Community level adaptation for policy

makersSome practical steps and ideas

ENDA Energy, Environment and Development Programme

Typology of decision/policy maker

Livelihood practitioner e.g. farmer/fisher

Village chief/traditional authority/religious leader

Local government National government and policy

making bodies International/supranational

ENDA Energy, Environment and Development Programme

Barriers to engaging decision/policy makers

Low understanding of climate issues/lack of information

Time in which to change perceptions /convince the need for change/obtain enabling permissions, legitimacy

ENDA Energy, Environment and Development Programme

Concerns of local decision makers/enablers

• Responding to a politically influenced agenda

• Retaining credibility

• Control

ENDA Energy, Environment and Development Programme

Religious leader

Village elders/

traditional authority

Local governmen

t National governmen

t

Livelihood practitione

r

Climate impacts

Decision and policy-making remoteness from real life experience of CC impacts

ENDA Energy, Environment and Development Programme

Adaptation/development - some old ideas

• Amartya Sen - development as the creation of choice and underdevelopment as having no choice or no say in what happens

• Adaptation is a social response to human and environmental vulnerability. Most vulnerability has not been caused by climate change, but climate change has become an added factor that is exacerbating vulnerability.

• Adaptation is not innovative, the way of thinking is

Upper Zambezi Valley - major mode of productive activity

Cultivation Livestock – cattle Fishing Reed products and crafts

ENDA Energy, Environment and Development Programme

Major concerns among producers

Lack of working capital Undeveloped markets Reducing productivity (partly due to

drought/flood and partly due to the unreliability of the weather and new threats from weather events

Land tenure/ownership issues Out-migration of ‘useful’ people In-migration of ‘useless’ people from

elsewhere - crime, guns and refugees

ENDA Energy, Environment and Development Programme

Adaptation/development - some old ideas

Adaptation/development is about the creation of alternatives and choices.

Most vulnerability has not been caused by climate change, but climate change has become an added factor that is exacerbating vulnerability.

Adaptation is not innovative, the way of thinking is

Adaptation is a positive social response to human and environmental vulnerability. Creates insurance policies.

Some key tips

Know your decision maker, the right person Know your product Be respectful Be flexible Have empathy Send someone who is experienced at

talking with decision makers Never promise more than can be achieved Be positive about climate adaptation –

threats and opportunities