre, and Acre provides offset credits through its avoided deforestation. The rationale is that California can provide an additional offset compliance avenue to domestic producers outside of the domestic offsets market, and Brazil can supply compliance-grade emissions reductions to an international buyer while using the funds to support a broader set of sustainable development goals and to build a low-carbon high social equity economy. For California, benefits include cost-containment for the existing cap-and-trade market and the visible demonstration of California’s climate leadership, as well as benefits to biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods for forested communities. For Acre, benefits include sources of financing for economic development and an executable incentive structure to further its deforestation and reforestation goals. Can it work? This year, negotiations and planning have resumed after a 3-year hiatus as California looks to establish agreements with Acre, Brazil and Chiapas, Mexico. The proposed plan is being hotly debated within each respective state, as well as between them. What would success look like, and how can it be secured? What are the anticipated complications of such an agreement? What are the key cultural, political, ideological differences between California and Acre that are shaping the development of this proposed market? I will present the findings of my research which seeks the answers to these and other questions. About the Presenter: Maria Kei Oldiges is a graduate student at UC Berkeley in the Master of Development Practice program and is currently conducting research in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, as a Global Development Fellow with support from USAID. Climate Change Mitigation Strategy for the Residential Sector, Buenos Aires City - Argentina Rabbia, Martin; Climate Change Advisor of The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Master's Student in Urban Economics - Universidad Torcuato Di Tella, Argentina, [email protected] The current work aims to design a territory intervention proposal to improve the energy efficiency in residential zones in the South of Buenos Aires City (CABA). In the pursuit of this objective, it was realized a research and analysis of specific problems and the different mitigation proposals related to climate change in the


international and national context in order to take cognizance of the practices suggested. In the next place, the documents of different nature and origin were surveyed to emphasize the current diagnosis and actions that take place in the city of Buenos Aires. After completing the research tasks, I proceeded to analyze the information collected and reached the following conclusions:

• The current interventions and regulations applicable to the subject failed to reduce GHG emissions generated or achieve the established goals because they have been insufficient. (Considering the period specified in the series from 2000 to 2012 GHG Inventory CABA).

• Actions that are currently performed in the CABA are insufficient according to the verified results of the latest inventory of greenhouse gases (GHGs) of CABA.

• There are no governmental measures aimed to improve efficiency in the residential sector governmental. Within the "community" sector is attributed to 33% of total emissions.

Given these circumstances, in this thesis, it is pretended to propose an innovative mitigation tool for the residential sector, with the aim of contributing to the Cities reduction targets to which it committed itself toward 2030. Moreover, the proposal seeks to grant an innovative management tool from the joint with foreign credit institutions in the context of climate finance funds. At the same time, from a system of tax on improvements, it seeks to replicate the intervention in different areas of the city where it is deemed appropriate and timely. Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollutants Emissions of China’s Urban Residential Sector: Analysis on Household Energy Transition Xing, Rui; Research associate, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan, [email protected] The emission inventory by REAS (Regional Emission Inventory in Asia) indicates that building sector contributes to 15% of CO2 emission and over 30% of several air pollutants emission in Asia. Recently urbanization process has been accelerating in China. Urban population share has surpassed rural share in 2012 and is continually growing. Moreover, per capita commercial energy use in urban households is almost two times larger than it in rural households due to higher income levels. This study focuses on China’s urban households and examines energy use growth brought by income increase and urbanization development.


