Ecosystem Based AdaptationWhat is it for?Who is it for?

Edmund BarrowIUCN

EbAWhat for

• Adaptation• Ecosystem based

approaches• Making case to reduce

CC• Co-Benefits

Who for• Global level (CCC etc.)• Regions & Nations• But key – people who

bear the costs of climate change – rural

But rural people seen as recipient, not owners of such change!

International Union for the Conservation of Nature

How can “We” learn

How• Normal M&E (extractive)• Assessments (good for

others, & for action)• Studies (extractive) &

research

Who should learn• Focus on national,

organizations, international, research – which is all very good & important, but

• What about sub-national (districts)?, &

• What about rural people?

But how do we empower rural peoples to learn, & articulate that learning so of use to them & for others

International Union for the Conservation of Nature

International Union for the Conservation of Nature

IUCN EbA Learning Framework

• About to start to be used Union wide• Focus on “project cycle” & “Theory of change”• Can be applied at multiple scales – with emphasis on

usability at the local level (& scaleable upwards)• Uses questions as main means• Simplicity & ease of use

Very Briefly IUCN EbA Learning Framework is:-

International Union for the Conservation of Nature

International Union for the Conservation of nature

International Union for the Conservation of Nature

International Union for the Conservation of Nature

How to use EbA Learning Framework – role of Action Learning (research)

Action Learning: Process in which a group of people with a shared issue of concern:Collaboratively, systematically & deliberately

plan, implement & evaluate actions; combines action & investigation; Investigation informs action; & People learn from critical reflection on actionWill use the EbA learning questions as entry

points

International Union for the Conservation of Nature

Analyzecurrentsituation

Plan

Plan

Implement & Observe

Reflect

Reflect

Implement & Observe

AL Cycle 1

AL Cycle 2

AL Cycle 3 etc.

Action Learning - Cyclical - Analysis, Plan, Implement, Observe, Reflect –

then Analysis, Plan etc.

You Can Have Action Learning (AL) teams for different levels & themes

District & landscape AL

Team

Community 1 AL Team

Community 2 AL Team

National level AL Team Theme AL global

Team Tenure

Theme AL District Team Tenure

International Union for the Conservation of Nature

International Union for the Conservation of Nature

Action Learning + EbA Learning Framework promotes learning & empowerment

• Structured simple process• Ownership at (in particular) local level (women, men,

indigenous, youth etc), but also can be higher level (e.g. district)

• Creates lessons & stories that can be scaled upwards (other projects, other countries – inform & influence)

• Basis for case studies, more detailed research• Basis for comparison & making larger case• Moving from extracting knowledge to empowering to learn &

own.• EbA must matter to & be owned by rural people!