collaborative change: approaches and experiences in comdev applied to cba
DESCRIPTION
4th International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 21-27 February 2010 CBA approaches emphasize the need to empower rural communities and identify, through participatory learning methodologies, suitable adaptation options. Planned knowledge and communication activities have to be acknowledged as strategic assets to improve information sharing, people’s participation and concerted action towards social learning for livelihood adaptation. As recommended by participants to the 3rd CBA conference, communication processes and strategies are essential to enhance rural institutions’ capacity to assist small farmers and reduce communities’ vulnerability. These should be fully integrated and mainstreamed within the CBA approach, in order to: • facilitate equitable access to knowledge and information • enhance learning and action → co-creation of knowledge • promote peoples’ participation and direct involvement in the design of coping strategies • bridge the “glocal information divide” between global environmental systems and local communities improving linkages among research, extension, advisory services and farmers. FAO is implementing the Communication for Sustainable Development Initiative (CSDI), a global programme to test, document and share communication strategies, services and tools for climate change adaptation and sustainable NRM. Based on two cases in Congo and Bangladesh, this presentation will draw on field experience to demonstrate that sharing knowledge on good practices among peers fosters horizontal collaboration and helps rural people define new adaptation strategies to climate change, while reaffirming their right to communication services. The contribution will also introduce a CSDI initiative in response to the need for enhanced communication capacities among development practitioners, field agents and decision-makers. It aims to establish a cross-regional and cross-institutional community of practice, for sharing information and knowledge on communication applied to climate adaptation, through networking and partnerships with development programmes, institutions, NGOs, universities and research centres.TRANSCRIPT
Collaborative ChangeApproaches and experiences
in ComDev applied to CBA
Cleofe Torres, University of the Philippines Los BanosFederica Matteoli, Coordinator of CSDI project
Communication for Sustainable Development Initiative
Food and Agriculture Organization
Empower rural communities to
identify suitable options through
participatory learning methodologies.
Implications:• Existing body of knowledge to start with• Planned communication for sharing and
facilitating people’s participation
Focus of CBA Approaches
Communication for Development
Planned design and use of communication processes, methods, approaches, tools and techniques to enable people to analyze their current situation and to plan options for change that would help improve their condition.
Key questions that ComDev can help address in CBA
• What is happening
• What do you do
• How do you do it
• Why do you do it
ComDev practice as informed by CBA features
• Objective - aims towards improved way of doing things and managing change.
• Audience/Stakeholder - involves multi-stakeholders decision and action especially the vulnerable one
• Messages/Content- focuses on generation of innovations that are small-scale, low-cost and simple and can be supported and sustained by available local resources.
• Approach - employs participatory and social learning where a community actively reflect on actions and associated results and reframe their perceptions leading to new actions.
3rd CBA Conference recommendation on ComDev
Integrate and mainstream ComDev in CBA to:• Facilitate equitable access to knowledge.• Enhance learning and action.• Promote participation in design of coping
strategies• Bridge glocal divide.• Improve linkages among research,
extension, advisory services and farmers.
Applying ComDev in CBA: Strategic Steps
• Baseline assessment of community’s climate change adaptation perspectives, expectations and needs (PEN study)
• Identification of communication behavior patterns and systems
• Design of communication strategy (behavior transformation objectives, content, methods/media combination and ICTs, approaches, and tools)
• Strengthening of local capacities on ComDev• Evaluation to add value to experience
ComDev in livelihood adaptation
Bangladesh Case:
Local knowledge
Scientific Knowledge
Improved Practice
ICTs in ComDev for CBA
ICTs tools can be used to :• Record data and information on
climate system • Transform data and information into
knowledge useful for planning adaptation strategies
• Communicate knowledge for capacity building and networking
• Methodologies and tools
Approaches, best practices, and training materials on ComDev for CCA
• Knowledge sharing and Partnerships
Networking and partnerships for mainstream ComDev services through regional and thematic. Regional Platforms for capacity building and advocacy: Near East; Onda Rural; Central America; Indigenous People
• Support to field projects
Communication Action Planso Congoo Bangladesho Caribbean regiono Bolivia
o Technical Advice to field projects upon request
CSDIMain activities
Case study: Communication Action Plan in DRC
Objectives• Support to the National Agricultural and
Forestry Programmes
Next step• Communication Action Plan for agriculture
and forestry sector (with UNREDD)• Community driven communication/rural
radio services for CBA
CSDI Strategy for Knowledge Sharing on ComDev for CBA
Objectives• Global and regional communities of practice on
Communication for Development applied to CBA.Activities • Strengthening CSDI focal points and platforms to
support ComDev action plans in the field
• Collaboration with: E-Learning for CBA and TECA at FAO + ALM
• Capacity Building initiative btw ComDev practitioners & universities (South <-> North)
• Global partnership & info/outreach initiative (CSDI partners, and CBA)
Next steps
• Develop, systematize and share ComDev approaches and methods for CBA (best practices)
• Continue support and upscale of Action Plans
• Strengthen ComDev capacity through knowledge networks
• Consolidate and expand ComDev/CBA partnerships
Lets use systematically ComDev for Climate Change
For information:
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