We also look into the energy transition caused by economic development, as well as mitigation potential of greenhouse gas and air pollutants emissions. Several studies have provided evidence of positive correlation between income and final energy use at the national level. In addition to income, demographic factors such like household size, education level have also been suggested to have influences on determining urban energy use. Based on literature review, in this study we consider income level, education level, household size and female share as four most influencing socio-economic indicators of urban household energy use. Considering the economic and climate diversities across China’s provincial regions, our analysis is down-scaled to the provincial-level and examines the emissions pathway of each provincial region. We first apply multiple linear regression analysis on historical panel data to determine the correlations between socio-economic indicators and energy use of transition fuel (coal) and advanced fuel (LPG, electricity, etc.). The correlations are used to estimate household energy share in the future. Next, we use the AIM/Enduse model, a bottom-up optimization model with a detailed mitigation technology database, to estimate mitigation potential brought by energy transition and sustainable policies. The results suggest that income level, household size and education level are negatively correlated with energy share of coal while female share in household has a positive correlation. In contrast, income level, household size and education level show positive correlations with energy shares of LPG and electricity while female share in household shows a negative correlation. When income and education levels increase in the future, coal is expected to gradually fade out from household energy use, and greenhouse gas and air pollutants emissions will be consequently reduced. Furthermore, implementation of efficient technologies can achieve higher emission reductions for both greenhouse gas and air pollutants. The Science-Policy-Implementation Interface for Socially Inclusive Economic Growth Tying Policy to the Sustainability Mast: The Influence of Green Parties On National Environmental Policy Integration in 28 European States, 1990-2014. Borgnaes, Kajsa; PhD, Potsdam Univerity, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Germany, [email protected] Almost 30 years after the Brundtland Commission stated that incorporating sustainable development into national policies, programmes and budgets was a chief institutional challenge countries are still struggling to make environmental issues a part of major legislative and regulatory processes. The concept of Environmental Policy Integration (EPI) gained momentum in the 1990s and early 2000s as a way to create more cross-cutting governance structures instead of


existing mostly sectoral, end-of-pipe environmental policies and plans. It was hoped that a sort of ex ante consideration could be built into the policy process, facilitating the handling of trade-offs and goal conflicts. A basic assumption was that institutional and political-administrative change was needed to enforce sustainability policy change (cf. Nilsson and Eckerberg 2007). Most empirical reviews of EPI have hitherto concluded that - despite high-level political backing - efforts have failed to live up to expectations (Casado-Asensio and Steurer 2014). ‘Silo-mentality’ and ‘turf-wars’ between sectors, ministries and agencies prevail, and there are continuous political and institutional barriers to implementation. Jordan and Lenschow (2010) stated that there are few ‘best practices’ to learn from. However, they also concluded that the evidence base of this view remains fragmented. Runhaar et al. (2014) similarly complained about the lack of a clear and comprehensive overview of EPI strategies, and that too little attention has been paid to systematically identifying, comparing and explaining the levels of EPI achieved in various contexts (Ibid. p.243). The present study aims at contributing to the debate on how cross-cutting sustainability issues can be incorporated into government structures and policies more broadly. It is argued that EPI is a potentially crucial mechanism also concerning the implementation of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDG:s) - which requires suitable national governance and administrative structures. The debate on which supportive institutions are necessary for SDG implementation has a lot to learn from the debate and practices of EPI. Whereas most existing studies on EPI consist of single country case studies or cross-country studies of some particular policy instrument or sector, the present study takes a different tack and focuses on which countries are ahead in creating broader ‘sets’ of EPI institutions -termed ‘EPI architectures’. The study examines national-level EPI architectures at five-yearly intervals between 1990 and 2014. This approach is superior if one is interested in the overall integrative capacity of states rather than the existence of some particular policy instrument. Conceptually, the study adopts a ‘leader-laggard’ framework, asking what countries have installed more or less ‘dense’ EPI architectures at various points in time. This approach is motivated as leaders are commonly assumed to serve as role models, pulling laggards along through regulatory competition, the stimulation of international regulation or by spreading innovations (Knill et al. 2012). In terms of method and data, the study draws on a careful examination of the adoption (and dismantling) of ten selected EPI institutions in 28 European national governance contexts. The data is gathered from two main types of sources. First, all EU countries are obliged to adopt a national sustainable development strategy (NSDS) as of 2006, as well as report biannually to the European Commission on progress on implementation. These reports (initial strategy reports, indicator reports and progress reports) are often presented both to the Commission and to the national parliament. Most reports also include


