Collaborative ChangeA Communication Framework for

Climate Change Adaptation and Food Security

Communication for Sustainable Development Initiative (CSDI)

Federica Matteoli

Office of Knowledge Exchange, Research and ExtensionFAO

AfricaAdapt Symposium on Climate Change, Addis Ababa, 11/03/2011

Outline

Video

Knowledge and communication needs for CCA

Links between Community Based Adaptation and Communication for Development

Communication for development and CBA for CCA

Communication for Sustainable Development Initiative (CSDI)

Case study DRCongo

Conclusion 2

CCA requires multi-stakeholder action, innovation and a process of social learning for adaptive livelihoods

• adopting physical adaptive measures• improving agricultural practices• adjusting socio-economic activities• strengthening local institutions’ capacities and links b/w research,

extension and farmers• providing access to knowledge on CCA, creating awareness and

advocating

Knowledge and communication: assets in Climate Change Adaptation (CCA)

Community based adaptation to CC

Community-Based Adaptation (CBA) involving multi-stakeholder action, innovation and social learning involving small-scale, low-cost and simple technologies

prioritize the most vulnerable households and communities: rural communities

Communication for Development (ComDev) is a participatory approach that integrates communication strategies and media to improve knowledge, information sharing and participation.

The key principles are:

enhancing local knowledge and communication processes fostering dialogue and mediation convergence and appropriation of technologies

In CCA ComDev can help to enhance livelihood options and increase people’s resilience to CC

Communication: a key to collaborative change for CCA

Role of ComDev to CCA

scientifictechnologyinnovation

disaster risk management

livelihood options

for adaptation

good governanceand policy

indigenous knowledge and

coping strategies

area of interface when ComDev is

employed

extension services and rural knowledge

institutions

sustainablenatural resource

management

Communication for Sustainable Development Initiative (CSDI)

FAO’ Communication for Sustainable Development Initiative (CSDI) promotes ComDev strategies and services in CCA and FS:

• systematization of approaches and methodologies

• field project & technical assistance• capacity development and

knowledge sharing (fora, partnerships, networking )

Thank you

csdi@fao.org and

www.csdinitiative.org

Lessons from CSDI experience in ComDev for CCA

• Integrate ComDev approaches and strategies in CCA • Build on existing knowledge and communication systems• Use appropriate technologies and promote local content• Document best practices and showcase results• Strengthen local capacities in ComDev• Support communities of practice and partnerships

Impacts of CC in DRCongo

• heavy rainfall, coastal erosion, floods, heat wave crisis, and seasonal droughts.

• population have a perception of climate change,

• population doesn’t have the perception how climate change can affect their livelihoods in the long term, and how to adapt their practices to reduce their vulnerability.

ComDev-rural radios in DRCongo

There are 450 rural radio stations in DRC and are the most popular tools to:

address issues of community development with the use of local languages

meet the aspirations of rural populations have a huge impact on changing attitudes of the population

Lacks: (i) cohesive unit of command, (ii) legal texts (iii) low technical capacity of technicians (iv) partnership between them and other institutions such as extension and research

CSDI in DRCongo

increase emissions on rural development and climate change partnership with the Institut National pour l'Étude et la Recherche

Agronomique (INERA) and the Institut facultaire des sciences de l’ information et de la communication (IFASIC) for training rural radio journalists on technical advices on rural development and climate change

increase links between rural radios, research’s stations of INERA to support the participation of researchers in broadcastings achieved by rural radios

Collaboration with NGOs directly involved in interactive radio programs to address population issues

facilitates equitable access to knowledge and information

enhances learning and action => co-creation of knowledge

promotes peoples’ participation in CBA

improves linkages between research, extension, advisory services and farmers for technology adaptation

enhances community-based adaptation processes

bridges the “information glocal divide” reducing the gap between global environmental systems and local communities’ knowledge

Conclusions

Value added of ComDev in CBA to CCA

Thank you

csdi@fao.org and

www.csdinitiative.org

Federica.matteoli@fao.org