discussions on EPI and therefore serve as fairly reliable and comparable source of data. To triangulate this material as well as to account for those time periods or those countries where no NSDSs are in place (or NSDS data is insufficient), secondary material in the form of EU Commission SD evaluations, reports by the European Parliament’s Sustainable Development Network (SD-network) or by the OECD have been used. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis is used to analyse the data, and the explanatory power of selected factors (GDP, EU membership, institutional structure etc.). The study finds that although all countries in the sample have adopted some EPI institutions as of 2010, most countries still belong in a laggard or mid-fielder group. Germany, the UK and Finland have belonged to the leader group throughout the examined period, whereas Austria and France have performed well lately (while being laggards in the 1990s and early 2000s). Some countries, such as Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands have performed badly during the past decade, despite their general reputation as being environmental leaders. Generally, it is a high degree of consistency in who is in the leader or laggard groups. Another finding is that there are considerable differences whether countries have continued to develop their EPI architecture or dismantled them over time. Examining factors influencing EPI architectures (and their development trajectories), it is found that 1) richer countries are usually ahead, 2) EU membership affects EPI architectures positively, 3) there is a strong ‘mimicking’ of institutions meaning that leader countries invent and laggard countries copy institutions, 4) country political factors (such as the composition of government) play a decisive role for shaping the national variations in EPI architectures. Overall, the study provides important insights into the mechanisms of building integrative capacity for sustainability policies in national governance. This is a crucial step also for improving the chances that the SDG:s will be successfully implemented. References Casado-Asensio, J. and Steurer, R. (2014) ‘Integrated Strategies on Sustainable Development, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in Western Europe: Communication Rather than Coordination’, Journal of Public Policy 34:3, 437-483. Jordan, A. and Lenschow, A. (2010) ‘Policy Paper Environmental Policy Integration: A State of the Art Review’, Environmental Policy and Governance 20, 147-158. Knill, C., Heichel, S. and Arndt, D. (2012) ‘Really a Front-runner, Really a Straggler? Of Environmental Leaders and Laggards in the European Union and Beyond - A Quantitative Policy Perspective’, Energy Policy 48, 36-45.


Nilsson, M. and Eckerberg, K. (2007) Environmental Policy Integration in Practice. Earthscan, London. Runhaar, H., Driessen, P. and Uittenbroek, C. (2014) ‘Towards a Systematic Framework for the Analysis of Environmental Policy Integration’, Environmental Policy and Governance 24, 233-246. Policy Coherence to Achieve the SDGs: Using Integrated Simulation Models to Assess Effective Policies Collste, David; PhD Student, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Sweden, [email protected] To embark on a successful path towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs, or Agenda 2030), practical solutions for long-term strategic development planning are crucial. Agenda 2030 provides an ambitious framework that guides development efforts for the next 15 years, yet a complex one. Coherently addressing the 17 interlinked goals requires planning tools that can guide policy makers at the national level in developing effective strategies. Given the integrative nature of the SDGs declared in the resolution, integrative modeling techniques are especially useful for strategic planning. We present and discuss the use of the system dynamics based Threshold21 integrated SDG (iSDG) models. The iSDG models enable policy makers and planning officials at all levels of governance to design coherent strategies to achieve the SDGs. By concurrently simulating progress on all the 17 SDGs, the model enables broad, cross-sector and long-term analyses of the impacts of alternative policies. In this paper an iSDG model for Tanzania is used, and impacts of substantial investments in photovoltaic capacity is analyzed. The intervention is analyzed with a focus on the impacts on three of the SDGs: SDG 3 (healthy lives and well-being), SDG 4 (education) and SDG 7 (energy). The simulation results suggest that large investments in photovoltaic capacity affect the progress on life expectancy, years of schooling and access to electricity, positively. More importantly, the progress on such dimensions leads to broader system-wide impacts on several important social, economic, and environmental indicators. The use of the iSDG model also reveals trade-offs between attainment of different goals that are critical to consider in the development of successful strategies. While the example provided illustrates the simulated impact of an intervention in one specific area, the iSDG model supports similar analysis for policies related to


all the 17 SDGs to be carried out individually, and concurrently. The latter is especially useful in order to address synergies and trade-offs that may emerge from the interaction among policies in different areas. Can Paris Deal Boost SDGs Achievement? An Assessment of Climate-Sustainability Co-Benefits or Side-Effects Davide, Marinella; Researcher; and Campagnolo, Lorenza; Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM) & Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC), Italy, [email protected], [email protected] At the end of 2015, two important summits took place, whose outcomes will potentially lead to a redefinition of the international policy environment in the near future. In September, the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the United Nations defined broad and ambitious development targets for both developed and developing countries encompassing all sustainability dimensions (economic, social, and environmental) and designing the pathway towards an inclusive green growth. In December, the 21th UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP21) adopted the Paris Agreement, which aims at strengthening the global response to climate change through a new regime of country-driven emission targets. Synergies among these two landmark steps in international cooperation can directly affect countries’ environmental performance, but also social and economic dimensions if we consider the possible use of climate policy revenues to reduce poverty prevalence (SDG1), inequality (SDG10), malnutrition (SDG2) or to extend access to electricity (SDG7) or to lower the pressure on public debt (SDG8). This paper aims at giving an ex-ante assessment of the co-benefits and side effects of this new policy setting and, in particular, to shed some light on the influence of COP21 agreement on achieving SDGs. Our analysis relies on a recursive-dynamic Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model developed and enriched with indicators representative of each SDGs. CGE models have a flexible structure, and can capture trade-offs and higher-order implications across sectors and countries that follows a shock or a policy. These models are suited to assess the performance of economic and some environmental indicators. However, modelling social indicators in a CGE framework is a difficult task, especially when these imply dispersion measures such are poverty prevalence and inequality. In this case, we overcome the representative agent structure proper of CGE models relying on the empirical literature and directly estimating the relations between indicators and endogenous variables of the model. Extending the model with social and environmental indicators, in addition to the economic ones, allows assessing in an internally consistent framework how and


at which extent changes in one sustainability sphere may affect the achievement of SDGs all around the world. Our framework considers 27 indicators covering 16 SDGs. The analysis has world coverage, but we aggregate the result in 40 macro-regions. The baseline scenario reproduces a Shared Socio-economic Pathways 2 (SSP2) and it is used as a benchmark to assess the effects of two mitigation scenario considering a coordinated effort to curb GHG emissions:

• Post-Paris Global Trade (global ITS) scenario: the abatement pledges stated in the INDCs submitted ahead of the COP 21 are effective for the committing countries. The global climate policy implementation envisions an international emission trading scheme (ITS).

• Post Paris EU ETS scenario: in this scenario the European Union (EU28) implements an Emission Trading System (ETS) as already foreseen by the EU ETS domestic legislation, while all other countries achieve their targets unilaterally with a domestic carbon tax.

Both scenarios are characterised by two different recycling schemes of the revenues collected from the carbon market or the carbon taxes:

• revenues are redistributed internally in a lump sum; • revenues are used in part internally in EU28 and other developed

countries and in part flow to a Development Fund benefiting LDCs: EU28 uses at least 50% of the revenues recycled to support clean energy in EU, 5% goes to the Development Fund and the rest is redistributed internally. The other committing countries allocate 1% of the carbon tax revenues to the Development Fund. In the LDCs revenues are recycled to achieve other SDGs.

Our framework that combines an empirical analysis with a modelling exercise allows considering economic, social and environmental dimensions in a CGE model, sheds some lights on the possible ancillary costs and benefits of mitigation policies, and assesses how the implementation of climate policy could help achieving SDGs or, rather, whether there is a trade-off between climate policy, and economic and social development. Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals in Australia Griggs, David; Professor; Thwaites, John; Professor; Kestin, Tahl; Research Fellow, Monash University, Australia, [email protected], [email protected] This paper will describe the results of a three year initiative to stimulate implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in Australia, while


maintaining strong socially inclusive economic growth. The initiative was carried out by the Monash Sustainability Institute under the auspices of SDSN Australia/Pacific through a series of high-level workshops, the development of reports and peer reviewed papers and widespread engagement with a diverse range of stakeholders from government, business, civil society and academia. Although the SDGs follow on from and continue the work of the Millennium Development Goals, they are also very different in covering a much broader agenda and applying to all countries. They present a new experience for a developed country like Australia. The initiative therefore sought to examine how the SDGs are relevant to Australia, the specific issues and priorities that Australia needs to address, and roles of the different sectors of Australian society in contributing to the SDGs, and how progress in achieving the SDGs in Australia could be reported on, including data and indicators. The initiative explored these questions with the aim of raising national awareness of the SDGs and promoting Australian leadership in the development of the SDGs and the solutions for implementing them. Key issues that were identified for Australia included the development challenges facing Australia’s Indigenous community, Australia’s role within the Asia-Pacific region, along with Australia’s particular sustainable development challenges in areas such as water availability, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, inequality and long term economic prosperity. Interlinkages among the SDGs were also identified as a key issue, so a major focus of the work was an analysis of these interlinkages, including synergies and trade-offs. Key outputs from the program included:

• An interim proposal for Sustainable Development Goals and targets for Australia.

• A matrix of SDG interlinkages relevant to Australia • An agreed set of actions for federal government, state and local

governments, civil society, business and academia to pursue to contribute to the implementation of the SDGs

• Peer reviewed papers on an integrated framework for the Sustainable Development Goals, the need for integration in the implementation of SDGs and a framework to manage synergies and trade-offs within SDG implementation

• A conference statement calling for the initiation of a national non-partisan dialogue, involving leaders from all sectors of Australian society, to develop a Sustainable Development Goals implementation plan for Australia, including Australia’s international role

• A series of public events with high-profile overseas and local to Australia to raise awareness of the SDGs with the public and in the media

The outputs and conclusions of the initiative were provided as input to national, SDSN, and UN discussions on the SDGs, including the Open Working Group,


the Intergovernmental Negotiations, and the UN Statistical Commission discussions on indicators. The initiative’s approach to “localisation” of the SDGs and their national implementation was recommended to all regional and country SDSN networks by the SDSN leadership, and the team provided direct support and assistance to other SDSN national and regional networks. Evidence will be provided of the impact of the program, giving examples of how the SDGs are being taken up by the different sectors within Australia. Quadruple and Quintuple Helix as a Way to Socially Inclusive Growth in the Development of Bioeconomies In Europe? Grundel, Ida; Senior lecturer, Department of Geography, Media and Communication, Sweden, [email protected] We live in a rapidly changing world where we need to handle challenges such as climate change, food crisis, migration, and fuel- and energy crises. As a response to these challenges the transformation into a more sustainable society is necessary, but calls for a larger transition of societal functions (Geels 2005). One response is where the European Union has developed a strategy for the development of a European bioeconomy; Innovating for sustainable growth: A bio-economy for Europe. The transformation into a European bioeconomy is a way of transforming the European economy into becoming more sustainable and competitive by the use of renewable biological resources and the use of these resources and its waste streams into becoming value added products (The European Commission 2012:3). It could be argued that the use of the term bioeconomy is just another buzzword for sustainable development and a continuous greening of the economy (Birch et.al. 2010; Birch 2012), where environmentalist claims can become depoliticized and elite groups in society shape the agenda of sustainable development (Kenis & Lievens 2014). However, we argue that the term sustainable bioeconomy or a sustainable bio based economy together with the use of the term circular economy can be seen a way of transforming society into becoming more sustainable. This also calls for a transformation of more than only economic activities but to all of society e.g. changed consumption and production patterns, a transition from fossil materials to sustainable materials and the use of waste streams into a circular economy. In a large scale transformation process into a sustainable bioeconomy new innovations and different kinds of knowledge from different actors in society are important. Thereby, innovation policy plays an important role for the challenges facing us.


Former innovation policies in Europe have mainly been dominated by a traditional view of innovation processes building on collaboration between academy, government and industry. However, a transformation of society into becoming more sustainable calls for a variety of knowledges in current innovation systems. Several researches have addressed this transformation to sustainability by a call for the development of so called quadruple or quintuple helix innovation systems where knowledge production is a co-creation process by and from more actors than earlier involved in the innovation system. The quadruple helix system includes and invites civil society e.g. Non-Governmental Organisations, labour unions, citizens and workers to participate in innovation systems from the national, to the regional and local level. The quintuple helix system, builds on principles of socioecological claims where the fifth helix is not an actual actor but the concern of our natural environments in the innovation system. This paper address the transformation into a sustainable bioeconomy by using the concepts of quadruple and quintuple helix innovation systems as a way of creating socially inclusive growth. It does so by a presentation of three case studies from three different regions in Europe; VÃ¤rmland in Sweden, Noord-Holland in the Netherlands and Flandern in Belgium. Global Tools to Analyze Policy and Implementation Gaps and Advance Socially Inclusive Economic Growth Heymann, Jody; Dean and Distinguished Professor, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Founding Director; Raub, Amy; Principal Research Analyst; and Sprague, Aleta; Senior Legal Analyst, WORLD Policy Analysis Center, University of California Los Angeles, United States [email protected], [email protected] While the world showed that progress was possible with the Millennium Development Goals, millions of children were still left behind. If we are to achieve socially inclusive economic growth, then all children, regardless of sex, ethnicity, religion, disability, or socioeconomic or other status, must be able to complete a quality secondary education, generally a minimum requirement to jobs that earn a decent income later in life. This paper will highlight how new advances in data science can be used to strengthen policies and improve implementation to move from the SDG promise of quality education for all to realizing the goal of socially inclusive economic growth. Using new global policy data matched with harmonized household level measures of outcomes, this paper will show how data can be used to identify the legal gaps and gaps between policy and practice to better target efforts to increase school attendance. This paper will examine three main aspects of the legal framework that determines whether children are able to complete their secondary education: (1) Is education tuition-free and compulsory through


completion of secondary? (2) Do child labor laws prohibit work that interferes with schooling? And (3) Do laws establish a minimum age of marriage without exceptions that protects girls from early marriage and being forced to leave schooling? The paper will highlight where legal loopholes and gaps continue to undermine girls’ and boys’ ability to complete a secondary education. We will then show how the data can be used to identify where laws are not being enforced to help strengthen implementation by matching legal data on compulsory education and minimum age of marriage to outcomes data. For compulsory education, we will look at whether children who are of compulsory schooling age are attending school or have completed years of education that is consistent with their age. For minimum age of marriage, we will look at the percentage of women who report that they were older than the legal minimum age of marriage with parental consent or under religious or customary law when they were first married. This paper will provide researchers, policymakers, international government organizations, and civil society with an understanding of how new methods of quantifying policy information can be used to understand where legal protections need to be strengthened and where implementation gaps persist. These methods can be applied in other areas to accelerate progress on socially inclusive growth and achieving the SDGs. The Research-Policy Nexus and Research Accessibility: Insights from Peru Malich, Erika; Research Award Recipient, International Development Research Centre, Canada, [email protected] While the SDGs are global goals, it is understood that responding to these goals will differ depending on local (regional, national, sub-national) contexts and realities. Research, particularly local research, will be fundamental to achieving the SDGs, as it is instrumental to informing the creation of policies and programs suitable to individual country contexts. Greater science-policy linkages are therefore essential to achieving inclusive economic growth and sustainable development. However, many challenges exist for getting research used in policy-making, and these challenges are only compounded for developing countries, including challenges with the local production of research or issues of governance capacities and priorities. Despite these challenges, many actors exist in the research-policy nexus in developing countries, including think tanks (policy research institutes), non-governmental organizations, and universities. Think tanks in particular have been noted for their ability to help increase linkages between research and policy, yet many challenges remain.


In the literature, knowledge translation and increased communications efforts are acknowledged for their importance in increasing research uptake. Yet these are only part of what might help increase the accessibility of research. While accessibility of research is important to understand, it has not been properly problematized in there research-policy literature. This paper will offer a conceptualization of research accessibility in the context of policy influence, drawing and building on existing definitions from the information sciences. A broad understanding of accessibility - including its physical, intellectual, and social dimensions - will help to frame the perceptions of research accessibility in the context of Peru. Interviews with local researchers and policy-makers in Peru will be conducted and analyzed to understand the perceptions of research producers and users, and to highlight opportunities for increased knowledge exchange of research for policy-making.

abstracts have not been copyedited by conference organizers. 1

Documents